Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
Long Island’s Top Four Most Haunted Places By Michael Phillip Cash
Long Island’s Top Four Most Haunted Places By Michael Phillip Cash
It’s no secret that I love all things paranormal. My book series, A Haunting on Long Island, contains four separate books, all about ghostly hauntings and paranormal happenings.
I live on Long Island, New York, which is 118 miles long and 23 miles wide and filled with beaches, scenic views, historic landmarks and….ghosts. When I was recently asked to list my four most haunted Long Island locations. I knew right away which ones I’d choose!
Mount Misery & Sweet Hollow Road
Tales of angry and vengeful Native Americans abound at this famous camping area. Through in the unconfirmed legend of a 1700s insane asylum mysteriously burning to the ground and you have the perfect storm for some truly hair-raising ghostly encounters. One of my kids went to camp around here for a day. Never again!
Kings Park Psychiatric Center
Resembling the set of a horror flick instead of the long abandoned, dilapidated hospital it’s become, Kings Park Psychiatric Center is creepy enough to send spine-tingling chills down even the most experienced ghost hunter. Built in 1885, the hospital started out as a way to provide humane care to psychiatric patients. But during the 1950s the place took a turn to give way to experimental treatments like lobotomies and electro shock therapy. Some people swear the screams of former patients can still be heard coming from behind the walls late at night. What do I think? It’s a great place to relax and chill for the night…just kidding.
Lake Ronkonkoma
As Long Island’s largest lake, Lake Ronkonkoma is full of haunted activity. Even the lake itself is said to be haunted. Reported as the bottomless lake, it’s said that Lake Ronkonkoma is filled with the unfortunate souls who have tragically drowned over the years. Scary, scary place. Don’t go there, especially at night.
Raynham Hall in Oyster Bay
Raynham Hall in historic Oyster Bay was once a twenty-room house owned by the prestigious Townsend family. It’s since been preserved and turned into a historic museum, open to the public. Paranormal groups have captured strange EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon), mysterious smells, floating orbs and other ghostly activity.
Raynham Hall was the backstory to the third installment of my A Haunting on Long Island series, The After House. Huge inspiration. Great haunted house.
Michael Phillip Cash is the author of the four-book series A Haunting on Long Island. Readers can connect with Michael on his website and Facebook.
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Price Of Eden (Aquarius Rising #3) by Brian Burt (Book Review #221)
Price of Eden is the third book in the Aquarius Rising. Following the aftermath of what happens in book two, tensions are high. Global warming has had its effect on the coastal cities. Many of them are under water. There is a breed of half human – half dolphin residing in the waters. The story focuses on Ocypode this time. A tribe of whales sees him as the storm- slayer, the one that is going to bring peace. As always, nothing comes easy for the hybrids. Ocypode’s destiny and the fate of this world are determined in this nonstop action thriller story.
The author has once again created a masterpiece. This science fiction novel is written with many analogies and vocabulary terms, which none science fiction fans might find hard to understand, however, the story is so appealing that I believe it would not affect the enjoyment of the plot.
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There is a special something in the way this author builds this fantasy world. I felt this in reading his previous work and again in this one as well. You really do feel for the characters and wish wholeheartedly for them to survive the ordeals they are put through. There is a very nice flow and connectivity between the chapters and the storyline. The plot is superbly put together and delivers a beautiful ending.
I believe that you would benefit from reading the first and second book before approaching this one. I recommend this book to any science fiction fan and anyone that likes a good full on action saga.
Written by Jeyran Main
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L.M. Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery OBE (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942) was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning in 1908 with Anne of Green Gables. The book was an immediate success. The central character, Anne Shirley, an orphaned girl, made Montgomery famous in her lifetime and gave her an international following. WIKI.
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Reflections by Clifton Kenny (Book Review #222)
Reflections is a science fiction fantasy, supernatural story about a boy named Shane. He has the ability to explore the ancestral memories of a person’s lineage. With his new-found powers, he sets off on a journey of self-discovery and a unique coming of age.
The story begins with the lead character delivering papers. His abilities are described through mystical and heritable forces. The story is filled with historical and science fiction references. The backstory and character development are what sets this book aside from similar books in this genre. The author manages to beautifully engage the reader and has you bond with the character and the journey he takes.
The world is set in 1974 and Shane’s friends, page and Jimmer are his support mechanism right until the end. Shane’s reflections allow him and friends to know about the past and the future. He learns about the past and how he originally received this gift as well. The book ends with some closure but not enough to conclude everything together which possible may be due to the author wishing to introduce a sequel to the story.
I found the book to be written and described very well. With historical fiction aiming to intrigue the young adult minds, one may find themselves in a tricky situation however, the author excelled in producing a fun, entertaining and mind- twisting story.
I believe anyone interested in historical fiction, paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi would enjoy this book.
Written by Jeyran Main
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War of Rain by H.W. Vivian (Book Review #223)
This review was kindly requested by H.W. Vivian
War of Rain is a young adult fantasy novel written about a girl named Miri. Earth has moved closer to the sun causing geographical problems. The sky is no longer blue and the ground is dusty. Earth’s recourses have been reduced and barely anything can be grown to eat. Rain is a hot commodity. Miri and the people of her village pray to the God, Kalono in order to receive rain and then exchange it with other villagers for various resources. Miri’s people get attacked by the barbarians from the Stratos village and Miri accidentally kills one of them in defense.
This causes a great havoc between the two villagers. The leader of Stratos sends Miri on a mission to find an invention or else war is upon them. Scared but determined, Miri travels to find a solution to the problem. On her way, she meets a tribe called, Troposians and that is where Miri’s story blossoms. Her personality, choices she makes, emotions, growth, and encounters are what makes this compelling story unique.
Miri is only 15, however, due to the rough conditions and predicament she is left under, her character and personality have to behave more mature and her decisions face harsher consequences. I enjoyed this aspect of the book very much. I believe the author managed to describe the world setting in such a way that the reader would ponder on what they would do if they had fallen under such living conditions.
The book was easy to read and had a very nice flow to it. The pace was evenly spread out. The book is divided into three parts and each part evolves smoothly into the next one.
I believe the story is very suitable for younger adults and I recommended it to anyone that enjoys fantasy novels.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Be in your Moment by Bibiana Krall
Be in your Moment | Bibiana Krall
Be in the moment…
Everyone has heard this expression before, right? What does it really mean to you? This morning I realized that I need to take my own advice and send a little, fairy dust over to you as well.
This morning I was laying in my bed, reading morning emails, flipping through my Kindle to find a new book to enjoy and simultaneously watching a video about motivation on my iPad. This activity was all within the first five minutes after I opened my eyes.
Now stop! Hold it right there!
Dial back into your morning ritual. Was it anything like mine?
What the heck has happened to enjoy waking up? Stretch your legs and breathe. Be grateful in the dark or watch sunlight creep in through the curtains. If you are lucky enough to have someone you love right beside you, a good morning kiss or a shared coffee is one of the best ways to wake up and start the day.
When did we pass up this simplicity of one moment, for three, four or even five different things coming at us at once? It really boils down to savoring, experiencing, and tasting what is in front of us.
Certain types of obesity, depression, frustration and general discord, may eventually trace back to this simple concept. Of course, there are a million other reasons humans can be unhappy, lost in translation or quick to anger, but let’s stick to how you can stay on the bright side.
I challenge you to try this experiment for a week. Spend fifteen minutes when you wake up- any way you want to, doing only ONE thing that makes YOU happy.
Notice quietly how pure the focus is, remember this and hold on to how centered you feel. You are at the moment. You are engaging with one thing. Life, breath, affirmation and singular stimulus are amazing!
Your moment can be physical or mental exercise, a dramatic, movie style kiss (Yes, please!), eating a fresh peach or even hugging yourself. Give yourself this gift of fifteen moments of affirmation and see if it doesn’t make a remarkable difference in how you perceive yourself and other people you interact with throughout the day.
I used to think it was the big things that made the difference. As I get older, wiser, well… that is to be determined! Ha!
It’s is the slightest shift, that causes the biggest landslide.
Until next time, find your Peace, Love, Hustle and then Write.
Bibiana Krall is a returning student, who recently earned her MA in Creative writing and is actively pursuing her MFA in Fiction in the same program at Wilkes University CW. She is a multi-genre novelist, short-story writer, world traveler, devoted mother and wife who writes memorable characters meant to inspire readers to embrace their inner power.
WWW.BIBIANAKRALL.COM
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The Wealth Attraction Factor: Your Path To Infinite Abundance by Darren Burton (Book Review #224)
This review was kindly requested by Darren Burton.
The Wealth Attraction Factor is a non-fiction- short book written about ways to increase your income. The author demonstrates that by using the correct mindset one can achieve a very wealthy life. The book discusses how to monitor your thoughts and learn how to be logical and practical in order to learn how to effectively apply the law of attraction. It teaches you to attract wealth into your belief and it will come.
I particularly enjoyed the part where the author asks you to not focus on things you don’t have. It may sound really simple but we, as humans naturally wonder on the things we are limited on and use that as an excuse to not move up the ladder. I particularly learned this lesson a few years back when I was working at a place where they expected a high performance with limited recourses. I kept telling myself, how can I accomplish what they are seeking when I have no tools to do so. That is when I changed my mindset and I give credit to the book for reminding me of this lesson.
This isn’t a ‘How to get rich’ book but what it does is offer the most valuable lesson of all, and that is the power of the mind. The chapters are clear on what the discussion matter is going to be about. The literature is easy to understand. There is no complicated graph or a mountain to climb in order to achieve wealth. It is very realistic and true to the nature of things and if one really takes on board what the author is trying to say, then I believe they will be the true winners.
I recommend this book to anyone that wishes to better themselves in life.
Written by Jeyran Main
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The Goddess by H.W. Vivian (Book Review #225)
This review was kindly requested by H.W. Vivian
The Goddess is a young adult novel written about Clara and her two brothers. She accidentally causes trouble which then leads to a war. The book is similar, in some aspects to War of Rain but this time the Stratos is allied with purists, which are like hippies, and the ice clan. Clara and her brothers have a secret and no one should find out. At the same time, a woman comes out of a computer in a matrix form. She has the power to commune and is called the Goddess. The woman predicts certain things for Clara that come true creating trouble in her mind.
The world setting takes place in a commune. It is all controlled by the Goddess. Each commune has a task to do every day and Clara has the task of disposing of waste. The story is again divided into parts. Each part evolves into the next one creating this intertwined, thrilling story. Clara’s destiny and faith can save the people and for that reason, her personality needed to be strong and relatable. The author succeeds in drawing out multi-dimensional characteristic virtues, creating this epic story of self-discovery.
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The literature was strong but easy to understand. The book is very suitable for the young adults and the message embedded within the content of the story is beautiful. The pace and the layout were smooth and connected. The story is shorter and more compact. I believe the author has great potential in writing similar style stories and look forward to reading more of her books.
Written by Jeyran Main
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