Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
Angles – Part I by Erin Lockwood (Book Review #72)
The story of Angles is a captivating tale about a girl named Caralee. She has a loyal group of friends and one best friend, Teddy who looks out for her all the times. He gets married at the beginning of the story to a lovely girl named Anne. Although the triangle at first looks like he has feelings for Cara and it is going to be a troublesome trio, the story takes on a new drama twist with the appearance of a dashingly handsome man named Sam.
Sam is everything a girl wants, not just by the way he looks but also by his mannerism. The sense of security, sensuality, and his gentlemanly behavior is to perfection. His presence alone brings along turmoil of emotions for Cara, let alone the way he interacts with her. There is a slight problem, though; Cara is already in a relationship with another gentleman, Jason.
Sam’s dashing eyes even makes the front cover of the book.
The protectiveness of Teddy also is dominant throughout the book. In addition, Sam and Jason both are his friends, and he appears to have strong feelings for Cara himself, as well.
This dynamic tale of events does certainly wrap your head in a twist but, thankfully not so much of a knot. The pace and level of understanding are superb alongside the skill in making each character appealing to the reader. The Author has excellent taste in expressing what actually goes on in a woman’s head. There was so much back and forth that even I, as a woman felt like saying “no wonder they say we, as women, are complex.”
I found Cara not as mature and robust as I would have liked her to be. When you have so many men wanting to be with you and constantly trying to steal your affections, then a substantial lead would be more attractive. The issue Cara had was that the men she was in a relationship would not commit to her and in her defense, she does come to a realization that she has to grow up, but it is a little too late. Altogether, her vulnerability was pleasing to the plot, and I enjoyed the interconnectivity of the whole story together.
The ending is sweet and promises a second series. I look forward to finding out what happens to this girl and her friends.
I recommend this book to contemporary romance readers. You will enjoy reading this book in one sitting and it is definitely worth your time.
Written by Jeyran Main
This review was kindly requested by the Author, Erin Lockwood.
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The Slave Players by Megan Allen (Book Review #320)
Secrets and lies are rife in this small community. The truth about what has happened is covered up but has to come out, and it is only a matter of time before a spark ignites everything. The attention of the nation is drawn to this little town but before too much can be broadcast a media blackout occurs and everyone is left in the dark.
I really enjoyed the intrigue of this novel. It touches on subjects that are still very taboo and does hit on many issues that have occurred in the past. The author kept my attention from the beginning to the end, as I wanted to continually know where the story was going and how it was going to be resolved. In many ways, it is not what I expected, and that is what kept me hungry for more.
The literature standard was in high quality. This book is by far the best well-edited literature I have read. This made me enjoy the story to the fullest. It has to be noted that there are racial, sexual, and political references within the content. The characters are well developed and thought out. Each to its own, have their own agenda and background. My heart just ached and felt strongly about some of the characters in particular, which bears a fitting testament to the quality of the writing.
The story has a very strong message, and that is, no matter how much we strive in trying to make the world a better place, there are always some bad apples trying to destroy it for the rest of us. I find this book very relatable to the situation we are currently experiencing in the world. Hate crime, racial discrimination, unjustified killings, spreading hatred towards different religions, are all currently what we face today.
I believe this book would be suitable for anyone that has an open mind and enjoys reading well-written literature.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Finding Rose Rocks by Karen Rose (Book Review #319)
A dashing man named, Troy, comes along and offers a solution to her problems. As things heat up between the two, fate separates them because Jennifer has to leave to see family for the summer. Things get more complicated for her, while she is away and that’s when the story takes an even interesting turn.
From the beginning, I was captivated by the classical but, sensual style of writing the author had. It reminded me of the feeling you get when the exterior architecture of a building is all contemporary but, once you enter the building, the sense of being home rushes through your veins.
The name of the book comes from a type of mineral formation found almost exclusively in Oklahoma. Such detailed approach is what we need nowadays in the writing world. Even the name of the book has a beautiful backstory to it. There is a nice flow to the story. The literature standard is written with depths of emotional dilemmas, and I believe that what’s makes this book stand out.
I recommend this book to romance readers and people that enjoy woman’s fiction.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Mad God Walking by Connor Drexler (Book Review #57)
This review was kindly requested by the Author, Connor Drexler.
Damon is not human, however; he wishes to act like one. He has a past that haunts him, yet he wants to forget it and to move on. Damon has tried so hard to create a living as normal as possible but once wizards arrive and threaten this peaceful life; he then has to use his secret powers to fight back. As this secret comes out, his life like the wish to live resembling a human also changes.
He has to save himself and his friends while trying not to turn into what they all expect of him, a Mad God.
This is an interesting story. There may be stories similar to this genre around however this book had its novel approach and kept it all together which is hard to do considering the paranormal activity within the content of the book. The book is very well written, and the literary standard is up to speed.
The relationship between Damon and Thom was built very nicely and enjoyable to read. The care was deep and written well. There was enough backstory for the characters, and the pace of the tale was good to keep the reader’s interest. There is some romance in this story, and so it does contain sexual content. The love between Damon and Sarah was a little too fast, and the quality of care and affection between them was poor. This caused me doubting the authenticity of their regard.
The ending of the book is different than what you would expect, and I believe it was just. Considering this is book one, I anticipate that it was the right approach to take.
I look forward to reading more from this author, and I recommend this book to urban fantasy readers and magic book lovers.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Lucky Go Happy by Paul van der Merwe (Book Review #56)
Since it is the season to be jolly, let us dig into reviewing a book that is all about being happy.
Positive thinking, emotional reactions and in general, seeking joy is what this book is about. A rat named Lucky has been sent on a mission to the African Bush in order to find out what makes animals happy. Lucky has to report back to the King, which happens to be a Lion.
This is not a self-help book, however; it does contain many things that you can learn from within a funny- cheeky story. You are definitely guaranteed a fun and fulfilled ride. I personally enjoy books that portray fundamental learning’s within a story, and this book carried the exact concept. I have certainly met my fair share of people that behave like the Fish Eagle in this tale.
Lucky meets many animals on his way to discovery. Each animal provides a valuable lesson, insight and carries a message, which is very nice. This tale is sweet and thought provoking for the young mind and older.
Lucky Go Happy does not contain any sudden twists or shocking revelations. The plot is mainly to be informative than anything else. I liked that every chapter enclosed a piece that would then create a nice conclusion for the ending of the story. There is a deeper meaning to the entire book which can be understood if you look beyond the comical side of the story.
The pace and the character building were really pleasing to the reader, and if you are seeking a book of wisdom with hints of fun and animals, then this is the perfect book for you.
Written by Jeyran Main
This review was kindly requested by the Author, Paul van der Merwe.
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The Rain Never Came by Lachlan Walter (Book Review #318)
I liked the fact how the story was not so far-fetched from reality. Although the world setting and description of the whole situation has not yet happened in the current world, the thought of it was alarmingly close to what could be.
The literature is by far one of the best I have read. I believe that’s what made the book stand out. A well-written story makes such a difference.
As realistic as one can get and mentioned before there are a few that resist moving from their homes due to the bad living conditions. Bill and Toby were a humorous pair, and that did shed some smiles for the reader as they experienced their relationships and interactions.
I believe anyone that enjoys reading on dystopian novels would enjoy this book immensely.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Epstein Barr Virus Infection Reactivation by James Okun
In my book Erasing Scars: Herpes and Healing (https://amzn.to/2a2rVxQ) I describe how I came to an understanding of the relation of disease to an attitude to the world and how I was using my family to be in conflict. This conflict caused me to be constantly stressed out as I was unable to put together the desire to be angry and my grateful side. I was in conflict which is the same as being stressed.
This state of constantly being “stressed out” was lowering my immune system and causing structural changes in my corneas. In understanding how stress can lead to the reactivation of herpes family viruses like the Epstein Barr Virus, it is useful to remember that the original meaning of the word disease according to philosopher, poet, critic and founder of the philosophy Aesthetic Realism is “lack of ease” (Siegel, Eli. Self and World. New York: Definition Press 1981 An Approach to a Philosophy of Self and Disease p. 317).
Stress has long been known to have an adverse effect on health with both stress and depression directly linked to decreases in the body’s ability to fight infections (see Chapter 1 The Psychoimmunology of Herpes Virus Infections in Erasing Scars: Herpes and Healing https://amzn.to/2a2rVxQ).
As discussed in Erasing Scars: Herpes and Healing, Glaser and Glaser have documented decreases in peripheral lymphocytes in patients under stress and Kemeny and Cohen have also documented the lowering of CD4 (+) helper-inducer and CD8 (+) suppressor-cytotoxic t-cells in patients who are stressed and depressed with all this leading to higher rates of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)outbreaks (Erasing Scars: Herpes and Healing https://amzn.to/2a2rVxQ)
The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) also known as human herpesvirus 4 is one of the most common human viruses found worldwide and is one of the 8 members of the Herpes Hominis virus family (see Chapter 1 Erasing Scars: Herpes and Healing https:/zn.to/2a2rVxQ)si ns in Erasi gamzn.to/2a2rVxQ ). EBV is known to cause mononucleosis (the kissing disease) and has also been linked to a type of cancer known as Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Multiple studies have now linked EBV with several autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Therefore, it seems to make perfect sense that since the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) belongs to the herpes virus family and since stress and depression have been documented as causing HSV reactivations, then abnormal stress and depression leading to reactivation of EBV could certainly also be one causative factor/trigger in Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis. It is useful to define just what an autoimmune disease is.
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s own immune system goes awry and begins to attack itself by attacking normal cells in various organs. In Lupus, antibodies that normally attack, isolate and destroy foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses attack the normal cells of the kidney, the heart, the lungs, the skin, the joints, the bone marrow and the nervous system.
In Rheumatoid Arthritis, in the same abnormal manner, antibodies attack the body’s normal cartilage cells which line the joint spaces and in Multiple Sclerosis the body’s antibodies attack the cells of the myelin sheath that covers nerves allowing for normal nerve transmission.
Per the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) autoimmune diseases comprise more than 80 separate illnesses that affect approximately 23.5 million Americans and “80 percent of that group are women” (www.swedish.org).
Risk factors for autoimmune diseases include being a women of childbearing age, having a positive family history of autoimmune diseases and being overly stressed. This does not bode particularly well for Millennial women of childbearing age who are often under never-ending stress (Millennials are defined as being born between the years 1980 and the early 2000s and so would be in the approximate age range of 18-35).
Approximately 90% of the 5 million people who have Lupus worldwide are women between the ages of 15 to 44. Nearly three times as many women as men have Rheumatoid Arthritis with 1.5 million Americans affected between the ages of 30 and 60. In addition, MS is at least “two to three times more common in women than in men” (www.nationalmssociety.org) and “most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50…” The question then is could a common virus such as the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) be acting as a “trigger” that could be inducing these disabling conditions and steps can be taken to help reduce its reactivation.
In one study (James J.A., Kaufman K.M., Farris A.D., et al An increased prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus infection in young patients suggests a possible etiology for systemic lupus erythematosus. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1997;100: 3019-3026.doi:10.1172/JCI119856.) all of the 32 Lupus patients in the study tested positive for EBV. According to a review of the literature, “These results suggest a role for reactivation of EBV infection in SLE (Epstein-Barr Virus and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus http://dx.doi.org/10,1155/2012/370516).
In another study involving MS and EBV, 100% of the MS patients studied were found to have previous infection with EBV. According to the study’s authors, “In a recent meta analysis, previous EBV infection was actually found to be present in 100% of MS patients in studies using two independent methods of antibody detection.” (Mult Scler. 2013 Feb; 19 (2): 162-6.)
Finally, a study linking EBV and Rheumatoid Arthritis stated “In conclusion, we have demonstrated perturbations of EBV infection in patients with RA with another study indicating that epidemiological data suggest that EBV is associated with RA (www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/).
It is very hopeful that a change in attitude and perception can lead to reduced stress and a state of homeostasis that could help resist EBV reactivation and thus flare-ups of MS, RA and Lupus.
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