I love to read, and I love to write book reviews and share them with others.
Author: BonnieReadsAndWrites
I love to read and write book reviews in my free time. I review advance review copies of books on Netgalley for various publishers. I am also a reviewer for Historical Novels Review Magazine, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. I review books from publishers of all size, large to small. I have a special place in my heart for indie authors. I will sometimes post a little writing that I might dabble in occasionally. I also am lucky enough to live in the Smoky Mountains, so I'll be sharing photos of the beauty around me from time to time.
The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book-related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blog.
Honestly, I thought they were pretty much a must-have in everyone’s home, whether in print copy or ebooks on a kindle. My house is full of books. I am looking directly at two overflowing bookcases right now and there are more upstairs, plus boxes of books I plan to give away. And my Kindle app is crammed with books too. I do give away many of my books, but my husband will not part with any of his, so there we are. I can’t imagine a house without books.
How about you? Is your house overflowing with books?
Great news! Another book in Louise Belanger’s Christian Poetry collection is on sale!
Your Words, Your Heart is Louise’s third book in the collection, and it’s on sale for 99 cents.
Below is a repost of my 5-star review of Your Words, Your Heart
This is the third book in Louise Bélanger’s wonderful Christian poetry collection. When released, it was the number one new release in both the “Christian Poetry” and “Religious and Inspirational Poetry” categories on Amazon. The poems are accompanied by stunningly beautiful photographs. The author’s strong and simple faith shines through on every page. Louise’s words show us that faith in God does not have to be complicated and will bring you great peace.
The poem Wings is one of my favorites, as it conjures up images of millions of prayers flying around the world, on their way up to God.
I also love Who Wins, which starts out:
“There is a glass inside of us Where trust and doubt compete.
As glass will not expand They fight for space.”
It is about what we allow into our soul and who and what we trust.
My favorite poem may be Petals like Hearts. It starts out:
“Petals, like hearts are subject to frost.”
That may be my favorite line in the book because it’s so true.
The poem most evident of the author’s strong faith is With You, which makes me feel peaceful whenever I read it.
The photographs of this book were taken by the author in her home city of Montreal and they are absolutely spectacular. The cover photo blows me away. It is just so mesmerizing. There are so many great photos in this book.
This book will leave you filled with hope and beauty, and that’s a great way to start, continue, or end any day.
This is a beautiful book of Christian poetry and photography. The ebook is on sale beginning today for 99 cents. The Author, Louise Bélanger, was awarded a 2022 Gold Medal from Reader’s Favorite for this uplifting and captivating book.
Here is a repost of my 5-star review:
Your Words, Your World is a beautiful collection of poetry, photographs, and story poems about God and the world He created, and the second book of poems by Louise Bélanger. It helps the reader look at the world in a new way.
Among my favorite poems is Ordinary, about how God can take something ordinary, like a star or a body of water, and make it do extraordinary things. I also loved Dust, which reminds us that God created us all from something we don’t really like–dust. A War Erupted paints a beautiful and tumultuous picture of a thunderstorm. The Contest is a thought-provoking story poem about a conversation between flowers. Zoom to Heaven is probably my favorite of all, as it talks about what it would be like to have a Zoom conversation with a loved one in Heaven.
Your Words, Your World takes a unique look at God and the world He created, and it makes me appreciate Him and this world all the more.
The photographs of nature throughout the book are gorgeous and mesmerizing, and they make perfect companions to the poems.
Spring is here! On this blog anyway. I’ve done my seasonal changing of the colors. Some of you may still be getting snow, but Spring will take over soon enough.
This week I got all my reviews for the May edition of Historical Novels Review (HNR), the magazine of the Historical Novel Society (HNS), in and on time! I have been working on some of those since January. That resulted in my not being able to post as much last week, but there will be seven reviews I can post later (after the May 1st publication date).
Here’s a look at the covers of all the books I reviewed for the May edition of HNR.
I have been reading and reviewing as much as possible, so I have some reviews to post in the coming week.
Doug and I watched a really interesting show a couple of weeks ago on Apple TV. It’s called The Shining Girls. It is a crime/thriller that also includes alternate reality and time travel! It was excellent, and not easy to figure out. If you like time travel, thrillers, and puzzles, give this one a try. I liked it so much that I got the audiobook of the novel of the same name by Lauren Beukes, and a review will be along in a couple weeks after I finish listening to it.
Indie Weekend: I posted last week that I have paused new submissions for Indie Weekend until June so I can get caught up. If you are one of the authors whose books I have accepted for Indie Weekend, look for an email from me when I give you a firm date of when the review will be posted. If you don’t get an email from me by Wednesday, contact me at bonniereadsandwrites@gmail.com.
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG
On Friday I posted an excerpt from The Walk On for a blog tour sponsored by AME. I couldn’t put my review up because it was 3 stars and they require at least 4 for the tour. So they provided me with an excerpt and I will post the review later.
This is a fascinating book about a Civil War era racehorse from whom twelve of horseracing’s thirteen Triple Crown winners are descended.
This is Book 3 of the Ice Cream Shop mysteries. I will have to check out the other two. Sometimes you just gotta read a good cozy.
This is the sixth Daniel Pitt novel, which can all be read as standalones. It is set in 1912 London. Daniel is working on a fraud case against a very wealthy philanthropist and Miriam becomes involved in the suffrage movement. I just love Anne Perry’s books.
Indie Weekend is my attempt to help Independent Authors with the task of marketing. Indie authors have to do it all, from cover design to editing, promoting, and more. If I can help even a little bit by sharing their wonderful books with others, I’m happy to do it.
Please share this review with your social media followers as well so we can spread the word about great Indie books as far as possible.
BOOK REVIEW
This is a well-written young adult fantasy with a medieval tone. Harper has gotten an opportunity, through a friend of his father’s, Hammond, to go to the Golden City, Mascaroth, to be a soldier. Harper will be joined by his close friend Linden, and they are also traveling with Bailey and Carrington, the coddled children of the King. Linden has different goals in mind and really just wants to find a wife. Harper, however, is soon intrigued by the Einari, the ancient soldiers of Mascaroth, as his training to be a soldier begins. Thus commences a sweeping and bloody saga, as the Southern Tribesmen are plotting a takeover, and good and evil come to an inevitable clash.
I really enjoyed this novel, which includes some very captivating “stories within a story” about the Einari. Everything is so well written and woven together. Harper encounters love, betrayal, bitterness, torture, unexpected friends, and the horrors of war as he fights for freedom in more ways than one. It is truly an epic fantasy adventure of which the author can be proud. Some well-done surprises truly reveal the fact that people do not always act as expected during times of war. I highly recommend setting off on this adventure, which will immerse you into a world of swords, castles, and ancient soldiers. There is also a touch of romance. My hat is off to A.P. Knight for creating an excellent world and a wonderful story.
I downloaded a copy of this novel via Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read this book for free.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.P. Knight
Andy isn’t the stereotypical author. Not only would he prefer a Dr. Seuss book to a classic, but he’d also rather have a ball in his hands than a keyboard under his fingers. But one day a story popped into his mind that he deemed too important not to write, and upon endless hours of typing, deleting, and retyping, his writing career began. If you’re searching for a young adult clean read that is as stirring as it is inspiring, then crack open one of Andy’s books.
A Midwesterner to his core, Andy prefers the simple life: shooting hoops, chasing pop flies in the outfield, hanging out with family, and scarfing heaping bowls of chocolate ice cream.
*If you read the book, please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help Indie authors go a long way!
The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blog.
No. I would like to, but that probably won’t happen until after I retire in 1 year and 5 months. I do hope to blog at least 3 – 4 times per week, and that usually happens, but not always (like this week). After I retire I will have more time for writing and hope to put up something every day. Then there’s social media. Twitter is not too hard to update because I can share posts from here, but Instagram takes a lot of work! I’m going to have to take a class or something to get better at it.
How about you? How often do you blog or post on social media?
In the twilight of his NFL career as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Storm, Mike “the Steelman” Stalowski masks his physical pain and mental anguish with alcohol and painkillers. The fan favorite has a rebel image and a notorious reputation, and he plays a violent gridiron game fueled by inner rage.
While estranged from his wife and living in the fishbowl environment of professional sports, he unexpectedly meets the fresh-out-of-college Kim Richardson. She sees through Mike’s star persona to who he really is—a kind guy from the Southeast Side of Chicago who has never forgotten his humble blue-collar roots. The lives of the star-crossed, seemingly mismatched couple collide during a whirlwind romance that culminates in a tragic series of events.
The Walk-On is a timeless tale of love and loss that explores the consequences of personal decisions and the rewards of faith, redemption, and hope.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Richard Podkowski, a native of Chicago’s South Side, began writing fiction while studying criminal justice at Loyola University Chicago.
As a United States Secret Service special agent, Richard protected U.S. presidents and foreign dignitaries and investigated major domestic and international financial crimes until he retired in 2003.
Richard’s projects include a Christmas romantic comedy screenplay and a crime story, both currently in the works. In his free time, Richard enjoys riding his road bike, working out, and making Christmas ornaments. He currently resides with his wife in Los Angeles.
“The Walk-On is a fascinating story of self-sabotage and redemption. A page-turner!!!!
– Mary Pat Kelly, Bestselling author of Galway Bay, Of Irish Blood, and Irish Above All
“An interesting read where star linebacker Mike Stalowski confronts the inevitable challenges every NFL player faces as they transition to their post-football life. His experiences may seem exaggerated, but they are still very real.”
– Gary Fencik, Chicago Bears, Super Bowl XX Champion
GUEST POST FROM THE AUTHOR, RICHARD PODKOWSKI
The Walk-On — a true Chicago story
In The Walk-On, Mike “the Steelman” Stalowski is a blue-collar kid who grew up in the shadows of the Chicago steel mills, where hard-working immigrants poured molten steel 24/7 while smokestacks belched black smoke until they were shuttered in the mid-70s. The word steel in Polish is “stal” which is the root of the Steelman’s surname. Technically, my interpretation means he’s made of steel.
Chicago, one of the most diverse cities in the world, has many nicknames including Chi-town, City of Big Shoulders, Windy City, Second City, and oddly for most, the Third Coast. Although if you’ve ever been on the lakefront, you understand.
Many people have heard of the South, North and West Sides. No East Side as you’d be in Lake Michigan. The city has over 200 distinct neighborhoods. You’ll find the Steelman in Hegewisch, Lincoln Park, Little Italy, Wrigleyville and the Gold Coast. The long-standing North Side / South Side rivalry is real. One of my characters from the South Side mocks a friend from the North Side for not venturing farther south than Roosevelt Road. Technically, the dividing line is Madison Street. Ironically, both live in the western suburbs, which is another rivalry.
The South Side is known for being more blue-collar, and it definitely has some of the city’s most poverty-stricken neighborhoods. Conversely, the white-collar North Side includes the bustling downtown area, with its well-known skyscrapers, lakefront recreation and residential high-rises, mansions, upscale eateries and shopping options, and numerous cultural destinations.
I am proud to have grown up on the South Side. We were certainly blue-collar, poor actually, and I lived in a tiny cottage bungalow. Like Stalowski, my parents were Polish immigrants who came to Chicago seeking a better life. My dad toiled in the South Side stockyards until he became a printer. My mother worked on a Westinghouse Corporation factory assembly line, alongside other Polish and Hispanic women. She didn’t speak good English, and she didn’t speak bad Spanish. They got along just fine.
I didn’t visit downtown until I was in 1st or 2nd grade and never dreamed I would one day attend Loyola University on the North Side lakefront. In all fairness, I confess that after becoming empty-nesters, my wife and I lived in East Lakeview and loved it. We walked everywhere: grocery store, gym, church, Wrigley Field, live theater, restaurants, Lincoln Park and even to the glitzy Magnificent Mile on North Michigan Avenue. Can’t do that in the towns of area codes 708, 630, or 847.
The baseball rivalry is real too. The Cubs are the North Side heroes. The White Sox are their South Side rivals. Fortunately, the whole city roots for the Bulls, Blackhawks, and Chicago Bears. In The Walk-On, the city cheers for the fictional NFL Chicago Storm. As the book begins, Mike “the Steelman” Stalowski, a notorious hometown hero hailing from the South Side, has been a fan favorite for years.
I hope you’ll enjoy Mike’s escapades around Chicago — my beloved hometown.
After working my day job, I’ve been doing lots of reading and writing reviews this week for the May edition of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. That’s the reason I didn’t get much posting done. I have to get the rest of my reviews in to HNS by the 15th.
It’s also the reason why Indie Weekend has been delayed. I still haven’t been able to finish the next book I plan to review, Chronicles of the Golden City, but I should have it done by next week.
Besides working and reading, there was not much else going on this week. I’m not going to make a schedule for next week because it’s up in the air right now.
BOOK HAUL
The book description makes this one sound a bit like The Fugitive. I’m intrigued.
This is an older book, but is out new in audio. It’s about a homicide detective who makes a fresh start as a small-town chief of police. Then she begins investigating a murder in an amusement park.
Yep, Kensington Books has Christmas books out on Netgalley already! It’s not going to be released until late August, but I couldn’t resist the description: “It’s A Wonderful Life meets Groundhog Day.”
A book about the life of legendary bassist John Wetton is now available for preorder. There are two editions available at www.johnwettonbook.com
7th March 2023: John Wetton: An Extraordinary Life is now available for preorder in two editions of this very special and much anticipated book created with John’s family and management. For a limited period, people can choose to be a part of it by adding a name to the Roll of Honour of supporters printed in the back. Preordering also comes with a discount on the standard retail price.
Both the Classic and black-jacketed Signature edition (signed by John’s widow Lisa and son Dylan) contain the first-person testimony of some seventy-plus people who knew and worked with John from his school days and throughout his long, illustrious career, including Family, King Crimson, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, Roxy Music, U.K., Asia, the John Wetton solo band and beyond. Among the stories of friendship, music and sometimes craziness in the book from Bill Bruford, Geoff Downes, Robert Fripp, Carl Palmer, Rick Wakeman, Phil Manzanera, Steve Hackett, Steve Howe and others, are reflections on what made John such an unforgettable musician, all-round good guy, and prog rock legend.
Along with tales of musical success from those who knew him best are testimony from friends and family, who do not steer clear of John’s problems, but rather explain the why, the how, and eventual triumph over them, in honest and touching recollections.
John Wetton An Extraordinary Life is only available to preorder at www.johnwettonbook.com; inclusion in the Roll of Honour will only be available for a limited period.
The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blog.
This question was submitted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted writer.
Neither. I am hard of hearing and have been wearing hearing aids for about 20 years. The good news is hearing aids have improved a lot and now have bluetooth, so the audiobooks go straight to my hearing aids. It’s like the book is playing in my head. It’s awesome. The only exception is when I’m driving. When I’m driving I plug my phone into the car and listen to them over the car radio.
Bonnie Reads and Writes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.