Jared Nathan Garrett's "The Seer"...A Book Review

 Do you believe in magic, and by magic, I mean...Biblical?

If you do or even if you don't, you will find plenty of magic in Jared Nathan Garrett's The Seer. 

We first meet Nathan Eckhoff on an archeological dig in Egypt where, after weather and construction destroys the site where the crew are working, Nathan comes into possession of an ancient artifact--a cloak belonging to Joseph of Egypt, the same Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers, the same Joesph who saved the kingdom after interpreting Pharaoh's dreams. 

Nathan leaves Africa and returns to his home in San Francisco. Only then does he not only realize he has the cloak, but also its former owner. Before he decides what should be done with the artifact, he finds out this is no ordinary garment. It possesses special powers, powers that not only keep Nathan from harm, but also puts him into dangerous situations including several assassination attempts.

The story is fast-paced, exciting, and full of unexpected twists with a conclusion that mingles intrigue, danger, and a dash of romance. The fun is trying to figure out--as does Nathan--just what powers the cloak has. Will Nathan figure it out as well? Will the baddies get to it before Nathan can escape? 

If you like stories with a touch of the supernatural (especially relating to a Biblical story...), check out Jared Nathan Garett's The Seer. You can access the Amazon page by clicking: HERE. A fun read.

Julie Frost's "Cry Havoc" Drops Today...Check It Out

 Back when there seemed to be a writing convention every other month and I was fortunate enough to attend a writing convention every other month, there was always a book being released, or several. I got to know many authors and have tried to help them out by reading their stuff, or helping promote their stuff, or both.

Today, Julie Frost's Cry Havoc is available on Amazon. From the book's website is the following information:

Nate Cassin, the alpha werewolf of Missoula, Montana, finds his little city has a big wolf problem when shredded bodies start showing up all over town. Faced with a hostile press and even more hostile hunters, he tries to protect his innocent pack of eight at the same time they try to track down two elusive killers in an area of 35 square miles with a plethora of hiding places.

He's seen this before. And the hunters always, always go overboard and decide the only good werewolf is a dead one, no matter who's actually responsible. His pack will be collateral damage unless he can find the enemy wolves—and stop their broken alpha—before they turn his hometown into a human buffet.

Part of what I love about being part of the local writing community is getting to know everyone. Writers are an interesting breed. They're as individual as what they write...no cookie-cutter personalities. The above blurb screams Julie. If you're ever lucky enough to meet and have a conversation with her, it's a moment not easily forgotten. She's a wonderful writer and person.

Since the book just came out today, I have not read it. But, I do know that Julie is so passionate about her writing...and pretty much other interests as well.

If you like the genre, or even if you don't and you'd like to give Cry Havoc a chance, click: HERE for the Amazon link. After all, I'm guessing many of you are in the mood for a good werewolf yarn right about now.

"The Befallen"...By Cambria Williams

 Release day.

There's something about the day when it's really official, when the book that's inundated your life for days, weeks, months, years is unleashed upon the world. Someone somewhere has the stats...there's probably hundreds--even perhaps thousands--of books were released today, including Cambria Williams's The Befallen.

This is Williams's first book. If you ask me, it lacks a "first time" feel. The protagonist, Sloane faces a cruel world in search for justice. Williams's talent is evident as the reader and Sloane discover the fascinating world in which she ventures. Her village gone, her family dead...when others see Sloane they see weakness. We see more because we see the struggles, the danger, the triumphs and the failures.

Years ago I read a lot of fantasy, but not anymore. Maybe because of that, the story was fresh, the world created believable and tangible. If you're a fan of fantasy with a hero unlike so many others, give The Befallen a try. You can order it by clicking: HERE.

Release days are exciting. Even though it's not my book, I can still feel that spark, the feeling of seeing the reviews come in, finding out what people think of your words. There's nothing else like it. Check out The Befallen. It's a great read.

Carson Boss's "Glimpse"...A Book Review

 Last Saturday, I found myself in my old stopping grounds. I had a meeting which may turn out to be something cool (more details to follow if it actually happens...). And because I was down south, I decided on my way home to stop by my friend's book signing for his debut novel, Glimpse. 

I'm glad I did.

It's a great little story.

Carson Boss's Glimpse mixes a ghost story, a love story, an interdimensional adventure that's fresh, engaging, and thoughtful. Mark Banks, a university freshman in Maryland, finds himself caught up in a mystery brought on from an assignment in his favorite class. While visiting a cemetery Mark and his friends try to capture paranormal evidence, a subject Mark found incredibly interesting. The events at the cemetery will soon change his life.

Thus begins a journey that includes Mark, his friends, his professor, his religious leader, and a girl who experienced the same thing a year before...someone Mark needs as a resource but who becomes much more.

Though Carson has written several non-fiction works, this is Boss's debut fiction novel. He does a good job with the characters that we feel we know them on a deeper level. The many conversations help us as well as Mark understand the worlds that are now open to him. Because their mission is so important, evil forces seek out Mark and his friends to try and stop them. Will Mark succeed in stopping ultimate evil be unleashed on the world? Or will the darkness overcome the bank of spiritual warriors?

To find out, you can order Carson's book by clicking the Amazon site: HERE. If you like plucky teenagers battle what appears to be unsurmountable forces, you'll like Glimpse. I know I did.

Book Review...Jana J. Dearden's "Echoes On The Rock"

 Fans of historical fiction, in the vein of Michener, like the genre because you get more than just a sense of the characters. The location becomes a character, too, a character you get to know, you feel a kinship for, an emotional connection. I believe this because I am a fan of Michener. It's how I feel when I read a novel about not only the people, but the land--especially when the story covers centuries.

In Jana Dearden's debut novel, Echoes on the Rock (a story in three parts...), we are transported back to Italy in the 1400s. It's where the story of the heretic Waldensians, a group of religious people who are at war with the Pope, his church, and the Pope's army. Families battle to save their homes and their beliefs. Dearden's vivid descriptions of how they lived, fought, and died transported me to a land I've never known...the avalanche scene along with the stories of battles were especially engaging.

Part Two of the story takes place almost one-hundred years later where a people are persecuted again for what they believe. Fast forward almost three-hundred years for Part Three when descendants of the Waldensians travel from Italy to America after converting to an American religion and joining other saints in Utah. Having lived in Utah almost all my life and having heard the story of the pioneers all my life, many of the stories as the families traveled west were eye-opening and informative.

Echoes on the Rock is extremely well-researched with creative details that puts the reader back in time during fascinating periods of history. If you're familiar with the Mormon Pioneers, for example, you may find--as I did--new incites into their plight. I also learned about a culture and time I knew nothing about. And after all, isn't that what good writing is supposed to do?

If you'd like to check out Jana's book for yourself, and if you're a fan of historical fiction (especially religious historical fiction...), I highly recommend her book. You can order it from Amazon by clicking: HERE.

Travis Ching And Shay Allred's "The Thirst Of A Loving Trunk"...A Book Review

 Friday, my wife and I found ourselves in an amazing little bookstore in Brigham City, Utah. It's called Three Goats Gruff. It's part bookstore and part antique store and an incredible treat for the eyes.

It's also where we met Travis Ching and bought his book, The Thirst of a Loving Trunk.

It's delightful and the animations are lovely.

We stopped by the bookstore to meet another author, one I've known for years, Frank Cole. If you know Frank, you know when you attend one of his book signings, you'll be met with a fun, engaging, and personable author. We didn't know he'd be joined by someone with the same qualities.

The Thirst of a Loving Trunk tells the story of Atheena, a young elephant and her family as they travel the countryside in search of water. The story is perfect for children and those that read it to them. But, I think the drawings is what hooked me. They are wonderful.

You can find out more about Travis and the book and even order it by clicking his Amazon website: HERE. If you're looking for a sweet story your young ones will love--especially if they like elephants, this book is definitely for you.

BJ Salmond's "Grudges And Grace"...Available Today

 It's been a few years since I last saw Brad, or BJ as it's printed on the book cover. About twenty years ago he and I worked on the same floor in the same building, each work day, Monday through Friday. Several weeks ago I ran across a post on a Facebook writer group of which I am a part.

Brad was asking for advice for his new book.

Dude's an author! I had no idea.

BJ Salmond's Grudges and Grace came out today. You can order the book for yourself by clicking: HERE. Since I got into this writing world, I've met many authors. BJ is the first I met that I already knew.

Grudges and Grace is historical fiction set in the mid-nineteenth-century middle America. We meet William Chestnut, a young man who wants more than a life on the farm. He dreams of the business world. What I found interesting in Salmond's storytelling are the details. If you were to take a snapshot of a person's life, they may be interested in sports, or politics, or their career, or even thinking about downtime. Salmond includes details that put me not only in the scene, but in the time of these people.

The novel is based on a true story. Historical fiction is a genre I enjoy, even though I don't read it often anymore. The good news is Grudges and Grace is only the beginning. I look forward to see more books from BJ Salmond.

Geoff Thatcher's "The CEO's Time Machine"...A Book Review

I have many friends who have published books--it comes with the territory of being an author myself and getting to know scores of talented people who write and publish books.

But, I don't have many friends who I have known since childhood who have accomplished this feat. When Geoff Thatcher, a friend and fellow Davis High Dart alum announced his book The CEO's Time Machine, I wanted to read it, mostly because Geoff is one of the most accomplished people I know, especially in the area of creative business ideas. Also, the fact that his daughter illustrated it intrigued me. This past weekend, I saw Geoff post on social media about visiting his family. I quickly jumped on-line and asked if he was in town and if he had a copy of his book that I could buy and that he would sign.

He said he did and to come over to his parent's house.

I did.

I got the book.

And it is a delight.

Geoff, along with his daughter Zoe, have crafted a story that's powerful, a story of two business leaders and how one wishes to pass along his wisdom and experience (and philosophy...) to his hand-picked replacement. He invites her to a garage--a building associated with some of the greatest business success stories in the history of the planet.

Interestingly enough, in this CEO's garage, the possibility of not only another great business success story, but multiple success stories can be found inside. For inside the garage is a time machine, a way for people to go both back and forward in time to learn from the lessons of history.

The genius of Thatcher's story is its simplicity. The book is short--it took me only an hour or so to finish--but don't let that discourage you from its message. There's a beauty found in the pages that doesn't require chapters of back story, or tangents to add flavor. No--this is an energy bar when you need quick nutrition. 

This book is for any business professional to help them look at their organization and personnel in a different light. The message can also touch everyone else because it reveals a universal truth about how humans see the world and each other.

You can order the book by clicking the Amazon link: HERE. The CEO's Time Machine is a simple story, and like the Tardis, it's a small package that is much bigger on the inside.

James Alderdice's "The Usurper"...A Book Review

The cover of James Alderdice's The Usurper shows a bloody crown. The old adage is, "You can't judge a book by its cover," But, in this case, the visual of a bloody crown gives you a pretty good idea of what you're in for when you pick up this book.

Power, revenge, brutality, heroics, and good old-fashioned pulp fiction storytelling at its best.

Imagine a Frank Frazetta painting in literary form.

Alderdice has produced a collection of stories that follows Gathelaus and his journeys, his quests, his triumphs, and his adventures that lead him to becoming the Usurper King. This is Book 1 of The Brutal Saga. You name it--Gathelaus faces it and ultimately defeats it. Giant snakes, vampires, killer crawfish, evil sorcerers, giant gods newly awoken from stone--as you read Alderdice's account, at least my mind, goes to his imagination and ingenuity. About the time you catch your breath from the latest predicament Gatherlaus is in, the man leaps feet-first into another. I especially liked the inclusion of scripture interwoven into the stories.

This is a book of battles, of blood, of warriors killing each other so that good can prevail. If this is the kind of literature you want to read, The Usurper has it in buckets. And when you're done with this one, Alderdice has scores more. But don't worry--the man produces books almost as fast as you can read them.

Check out The Usurper on the Amazon website: HERE. Check out the adventures of Gathelaus and the Sellsword. It will not disappoint.

Sarah E. Seeley's "Driveless"...A Compelling Little Story

Today I read a story from Sarah Seeley entitled, Driveless. You can pick it up from Amazon: HERE. It's a great little story.

Driveless takes place in a world where self-driving cars are commonplace. So, what can go wrong with cars that drive themselves?

You can probably guess.

It's amazing that we live in a world where such technology is possible. It's also amazing how trusting we are of this technology. Past generations envisioned horrors when mankind relinquished control to such powerful machines. I wonder why we see things differently. Is it because we think we have control over the computers, the drones, the self-driving cars? Do we follow a flawed assumption that these things would in no way harm us?

Driveless centers around Howard, his infant daughter, and his new self-driving Prius. Soon Howard finds himself powerless to control his car, then things really go bad. Howard then must do all he can to rescue his daughter from the technology that's supposed to make life better, not put life in danger.

Short stories are the YouTube of the literary world. You would think they'd be more popular--and maybe they are. I haven't done any research to say one way or the other. I do know I liked this story and I'd read more of her's in a heartbeat.

If you've got a few minutes and you'd like to read a story that's timely and engaging, give Driveless a go. It's a great little story.

Karma Chesnut's "Unfit"...A Book Review

One of the most challenging events in any new family's life is preparing for the birth of a baby. Imagine facing this exciting, yet daunting arrival while living in a dystopian hell-scape where humans deemed until are imprisoned and sterilized. In Karma Chesnut's debut novel, Unfit, a family faces laws, family pressures and conditions--barbaric by today's standards, but considered reasonable at times through history--to try and find a way to be together.

Chesnut crafts a terrifying post-pandemic world where a person's physical worthiness determines not only their place in society, but what rights and opportunities they have. The decisions made in the story are logical (based on the society's warped sense of duty and correctness...), and well-developed. The reader gets a sense that something like this could actually happen, mostly because cultures have made such decisions in the past...polygamy, eugenics, etc.

I know dystopian novels were all the rage ten - fifteen years ago. And, they still may be. I haven't kept up on the genre since reading the Hunger Games and Divergent series. These stories succeeded due in part to the strength of the storyline and the well-roundedness of the characters. Unfit shares many of these traits. Because of how humans have acted in the past, it's completely believable that they would copy and reintroduce atrocities from the past into future societies. To me, that's what makes Unfit so frightening, is that this nightmare could happen, because it has happened before.

Unfit is available April 7th. You can access the author's website: HERE. It's incredible that Chesnut's story is being released now, at a time never-before experienced. If you like stories of courage, survival, and the enduring human spirit, give Unfit a chance. It's a good one!

Rachel Huffmire's "Shattered Snow"...An Award-Winning Book Review (The Book, Not The Review)

Ever since Rachel Huffmire's book, Shattered Snow, came out last year, there's been a buzz surrounding it. Yesterday I finished it, and now I know why.

It's a great read.

And those who run the Swoony Awards agree.

Imagine a story that combines the quaintness of a fairy tale, then throw in time travel and all the issues and headaches that can create. You can order it from the Publisher's website: HERE, or from the Amazon page: HERE. 

Rachel and I both had books chosen by Immortal Works to publish. It was announced earlier this week that Shattered Snow won a Swoony Award (and I LOVE that name...). Other books published through Immortal works have won awards--even an anthology in which a story I wrote is included--were award-winning. It's like seeing a sibling win a race, or a competition. The publisher has welcomed me in such a way, I feel like we're family. And I salute Rachel in the win.

If you like very cool stories about altered history (even fairy tale history...) because of time travel, you will definitely enjoy Shattered Snow. I know I did.

Steven Heumann's "Jaxon And The Perpetual Nano-Plant"... A Short Book Report

A few weeks back I attended a writing conference, SpikeCom. I met some wonderful writers and readers. Conventions are an amazing place to connect with like-minded people. Some conventions are better than others at allowing the chance to meet people. SpikeCon was one of those conventions. It's where I met Steven Heumann and where I bought one of his short stories.

Jaxom and the Perpetual Nano-Plant

Steven's an interesting guy. He worked previously as a television reporter. Now he's a published author working hard to make his writer dreams come true. He had several books for sale, but I didn't have a lot of cash so I picked up a short story. I finished it yesterday. It's a great little tale.

Jaxon is a janitor. He works for a tech company in Chicago. What he doesn't know is that there's something being developed in those offices that has the potential for great destruction. And since every interesting story must have conflict, Jaxom finds himself running for his life through the streets of Chicago.

I love how Heumann packed so much in such a short story. Baddies are trying to get the plant and because of them, death and destruction are unleashed on the city. A quick custodian's mind helps Jaxom and his boss escape perilous situation after perilous situation. But will they stop the murderous plant in time?

You really should check out the book yourself. You can order it by clicking: HERE. You can also check out his many other published works--he's got a lot.

I love meeting authors, many are in the same situation as myself. We're all trying to get those stories out to others, trying to bring fascinating stories to readers wherever they may be. I found one of those stories at a convention. I'm glad I did.

Dan Welch's "Death And Seven"...A Book Review

When I first heard what Death and Seven was all about, it was one of those pitches that makes the gears in my mind turn. Imagine, being able to ask questions of a corpse.

And have that corpse answer back.

That was the pitch. I finished the book today. 

Dan Welch has created a situation in which technology has advanced to the point where a body, if properly prepared immediately after it dies, can be manipulated to divulge information to an interested party. When I heard that, I thought about all the times, in books, films, even music, where finding out what a dead person knows would answer a lot of questions, solve many mysteries, even right many wrongs. But, that kind of power can also create problems of its own. 

Amanda Wilson works in the facility where memories are harvested like data in an old computer. We follow the sad tale of Sarah Russell, former worker on wall street, now deceased witness. Sarah's information proves valuable to law enforcement in bringing down the bad guys. The problem is, both sides are fighting to win.

Death and Seven filled my head with a lot of "what-ifs." What if it were possible? What if our memories and secrets could be gathered after we're gone, when filters and safeguards normally in place are no longer there? What would we find out, and would we be better off not knowing?

I love books that make my mind wander like this. Welch's Death and Seven did just that. It's a quick read. It took me a couple of days to listen to the entire audiobook, but I could have easily done it in one day. If you think this sounds like an interesting idea for a novel, give it a shot. You can order the book: HERE. Death and Seven...in this book, death isn't the end.

Beau Peterson's "Slayer Of The Sea"...A Book Review

There was a time when I listened to audiobooks, a lot of audiobooks, like averaging "a book or two a week" lot of audiobooks. It's been so long since I read/listened to anything, I can't remember the last book I read/listened to.

Until today.

Today I began and finished a book, and I remember why I used to go through so many books--it's because I love taking that story and making it a part of me, seeing the scenes in my mind, allowing the voice and words of strangers to become part of me, to fulfill me. What an honor it is to be part of the creative process.

The book I read was Beau Peterson's Slayer of the Sea, from Immortal Works.

What a fantastic little story!

I've never met Mr. Peterson so I don't know how he would pitch his book. If someone asked me, I'd stay it's a story reminiscent of Melville or Verne. A tale of man vs. monster on the high seas. You can order it by clicking: HERE. The books title comes from the name of the ship, Slayer of the Sea. Rowan Donchaad is obsessed with hunting, not whales or sharks, but leviathans, creatures so nasty--and so well described--you can almost smell their stench from the printed/audible words. Peterson puts you on the ship as well as in the minds of the characters. There's battles and blood, pride and humility, victory and defeat.

I am not a water person. Sure, I spent every single summer day at an enormous swimming pool in my hometown, but I also live in the second driest state (not talking about alcohol here, but I could be...) in the country. I watch shows and read books about men, women, and children who live on the sea or make their living on the water. It's a world I don't understand. Peterson put me in that world, showed me a glimpse of the adventure that is the sea. Any book that can do that is a successful one.

The audiobook is a mere three hours and forty minutes. It is narrated wonderfully by Montgomery Que. Pick up the book, or download the audiobook if you'd like an action-filled story of a world full of imagination. 

Yes, today I returned to a life of reading. Why did I stay away so long?

Kevin L. Nielsen's "Colonial Prime: Humanity"...A Book Review

Kevin's book, Colonial Prime: Hunanity and a book I wrote, came out within a few months of each other, if I remember correctly. They're both published by Immortal Works. They're both science fiction, and they both have a boy/young man as an integral part of the story. I know this book pretty well--I should, I edited the audiobook version...

Not once,

But twice.

That's yet another story.

I should say from the onset that I enjoyed the book very much. It's not long, I believe less than 50k. When the audiobook goes live, it'll be less than four hours long, and if you listen to it on double speed, it'll fly by.

But the short length isn't the best things about Colonial Prime, for me, there's a lot packed into its pages. It's like eating a snack that's really really good.

Colonial Prime is the name of a ship, one in a convoy on a decades-long journey across space to populate a new planet. They're leaving the troubles found on their home planet--political strife, wars, the bad side of humanity--behind. The problem is, because they're human, those failings don't stay behind on Earth, they're brought with them.

Captain Amara Corrin pilots the Colonial Prime. A single mother, her son Jaelyn accompanies her on the journey. Amara's not only has responsibility for her son, but for everyone else in the fleet. The trouble really begins after the ships have been out a year. They receive a transmission from Earth and then things really hit the fan. The middle and third acts center around what happens once that message in received and how it could doom the entire mission. Amara, Jaelyn, and others have a real (and literal...) fight on their hands.

This is the second Kevin L. Nielsen book I've read. Though completely different genres, I love Nielsen's writing style. It seems effortless, as if the words that make up the story were meant to go together. We know enough about the main characters to empathize with them without becoming bored by over-explanations or ramblings by the author. We care about the people in a short period of time. We can also relate to their situation, even though they're aboard a spaceship trying to save the human species and we're on Earth, trying to make our mortgage payments and understand fake news.

The book is labeled YA, but it's really for anyone. Younger readers who like science fiction will enjoy this. Though there are battles and death, Nielsen doesn't gore-it-up more than necessary. It's a book I recommend.

If you'd like to order the book yourself, click: HERE to access the Amazon page. And, once the double-edited audiobook version comes out, you can order that, too.

Jason King And Jon Grundvig's "Thomas Destiny"...A Book Review

When the main character of a middle grade story is named Thomas Destiny, you might think the story will be about something bigger than the normal day-to-day dealings of a jr. high school student. And when you throw in cover art by the supremely talented Carter Reid, you know the pages will contain monsters, magic, unique characters, and a rip-roaring story.

And that's what King and Grundvig deliver.

Thomas Destiny is a great little book. It's a fast read and even though it's official genre is "middle grade," I think it's more relatable to Young Adult, or in the very least, Tween. The cover gives a good indication of the type of action you're going to see in this book. There's death and blood and inter-dimensional travel, betrayal and redemption.

Thomas is your average kid. His adventure begins on a scout campout. Unfortunately for Thomas (and the rest of the troop...), Thomas accidentally unleashes a demon that spreads devastation and death. Thomas, along with another surviving scout embarks on a journey which leads the pair to another dimension where they battle monsters, zombies, and other evil forces all bent on Thomas's destruction. The boy becomes a leader of a band of unusual characters--from a untruthful druid to a green globule being that speaks a language only the druid understands.

I don't know which author is responsible for which sections of the book, but I have read several of Jason King's stories. Much of the humor reminds me of Jason. If you know him, you know he's a very funny guy. But humor is only part of what makes Thomas Destiny such an enjoyable read. The fantasy elements are top-notch, as good as many fantasy series written for older readers. If you're interested in ordering either the digital copy or the hard copy of Thomas Destiny, you can access the Amazon page: HERE.

The by line to the title is, The FATE of the Cosmos couldn't be in LESS capable hands. It's a good summation of what you can expect. If you're up for a good fast read fantasy, give this one a shot.

James Alderdice's "Brutal"...A Book Review

It took me a few weeks to get through the audiobook of James Alderdice's Brutal. I usually listen while at work and work's been extra busy lately, so I wasn't able to finish the book in a speedy manner. In fact, I started it, listened to the first couple of chapters, then I took a break. I sent the author a message telling him I was enjoying what I had heard so far. He responded back thanking me for the kind words.

I then told him, it was pretty graphic--lots of violence.

He had a classic response,

"Well, it is titled Brutal."

Touché.

If you are prone to judging books by their covers, take a look at Brutal. What do you see, front and center? A bloody sword. That's basically what you're going to get in the pages of this book. A man who wields the sword has no name; he's known as The Sellsword, and he's very good at using that sword to end lives, and fight for justice.

In the world created by Alderdice, a sword must be used to battle the evil brought by paladins and wizards. The world is gritty, savage...in a word, brutal. The author puts you in the room, in the action. And how he describes the duchess, you'd swear she stepped straight from a Frank Frazetta painting.

I don't watch Game of Thrones, or other type shows. And truth be told, I might not have chosen this particular book, except for a couple of reasons. It's getting great reviews, and I know the author and want him to succeed. If you like a story that combines gore and humor and justice and evil and more gore, you'll enjoy this book. You can order it on the Amazon page: HERE. Give it a shot--it's both grim and dark. Well done, James!

Erik Larson's "Dead Wake"...A Book Review

There's so much history I don't know. I can understand why people study history, be it to teach, or just to have that information locked into your mind. Many people study ancient history, the great societies of Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, while others focus on the Dark Ages of Europe.

I'm pretty sure I'd find amazing stories in every time period. Personally, I love hearing about the mid-twentieth century. It's when my parents came of age. My father was a veteran of WWII and I never got a chance to talk to him about what it was like to live during that era.

I haven't focused a lot on WWI, even though that was when my grandparents came of age. But today I finished listening to Erik Larson's Dead Wake, an in depth telling of Germany's sinking of the Lusitania.

Fascinating.

I've read two of Larson's books, The Devil in the White City, and In the Garden of Beasts. I loved The Devil in the White City so much, I knew I'd read anything Mr. Larson wrote. So far, he hasn't disappointed, including Dead Wake.

I know very little of the Lusitania's sinking (sorry, spoiler alert...). Much more has been made of the HMS Titanic disaster, but after learning of how the Lusitania sank, to me it's a sadder tale, because it wasn't an act of nature mixed with human errors. Lusitania's end was an act of war. Titanic's demise most likely changed how ships were built and how ocean voyages were navigated. What happened to the Lusitania helped change the world.

If you've not had the opportunity to read a book by Erik Larson, you're in for an amazing literary experience. Larson has the wonderful ability to bring these people to life, almost as if you could speak to them, as if you know them, which makes leaning of the way they died and survived that much more impactful.

In the end, the event was another piece of history. It was a maritime event, a war event, a human event. Larson points out all the things that had to have happened--and happened just right--for the disaster to have unfolded the way it did. It got me thinking, if this ship hadn't been attacked, would America joined WWI? And if not, how would the world be today? That's another fascinating aspect of history, the "what ifs." 

I should really study more of history, and read more of Mr. Larson's books.

Eve Nicholson's "The Tripartite Soul"...A Book Review

Today I finished a book written by a good friend. This is one book I should have finished sooner. The book, The Tripartite Soul, is best categorized as a fantasy romance. Now, I haven't read a lot of books in this genre, but good storytelling is good storytelling.

In The Tripartite Soul we meet a servant girl--Eviona, a soldier--Dyre, and a dragon--Zefforah, three beings that have a unique connection. They can see, feel, taste, touch the things each other sees, feels, tastes, and touches. They also have an ability to stop this connection, which is a good thing (the thought of sharing every sense with others can be a little unsettling...). The story is told through the voice of Eviona, a servant girl who experiences the trials and joys of her first love, love lost, and love renewed. Eviona has special skills--among other things, she can bake and she's good with a sword.

Nicholson creates a fantastical world where you never know what's going to happen. Eviona's search for not only love, but understanding in a reality that's not solely her own. I've never read a book like this and I loved thinking about all the possibilities these characters could experience.

The Tripartite Soul is a romance, is a fantasy, is even a philosophical study on how we make choices, and more importantly perhaps, why we make those choices. If you'd like to read it, click: HERE to access Nicholson's Amazon page. This book is unlike anything I've read before. Chances are, if you read it, you'll feel the same way, too.