My Buy Essay

Archive for August, 2009

Jill 9 has a story line based around a psychologically disturbed female serial killer

The only lead the detectives have is the one thing all the victims have in common – all of the victims share the name, or sudunoume, of “Jill Walker”.

Young new weather-woman, Jill Wallokowski shines on camera stunning the television station staff and her audience. Unfortunately, she is stalked, attacked and targeted for death by some twisted members of her audience.

FBI agent Ian… is obsessed with the “Jill” serial killer and harbors a deep guilt and anger over the killings he could not prevent in the past &ndash especially the last one. Now, the “Jill Killer” has targeted the new weather-woman and Ian is driven in more ways than one to protect her. Their attraction for each other may just drive them both mad, but Ian knows he cannot become too close because he won’t be able to fully protect her.

This fiction novel could be classified as an action-suspense thriller. Involving a stalker, sexual deviant and serial killer, a serious team of FBI agents led by Ian Hamlin and the incomporable Jill Wallokowski.

Be prepared; this 300-page book contains some swearing and erotic scenes between the steamy pair. In closing, I would like to mention that I was moved by the author’s heart-felt dedication for Jill 9 to the men and women in the law enforcement fields who strive to keep every one of us safe.

ISBN#: 0-9767732-9-5

Author: J.D. Tynan

Publisher: Better Be Write Publishing

Published: 2006

Some people get a charge out of doing their own home electrical work. Others fear getting zapped or creating even bigger repair problems. No matter which category fits you, there’s a handy guide that lets you get current with the latest techniques-which could save you a bundle on service calls, as well as increasing the wattage of your smile.

“The Black & Decker Complete Guide to Home Wiring: 3rd Edition” (Creative Publishing International, $24.95) expands on the popular volume that has sold more than half a million copies, with tried-and-true projects and the latest fixtures-and enough information to help do-it-yourselfers meet the requirements of the 2005 National Electrical Code.

For example, one of the biggest challenges facing homeowners today is hooking up the many electronic components they own-computers and printers, home theaters and surround-sound systems, CD and DVD and DVR units, to name a few. Getting electronics to operate together correctly has its own dedicated chapter on how to solve this common source of frustration. You’ll learn everything you need to know about home media connections, including how to create a high-definition home theater with surround sound. The book also includes:

• A full range of repair and upgrade wiring projects;

• Special circuit maps that take all the guesswork out of wiring lights, switches, receptacles and appliances;

• A dedicated chapter on connecting and networking home electronics; and

• Descriptions of how to use state-of-the-art wireless technology, such as “Bluetooth” and “wi-fi.”

This last item is essential because technology is helping create homes with fewer and fewer wires and greater and greater freedom of movement and communication. The final chapter in the book covers this exciting technology, and will show you how to integrate computers, printers, telephones, audio and video equipment and more-all with no wires attached.

King Bartholomew and the Jester’s Riddle by Pina Mastromonaco is a wonderful, fun book with a humor level perfect for children aged four to eight. Entertaining riddles entice readers to try to guess the answer while enjoying the tale.

Childlike King Bartholomew is obsessed with toys and solving riddles. The chubby, balding King learns to balance play and work time so that he can take responsible care of his land and citizens, yet still enjoy a playful life. The moral-of-the-story is not laid on thick &ndash it is lightly applied so it will be easily accepted by young children. Teachers, librarians and caretakers will enjoy reading this pleasant book to children who like to play rather than accomplish chores or school assignments.

The illustrator, David Martin, is extremely accomplished and very gifted. Each page is filled with incredible detail that reveals more the longer one gazes at them. Many illustrations some form of nature included from the fantastically sculpted bushes, an array of birds and a maze of hedges with a big ‘B’ in the center (B &ndash for King Bartholomew). Richly colored clothes and hilarious costumes for the jester and the King’s servants prove to add an interesting twist to this fun-loving book.”

ISBN#: 0974430714

Author: Pina Mastromonaco

Illustrations: David Martin

Publisher: Merry Lane Press

Now here’s a treat for dog-lovers! Author of multiple short stories for children, Jarod Twiford, has recently released his first children’s book, Kisho. This story line is unique and has an ending that readers will not see coming.

Everyone loves a hero story. But in Kisho, the hero is an animated animal that is not really animated nor is he an animal! Here we have a young boy who privately loves to watch animated movies. He undergoes a magical transformation into an animated character from a movie and embarks on an adventure of a lifetime. Impending disaster, earthquakes, romance, adventure and finding true happiness are all a part of the story line in Kisho.

Jarod Twiford has been writing for young people for about six years before the release of this book. After intensive research and painstaking attention to detail, he picked the name for the leading character because Kisho means “one who knows his own mind”. His thoughtful use of many breeds of canines definitely lent more power to the characters’ personalities.

Though I felt a few areas were a little rushed over by the author, it certainly uses an interesting and fairly unusual theme. This book is certain to entertain and be read multiple times by readers.

ISBN#: 1-4241-0525-0

Author: Jarod Twiford

Publisher: Publish America

Kitty Fantastic in Manroe’s Art Adventure is a 40-page children’s book written by the accomplished and award-winning illustrator Pamela Key. Her intent in writing this book is clear in this passage from the book:

“If a kid does any kind of art at least three hours a day, three days a week, for a year he or she is four times more likely to win an award for writing or be recognized for academic achievement and three times more likely to be elected to class office or win an award for school attendance.”

There is no doubt that this is an excellent book and could easily be one of the best I have seen. The art is amazing – especially the backgrounds, which are full of colorful textures and blends. Another noticeable feature was the bright, almost realistic eyes of Pamela’s characters.

Monroe, a curious little boy filled with questions, has a conversation with his artistically inclined mother about the many various forms of art. Everything from writing, music, pottery and painting are covered in their discussion. A lovable egomaniac cat is Monroe’s best friend and he appears on each scene with cunning comments. Fun activity sheets (four in total) mentally stimulate children and help develop the ability to focus on details.

The way the book is illustrated and written allows for plenty of dialogue between the reader and children. They can seek out images together and discuss what is happening. Also every-other page has a small box with extra historical facts. Such as: science-fiction author Jules Verne writing about air and water travel 100 years before it was possible; and the adventure of Dolly Madison who risked her life to safe important national treasures.

Kitty Fantastic in Manroe’s Art is a fun and stimulating book for learning historical lessons and as an introduction to art &ndash and as such, the book would be ideal for groups of children at schools, libraries and even daycare centers. Children are not the only people that can be enlightened by this book – my husband and myself were both educated about “surrealism” and more. I was also particularly partial to the author making sure it is understood that each person has their own art and express thoughts and emotions through it in their own unique way.

I heartily recommend this book!

ISBN#: 0-9771971-1-5

Authored and Illustrated by: Pamela Key

Publisher: A Better Be Write Publisher

The first thing that stood out for me about Michael Putegnat’s novel, Laguna, was the author’s excellent writing skills. He has the ability to create a vision in the readers mind and employs a clever use of humor. Attractive hooks at the ending of most chapters kept me unable to resist reading at least the first paragraph or two of the next one.

Laguna opens with Octavio Paredes, the missing fisherman, and his wife Anajita. This interesting inter-racial marriage gives glimpses of underlying racism in their families. From there we are introduced to Jason, a sergeant at a police station, and his brother Jack, who is depressed and out-of-work. The hands of fate drag these two brothers into the case of the missing fisherman. Intriguing threads lead back to Jack’s old job and his only refuge is his sailboat. However the unexpected romance with Angela brings a ray of relief to Jack’s battered life.

Sweet Angela, the green-eyed daughter of Sophia Poole, is more than she seems. She gets that from her mother. Sophia, no ordinary elderly lady, holds an emotional secret.

John Mange, his wife and two sons are facing financial loss on a grand scale. But nothing small in this family has been done in more than four generations. Greed runs deep in John’s genes and like his forefathers, he stoops to unspeakable levels to get what he desires most.

Enter Fester Stubb, a former IRS tax fraud specialist is employed by John Mange. John doesn’t yet know it, but he has just made his biggest mistake.

As you can probably tell by the list of characters, the back cover statement accurately describes the setting for Laguna as a place where “power and greed are the new religion and love is an accident”.

This book invokes political scams and rich men’s schemes, harbored loves and dedications that control women’s lives – and my favorite of all themes &ndash the love and desire to protect the environment. I love the good verses evil scenario set out from the start. Here we have greed working against vengeance with the backdrop of romance and the need to do what is right. I was stunned to discover this is this author’s very first book. It is of excellent quality with writing skills I have seldom seen.

The characters are made to appear so real. No one in particular is a “hero”, yet they all play a heroic part in some way &ndash each without knowledge of what any of the others were doing. It was a great example of what each of us can do by playing an active role.

In his real life, author Michael Putegnat is familiar with the political arenas and enjoys sailing. He also comes from a long line of Texans; his family has lived in the state for 5 generations or so. Because of this, his book comes alive for the reader with seemingly little effort on his part.

What three things do the world’s most successful people share in common? They have their own definition of success, they know the personality qualities that drive them, and they’ve seized their defining moments.

That’s the idea in a new book that examines the personality traits of successful people across the globe. The book’s authors say the lessons learned can help people succeed in their careers and in life.

Written by Herb Greenberg and Patrick Sweeney-who have advised more than 25,000 companies in the areas of hiring, employee development, team building and organizational development-”Succeed on Your Own Terms” (McGraw-Hill, $21.95) offers readers practical tips and advice.

The book provides an in-depth look at more than four dozen talented individuals who have made their marks in business, politics, sports, the arts and global affairs. It also offers readers the chance to complete a free, in-depth personality profile (worth over $200) to help focus their energies on specific fields or goals. According to the book, successful people know that:

• Real success comes from recognizing, understanding, developing and concentrating on one’s strengths. According to Paul Schulte, the youngest U.S. Olympic wheelchair basketball player at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, that means “focussing on what you have, rather than what you don’t have.”

• Being self-aware means not letting the outside world define you and knowing what motivates you. For instance, Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to climb Mount Everest, says, “Success is the achievement of whatever it is that you set out to do. And it’s up to you to decide what that is. It can’t be determined by anyone else.”

• Being willing to risk means being all right with the possibilities. Senator Barbara Boxer says she doesn’t always succeed if that only means accomplishing what she wants. “I can feel successful just moving my agenda forward,” she explains.

• When you love what you do, people can sense it in your presence.

Reading the book’s success stories will help people gain a new perspective-one that can be useful when striving for success in their own lives.

This has to be one of the best detective novels I have read in some time &ndash right up there with Lawrence Sanders! P.J. Lawton is far from new to the world of writing and he displays excellent story-writing skills in Lethal Option. He shares much of the same history as his main character, giving the detective more depth than could be achieved otherwise.

I think I would classify this book as a ‘thriller-mystery’. The reader is taken on a roller-coaster ride from one seemingly unconnected crime into another. The main character is a Private Investigator who has a loyal heart and honestly tries to make wrongs right whenever he can. Along with his military history and police experiences, the PI was aware of and listened to his sixth sense, which allowed him to detect when things were not quite right &ndash a lethal combination. In his private life his heart is beginning to awaken after many years of slumber and he is faced with a decision that he is not sure he is ready to make. Eventually the PI encounters something so great that it changes his destiny, and possibly his character, forever.

I sincerely enjoyed reading and reviewing this book. Honestly, I could not put it down and I have already begun a second read &ndash this time for pleasure. I will be found pacing the floors until I can get my hands on book #2 to see what happens next! I give this book the highest rating possible and recommend it highly to readers who love a book that makes you think.”

ISBN#:1413779301

Publisher: Publish America

Author: P.J. Lawton

Letter to Maya Angelou is a book that is intended to entice the reader’s attention and provoke them to delve into deep thought on environmental and society issues.

One hundred breath-taking, intimate photographs of nature scenes have been included in this book. Beautiful shots of flocks of birds just taking off in flight, enchanting forests, stunning autumn color and incredible sunsets were enough to make me a fan of the book.

The photos are accompanied with poetic verses, which, unfortunately, did not strike a cord in me. Honestly, I did not even understand many of the verses. Overall, though, it was clear that the author’s intent was to encourage openness to adventure, the opportunity for growth and participation in issues that matter. I really liked a few statements in particular, “Let your heart be your guide, and the brain a tool” and “It’s always a holiday when you love”.

Oluwadahusi is a man who has been juggling many hats for some time – from being a lawyer, author and poet, to the more rewarding efforts as a teacher and father. He warns his readers that “any apparent disorder in any of the text, lack of punctuation” was done with the intent to provoke the reader to fill in the blanks for themselves.

ISBN#: 1420820486

Author: Oluwadahunsi

Photographs provided by: US Fish & Wildlife Service

Publisher: Author House

The Little Mornings, by C M Albrecht is a murder mystery with 262 absolutely absorbing pages. We have three main characters here &ndash the grandfather, an alcoholic of questionable character, a slightly off balance woman (Angie) and an impressionable young man (Darcy) who becomes mixed up in a whirlwind of events. Murder, thievery and lies keep the unsteady relationship between Darcy and Angie on edge. Keeping a secret is no easy task, especially when someone else pops into the scene with inside knowledge to the truth. Darcy, unable to control the events, becomes another person entirely from the one we knew in the first few pages of the book.

Perhaps because I am a writer, and this book has to do with the publishing industry, I am partial to the theme. Grandfather’s description of a writer’s methods to reach their creative dreams had me laughing out loud &ndash because it was so true. As were the frustrated, aspiring writers and the over worked publishers. I felt the book was very realistic in this regard.

I loved the first few paragraphs &ndash they really pulled me in. I kept hearing Humphry Bogart’s voice in my head narrating the story as I read along. I sat on the edge of an uncomfortable plastic chair 2 days ago and opened the first page to begin reviewing The Little Mornings. I meant to take only a ten-minute break from my day to enjoy the sunshine. The next thing I knew, my leg and butt-cheek were both completely numb and lifeless… and I was on page 50! So be warned, readers, this book may very well take you out of commission for a few days. I could not wait to get back to it every minute I had to spare!

ISBN#: 1894942434

Author: C M Albrecht

Publisher: Zumaya Publications.