Svetlana's Reads and Views

General Information: Name of Book: Muscle Cars ISBN: 9781939650221 Publisher: Santa Fe Writers Project Year it was published: 2015 Summary: The stories in Muscle Cars explore the unique and sometimes flawed relationships between men, their families, and their friends. Featuring a diverse cast of inarticulate misfits—including a compulsive body builder obsessed by the death of his brother, a former boxer forced to sell his prized 1946 New York Yankees–autographed baseball, and two boyhood friends who plan to steal Ted Williams’ scientifically frozen head—this stand-out debut from Pushcart-nominated Eoannou is a powerful journey through the humor, darkness, and neuroses of the modern American everyman Author:  Stephen G Eoannou About the Author: (From Poetic Book Tours) Stephen G. Eoannou  holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte and an MA from Miami University. His work has been nominated for two Pushcart Awards, awarded an Honor Certificate f...

Name of Book: Aoleon The Martian Girl-Part 4 Illegal Aliens Author: Brent LeVasseur ISBN/ASIN: B00T3P4S92 Publisher:  Brent LeVasseur Part of a Series: Aoleon the Martian Girl Type of book: Aliens, desert, conquer, hidden history, changes, destiny, friendship, teamwork, Earth, enemies, middle grade, science fiction Year it was published: 2015 Summary: Science Fiction Series Aoleon The Martian Girl Part 4 Illegal Aliens (Part 4 of 5) Aoléon and Gilbert have become the Luminon’s top priority in stopping the Martian resistance movement, and after being chased by the Royal Paladin Guard, they are forced to flee the Martian Megalopolis. Aoléon, Gilbert and Zoot escape with the help of Bizwat and his newly found friend, Helios, a first generation soldierbot. After their saucer is destroyed, they crash land somewhere in the deep Martian desert, and they set out to locate Kyrios and the secret base where Aoléon’s parents are being held captive. After battling t...

Name of Book: Visiting the Sins Author: Melanie Denman ISBN: 978-1-59571-926-3 Publisher: Word Association Publishers Type of book: mother/daughter, East Texas, faith, relationships, beauty pageants, sinning, wealth, fitting in, small community, sacrifices, 1930s to 2000s, trying to get along, family Year it was published: 2015 Summary: In her riotous debut novel, which was awarded the 2014 bronze IPPY for Regional Southern Fiction, Melanie Denman probes the silent sacrifices of motherhood with unflinching honesty and warmhearted amusement. Set in the Bible Belt of Deep East Texas, Visiting the Sins is a darkly funny story about mothers and daughters, naked ambition, elusive redemption, and all the torment it's possible to inflict in the name of family. Down through the decades, the lofty social aspirations of the feisty but perennially dissatisfied Wheeler women - Pokey, the love-starved, pistol-packing matriarch; Rebanelle, the frosty former beauty queen turn...

Before time began, you were imagined, planned, and created for a specific and unique purpose. There is something you were created to do and if you don’t do it, it will never be done. It is urgent that you find the courage to be and do all you were created for. Someone is waiting for you to be you. Have you ever contemplated your particular purpose - the reason you are on this planet? Have you intentionally pursued your true identity and attempted to fulfill your destiny?  Do You Have The Courage To Be You?  If you answered “No” to any of these questions, but want to answer “Yes,” then life coach, Jenny Williamson, will help you to do just that through the pages of this book. Do You Have The Courage To Be You?  was the provocative question that changed the entire trajectory of Jenny’s life, and became the impetus used to propel her on a journey of discovering her water-walking, giant-slaying, history-making destiny. She prays it will do the same for you. As Jenny ne...

1.         Is writing your full time job?  No.  My full time job, besides wife and mom, is being the CEO of Courage Worldwide – an organization that builds homes for children who have been rescued from sex trafficking.  We have one home in the U.S. and one in Africa with plans to open more. 2.         Why did you write the book – Do you have the courage to be you?  For most of my life I did not believe I had a particular talent, purpose or passion, but I desperately wanted one.  So around my 40 th birthday I began asking the not so original questions – who am I and what in the world am I on this planet for.  While asking those question, I heard another one whispered to my heart – do you have the courage to be you?  That question propelled me on a journey of discovering WHO I was created to be so I could then DO what I was created to do. 3.        ...

Name of Book: Tangled Omens Author: Joni Parker ISBN: 9781497440289 Publisher: Village Green Press Part of a Series: Seaward Isle Saga Type of book: fantasy, flat characters, witches,, elves, military, learning from others, Seaward Isle, stranded on the island, storm, thinking of escape, revenge, engagements, Titans, myths Year it was published: 2012 Summary: Alex's adventures continue as she unravels the mysteries of Seaward Isle. In her new role as a Tracker, she is on the trail of a spy called the Horseman who is in cahoots with the pirates to steal Elfin gold. Alex experiences new aspects of her own gifts bestowed on her by her Titan ancestors in this rollicking new adventure. Characters: Alex is a pretty flat and boring character who literally succeeds at everything she does and is ridiculously resourceful and talented at everything. If there is conflict, it seemed a bit unbelievable for me because it seems very out of the blue and the book doesn...

Name of Book: Boring Girls Author: Sara Taylor ISBN: 978-1-77041-016-9 Publisher: ECW Press Type of book: heavy metal, YA, dark, violent, rape, fame, goals, revenge, struggle, success, friendship, no romance, disrespect in male dominated fields, cursing, murder, isolationism, keeping it inside Year it was published: 2015 Summary: Rachel feels like she doesn’t fit in — until she finds heavy metal and meets Fern, a kindred spirit. The two form their own band, but the metal scene turns out to be no different than the misogynist world they want to change. Violent encounters escalate, and the friends decide there’s only one way forward . . . A bloodstained journey into the dark heart of the music industry, Boring Girls traces Rachel’s deadly coming-of-age, Fern at her side — as the madness deepens, their band’s success heightens, and their taste for revenge grows ravenous. Characters: The main characters include Rachel and Fern. Rachel is the bolder and the crazier ...