ForeWord Review - What If We're Him
December/18/2015 01:44 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Pascucci’s open-minded evaluation of narrow-minded doctrine suggests that we implement the positive power that lives within us all. He asserts that our own conscious presence is our sense of God. Though far from an atheist, his work may not appeal to everyone, especially not to those who have committed to a particular religious canon and creed. Instead he will attract optimistic individuals who seek an alternative to rigid conviction established in another time. This author dares to analyze the logic behind faith-based institutions.
ForeWord Review - Trail of the Dead
December/01/2015 12:29 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Native American folklore infuses this post-apocalyptic story with mysticism and culture. Rich with symbolism, this literary examination of primal instinct and human need is a study of survival. Nestled within these carefully wrought pages are the seeds of profound courage, stamina, and drive, with a strong feminist slant on womanhood.
ForeWord Review - A Banner of Love
November/12/2015 03:44 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
This touching story of interracial marriage in 1950s Greenwich Village reaches across the decades to inspire and educate. Garner depicts a nation still experiencing extreme social inequality, a period fraught with struggle and frustration for the African American community. Realistic and deeply moving, every scene reflects a true and abiding love established on the solid foundation of friendship, built meticulously with patience and tenderness.
ForeWord Review - Summer on the Cold War Planet
October/13/2015 02:00 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
The heady atmosphere of 1989 Berlin sets the stage for this thought-provoking journey into the heart and soul of a pregnant woman mourning the disappearance of her husband. Paula Closson Buck delves into complex and contradictory emotions that lead to the renewal of a past infatuation, a situation fermented in wariness. This brooding novel will appeal to an audience seeking knowledge about the Cold War, while enjoying an introspective look at what constitutes love and trust.
ForeWord Review - The Moondust Sonatas
October/12/2015 04:58 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
This high-concept immersion into the underworld of illegal drugs portrays an eccentric cast of characters on the path to addiction and life-altering madness. Destructive, yet strangely illuminating, an illicit powder allows the user to interact with a supernatural god, as well as travel to places and times unknown. Osi’s intricate plot will appeal to aficionados of the experimental thriller in his unusual mix of individual stories.
ForeWord Review - Bring Me to Life
October/09/2015 01:26 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Just like a May-December romance, this human-zombie affair dares to flaunt the primal urges and animalistic instincts then somehow points toward a happy ending on the horizon. Yet the audacity of Kert’s characters sustains this eccentric tale, lifting it from the remains of chewed-up pulp.
ForeWord Review - Designing Hearts
October/09/2015 01:16 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
This glitzy yet surprisingly down-to-earth novel about a high-profile marriage on the rocks explores all the typical cliffs and crevices then plunges into the blue waters of a new relationship. Stratchan’s aptly titled book pits a successful feng-shui interior designer against a philandering talk-show host.
ForeWord Review - The Highlander's Bride
October/09/2015 01:11 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A staged fourteenth-century marriage turns into abiding love in this beautiful romance. Forester weaves a simple plot into a gorgeous tapestry. Strong characterization and superb description create a distinctive sense of time and place.
ForeWord Review - Break Your Heart
October/08/2015 05:56 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Helms tells the story of a stereotypical crush on a college campus with the potential to end a career. Academic ethics is the villain in this familiar scenario, creating a barrier that cannot be overcome without sacrifice. The first-person viewpoint, honest and straightforward, enhances the quality of this contemporary plot.
ForeWord Review - The One That Got Away
October/07/2015 01:58 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A bridal consultant comes out after years in the dressing room and admits her attraction to women in this funny lesbian romance. Rosenfeld immerses a modern drama in a hot tub of humor, delving into somber issues such as loneliness with finesse.
ForeWord Review - Black
September/29/2015 04:29 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Set in nineteenth-century America prior to the Civil War, this well-researched novel depicts the horror of slavery and the violence of revolt in a heady mix of bloody realism and heroic romance. Vassar portrays Nat Turner’s literate son in his passionate quest for freedom and equality, a moving, revelatory, and disturbing narrative. This is the first book of a promising series.
ForeWord Review - Love, Alba
September/16/2015 10:12 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Narrated by an articulate cat, this feline examination of human behavior offers a unique perspective on relationships. Burnham’s novel is a touching reflection on life in a conversational storyteller’s style. Hilarious commentary and imaginative asides create mood as well as atmosphere in scenes that reveal contradiction, hesitancy, and eccentricity from a cat’s point of view. Heavy on social pondering yet light on lectures, the narrative explores every pathway to potential happiness.
ForeWord Review - Be My Valentino
September/15/2015 02:07 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A remarkable woman reinvents herself and establishes a new career in this against-all-odds metamorphosis. Bricker charges her scenes with electric realism in a plot featuring a resilient entrepreneur who opens a clothing boutique that rents designer clothing. Not fully recovered from a bad marriage, this determined heroine confronts obstacles and recurring conflicts.
ForeWord Review - The Lost Heiress
September/14/2015 12:30 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A missing heiress raised in Monaco travels to Yorkshire, England, to claim her legacy in this Edwardian novel. White presents a common historical situation, infusing the plot with vigor through the use of strong evocative passages and detailed characterization. Abduction, intrigue, and a priceless artifact add just the right amount of mystery to raise the temperature of this otherwise cool tale to a comfortable warm.
ForeWord Blog - Time Travel Romance
September/02/2015 10:14 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
On a bad day, nothing is more comforting than traveling vicariously to the waiting arms of a lover who lives in another century. That makes sense to aficionados of time travel romance. Disruptions of contemporary society fade into temporary oblivion, overshadowed by a world far removed from reality. A scholar may assert that answers to today’s problems can be found by studying history. Learn from mistakes; repeat long-lasting good. Or, better yet, disappear into the past with an agenda and a date. Nothing is more appealing than finding an alternate plane where exhilaration and passion, often missing in day-to-day existence, renew the will to live.
ForeWord Feature - Intoxicated
August/31/2015 05:31 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Nothing irritates the literary critic more than a bad romance, but nothing enrages the literary critic more than a good romance, simply because it sells. This lucrative field attracts all age groups from every socioeconomic background. This is a world where personal problems fade into oblivion. Escape. Excitement. Entertainment.
ForeWord Review - Jack London
August/27/2015 02:07 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
This specialized look at American author Jack London (1876-1916) examines an outspoken socialist seeking an enlightened world where human rights prevail. Tichi’s biography of the literary icon focuses on the political and moral issues that touched his soul throughout the course of his short life. A resilient man who experienced poverty, manual labor, and incarceration for a petty crime, London steps from the pages as a self-educated intellectual absorbed by the plight of the downtrodden and the oppressed.
ForeWord Review - The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen
August/20/2015 01:03 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A skillful portrayal of an early nineteenth-century literary icon takes this historical romance on an imaginative journey of the soul. Collins Hemingway reinvents the life of Jane Austen, imagining the course of events if she had met the man of her dreams. Pondering, polite, and reflective, this heartfelt novel delves into the hypothetical in a stylistic tribute that evokes the genteel atmosphere of the period.
ForeWord Review - The Road at St. Liseau
August/10/2015 06:16 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, this romantic spy thriller plumbs the depths of despair and scales the heights of joy in a riveting depiction of sacrifice and love. Becker’s novel presents a familiar scenario—a young nurse instills the will to live in a critically injured American army captain. Heartbreaking and graphic, the atrocities of warfare make an ugly appearance, informing the twenty-first century of a brutal past that cannot be forgotten.
ForeWord Blog - Romantic Suspense
July/28/2015 09:19 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Like James Bond, an undercover agent always gets the girl… well, at least long enough to impress the envious. Danger and excitement create a heady atmosphere—impending disaster with a ticking clock. Nothing is particularly romantic about chasing a felon or investigating a crime, yet high-stakes situations trigger emotions in people contending with dire circumstances. If the thought of a brief interlude in the midst of a life-threatening scene makes the heart do double time, then this is the sub-genre for all those bored romance devotees who cannot stomach sticky sweetness and drab sentimentality.
ForeWord Review - The Searchers
July/27/2015 10:06 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
The teachings of eighteenth-century theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) are incorporated into this esoteric, but enlightening, work of fiction. Ideal for the open-minded reader fascinated with metaphysics, Smith alternates between refined symbolism and subtle allegory in her evocative work, never failing to intrigue and entertain.
ForeWord Review - Corinne and Me
July/24/2015 01:53 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Hoehn’s memoir is a fine example of a candid autobiography written not only to entertain but as a tribute to loved ones who left a lasting impression on the psyche of this author’s fragile, beautiful soul. An inspiring story of hope for those tempted to give up in the face of tragedy and loss, this worthwhile read is for anyone who is suffering and would like to proceed with the process of living.
ForeWord Review - Rose-Tainted Fragments
July/20/2015 01:47 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Written in the nineteenth-century tradition, this exceptional coming-of-age novel will appeal to literature connoisseurs and Italian culture enthusiasts seeking painstaking descriptions. This insightful story focuses on the angst of a boy at a turning point, resisting change in one breath, yet welcoming the prospect of rebirth in the next. Laced throughout this tale is a wealth of subtle religious and social commentary, often with a political edge.
ForeWord Review - Doubt of Love
July/17/2015 04:30 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Scott presents a touching story with an unusual conglomeration of inspirational romance and subtle intrigue. Excellent character development, exhibiting the flaws and idiosyncrasies of real people, brings to life an interesting cast. Add just a dash of heady realism and this novel is clearly mainstream fiction, not for readers who avoid dealing with gritty truth on the path to idyllic bliss. A deserted, foreboding Irish graveyard on the cover is reminiscent of the creepy Gothics of bygone days.
ForeWord Review - Succession
July/16/2015 02:12 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Opening in New York City during the final days of the Kennedy presidency in 1963, Lobsenz’s novel provides a behind-the-scenes look at blatant greed and high-powered manipulation in competitive manufacturing and its impact on private lives. This caustic trip into the not-so-distant past is a sour glimpse of the American dream. A distinctive, almost uncomfortable realism permeates every page.
ForeWord Review - Timeless Wisdom
July/14/2015 02:44 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
This compilation of quotations to rouse and motivate will revitalize anyone living high on stress and short on time. Kira juxtaposes Eastern and Western concepts in a selection that will appeal to a broad cultural audience. Without imposing on the material, this perceptive editor has showcased great philosophers, spiritual leaders, and famous sages in compatible collaboration. Each quote holds potential as a conversation piece and a catalyst for in-depth analysis.
ForeWord Review - Haunted Plantations of the South
July/09/2015 10:39 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Supernatural phenomena and fireside legend haunt the pages of this spooky history text. Richard Southall explores the mansions of a bygone era, visiting seven states notorious for paranormal activity. Creepy and fascinating, this compilation of unforgettable stories defies explanation. Even a seasoned skeptic may find it difficult to disprove the strange events that intrude on the now tranquil, regal homes featured in his book, all places that were once the focal point of war during one of the most tumultuous times in America.
ForeWord Review - The Play's the Thing
July/08/2015 10:24 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Groundbreaking theater and the fruits of a loving, collaborative partnership that spanned twenty-four years fill the pages of this touching tribute. Keena chronicles her accomplishments with husband Clark Bowlen until his death in 2012, a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at stage performance from set design to stage production. Though marketed as literary criticism, the book is a biography embedded in an educational text on the performing arts.
ForeWord Review - Under Lock and Key
July/01/2015 09:34 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Teetering on the brink of madness, this chilling psychological thriller delves into elaborate experiments that violate privacy and ethics while attempting to heal unimaginable injury to the human mind and body. The curious enter a frightening world where a doctor’s vow to do no harm tangles with scientific advancement. Fans of the medical drama can expect a high-technology twist in unforgettable moments that linger on the edge of a treacherous zone. Wired (pun intended) and strung out for maximum impact, Geesman’s storyline veers off the circuit board.
ForeWord Review - A Veil of Fog and Flames
July/01/2015 09:13 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Danger thrusts two vulnerable adolescents into the mire and mayhem of 1851 San Francisco in this coming-of-age novel. Beninger delves into the anguish and turmoil associated with maturing in an environment that drives unprepared young souls into a brutal world more suitable for jaded adults. Defying established convention and resisting social pressure to conform is part of any generation’s awakening, and these mid-nineteenth-century American teenagers are no exception.
ForeWord Review - The Rules of Ever After
June/15/2015 12:30 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Enchantment, whimsy, and fun spin this heart-warming tale into a make-believe realm filled with storybook characters. Brewer’s fantasy is a coming-of-age novel that brings two vibrant young men together in a touching gay romance that explores the meaning of love.
ForeWord Review - The Mark on Eve
June/12/2015 04:41 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Witchcraft and women’s history propel this paranormal fantasy into a precarious realm of superstition and sexist perceptions. Fox educates subtly, discussing gender rights issues by incorporating them into a vibrant storyline. A blend of mystery and supernatural elements bolster the message of this feminist novel.
ForeWord Blog - Western Romances
June/03/2015 10:20 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
The American West of the 1800s was a harsh test, subjecting a person’s mind and body to psychological and physical rigors far removed from our coddled, contemporary world. Often romanticized, the old Wild West is a vibrant setting for colorful characters toughing it out in a rugged, treacherous environment. Lawless and lethal, this period in American history propels the plots for countless movies and books, from spine-tingling entertainment to beloved classics. Expansion westward following the Civil War took many lives, leaving grief and desolation in its wake, yet passion flourishes on a precarious ledge and attracts loyal fans of the genre.
ForeWord Review - Walking Home
May/27/2015 02:37 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A middle-aged man embarks on a journey into the soul along the winding Appalachian Trail in this revealing look at unfulfilled expectations and pronounced disillusionment. Herrick’s novel is a quest for lost youth and an inner battle to regain the zest that somehow got displaced on the way to mediocrity, what many like to call the “good life” in America. Vivid imagery of the Appalachian terrain and wildlife allows the timid to live vicariously through an adventurous hiker.
ForeWord Blog - Regency Romances
May/06/2015 09:12 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Consider that novels set in Regency England (1811-1820) feature a privileged world among royalty, where material needs are determined by birthright and romance flourishes in clandestine environments. Much has changed since the days of Jane Austen, whose prim and proper courtships dragged on for hundreds of pages with no one giving it up. Today, daring exploits and push-the-envelope stylistic devices fill their pages with all the drama and tension typical of mainstream America. No writer is required to adhere to the stifling rules established by the time in which Austen penned her world-renowned words.
Impressions - Ana Leigh
May/02/2015 09:29 PM Filed: Impressions
Celebrate the life and career of an extraordinary historical romance novelist:
Ana Leigh (October 19, 1929 - April 12, 2015)
I met Ana in the early nineties and had the opportunity to interview her three times for articles that appeared in several publications. I remember her wit and sense of humor, down-to-earth comments that may not have been intended for the public, but what struck me as remarkable was her ability to find a spark, a burning passion that enabled her to create stories for future generations.
When I asked what lessons we can learn from those who tamed the Old West, she answered more than my question. She explained why some succeed and others fail.
“I think one of the outstanding things about the West and the people who chose to help settle the West had to be their courage. Those were admirable qualities that perhaps we need a little bit more of in today’s world, to really believe in what you’re doing instead of going through the motions, to put your life on the line to do it. There’s not enough of that today. And I think that’s why we have so many problems in the world. We don’t learn how to really depend upon each other. Those Westerners, those early Westerners, had to depend upon one another for survival. Technology, of course, is a great thing, but at the same time it’s not good for people when they are so dependent upon their technology that they can’t function without it. We really are missing something. These early people who packed up what they could in a little tiny covered wagon lived with what they could take along until they got themselves settled. They will always be my heroes because without them we wouldn’t be the nation we are today.”
ForeWord Review - Tracks
April/22/2015 02:36 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Monetary success and the American dream remain elusive, intangible concepts in this story of resilient immigrants facing cultural discrimination. Spanning a period of seventy-seven years, McLinden’s novel is a realistic yet inspiring account of industrious people seeking happiness and security in a stratified society. Opening in 1900 in the New Mexico Territory, with strategic stops on the way to 1977, every chapter packs a powerful punch or an uplifting message.
ForeWord Review - When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled
April/13/2015 04:17 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
This innovative adaptation pits Sherlock Holmes against the baby-farming industry in nineteenth-century England. As Sherlock investigates the ritualistic murders of helpless infants, he struggles with conflicting emotions of young love. Coyle remains true to her predecessor’s style, but stays within her own boundaries as she allows Sherlock’s girlfriend to tell the story. Narrated from this inquisitive heroine’s viewpoint and told in retrospect, the novel explores aspects of Sherlock’s personality that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may have neglected to reveal in his original series.
ForeWord Review - Code of Darkness
April/09/2015 01:46 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A tense interplay of science fiction, action thriller, and urban fantasy, Lindberg’s book surpasses the boundaries of a one-genre novel. The plot veers into a convoluted escapade and brings the reader into a bizarre world of vigilante heroism turned bad. A premonition of cataclysm sets a sinister mood that plays in the background like a gloomy musical score.
ForeWord Review - From Pastor to Atheist
April/08/2015 03:09 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
In this revealing look at a former Lutheran minister’s ordeal with the church, Cartford asserts that eternal life is not for a privileged few, but the destiny for everyone. Religion, he believes, promotes the god it creates, instills fear, divides people, and controls behavior. Though he professes himself to be an atheist, what he really seeks is not a void, but an alternative world filled with peace, beauty, and openness. Centered on inherent spirituality, he asserts that truth is known through reason, not revelation.
ForeWord Review - A Reflection of Strength
April/07/2015 01:17 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
This engaging memoir describes the process of adapting to American ways and learning to integrate dreams and desires into daily living. Interspersed with Bellevue’s lowest lows are the uplifting, gratifying moments of his fascinating acclimation to America after emigrating from Haiti. Admirable is his ability to overcome hardship and emerge an enlightened person sensitive to every nuance of his existence on earth. Rather than bitter and hardened, this man acquired profound perception and sophistication.
ForeWord Review - Waging War on Cancer
March/31/2015 12:54 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A prominent cancer researcher shares the trials and tribulations of his productive career in this engaging biography. Dedicated to the development of lifesaving drugs, Dr. G. Robert Pettit’s anticancer quest has led to advancements in medicine, and his knowledge has inspired the work of countless students. He is known for his discovery of bryostatins, auristatins, and dolastatins. This incredible book is based on countless hours of interview transcripts edited by Byars.
ForeWord Review - A Room of Rain
March/18/2015 11:18 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Hardcore journalism meets the neighborhood gossip in this innovative collection of twelve short stories by award-winning Gary Fincke. Told secondhand and infused with a storyteller’s voice, this book takes the literary tourist on gripping, tour-bus-style escapades that examine the dark side of life from a safe, somewhat distant standpoint. Bringing into play all five senses, Fincke creates vicarious experiences that connoisseurs of intellectual fiction seek.
ForeWord Review - Zuni Stew
March/18/2015 08:33 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A skillful blend of Native American folklore and supernatural forces, this frightening murder mystery integrates elements from multiple genres. The book takes place primarily on a Zuni reservation in New Mexico. The location establishes an ideal setting for creating the mystical mood, which is enhanced by riveting symbolism and paranormal events. This southwestern tale takes much of its flavor from the region, and Jacobs maximizes its spooky atmosphere with authenticity.
ForeWord Review - Down Under
March/17/2015 09:36 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Taitz explores much more than a revitalized, star-crossed affair in this innovative twist on the contemporary romance novel. Tradition meets glitz meets realism in a carefully contrived, perhaps even philosophical, look at what happens when well-intended individuals attempt to alter what cannot be changed. This perceptive glimpse of smothered passion, along with bad character traits, places this sophisticated title soundly into the mainstream.
ForeWord Review - A Certain Retribution
March/17/2015 09:16 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Lister sets his sordid tale in a treacherous fictional community where no one can be trusted, where vendettas are the rule. Sinister motivations and retaliatory indignation fuel the violence in this threatening environment on the brink of mayhem. Bad cops meet good cops in this exceptional mystery with an unpredictable ending.
ForeWord Review - America and WWI
March/06/2015 11:09 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A sophisticated history text integrates the practical details of a guide in this informative and illustrative look at World War I. Straightforward in approach yet frequently eliciting an emotional response, Van Ells delivers a powerful evaluation of the American doughboys and the war that few want to talk about any more. Often perceived as a prelude to World War II, the Great War left behind countless broken hearts and living souls with bodies wounded beyond repair.
ForeWord Review - The Manuscript
February/18/2015 01:53 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A New York City editor encounters an eerie manuscript by a well-known author that triggers memories and evokes the emotions she experienced when her father left. She recalls the day he drove away, putting his pastel box into her hands. Now, thirty years later, she must relive these agonizing moments while reading the carefully crafted words of a skilled writer who hits a tad too close to reality. Fuschetti delivers an enlightening, soul-searching novel that does more than entertain.
ForeWord Review - America Invades
February/16/2015 01:30 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
This informative yet entertaining history text presents a factual account of United States military involvement throughout the world. Alphabetically listed, every country the US has ever entered on a battle mission or in an official capacity makes an appearance in this well-researched reference tool, a concise book that is pro-American without being ethnocentric. Kelly and Laycock explore everything from territorial acquisition to devastating war to beneficial assistance, even touching lightly on cultural indoctrination.
ForeWord Review - Autumn Colors
February/13/2015 02:22 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Lajeunesse presents an enlightening, though often aching, reflection on young love brought to a catastrophic end and a poignant description of spiritual healing. Speeding back to 1968, then into the 1970s and 1980s, she journeys to the depths of a passionate woman’s soul in a touching delivery. Though marketed as a romance, this book is steeped in agonizing realism. A simple funeral turns into a situational catharsis, triggering an outpouring of memories and painful self-realizations for the protagonist.
Lajeunesse presents an enlightening, though often aching, reflection on young love brought to a catastrophic end and a poignant description of spiritual healing. Speeding back to 1968, then into the 1970s and 1980s, she journeys to the depths of a passionate woman’s soul in a touching delivery. Though marketed as a romance, this book is steeped in agonizing realism. A simple funeral turns into a situational catharsis, triggering an outpouring of memories and painful self-realizations for the protagonist.
ForeWord Review - Passionate Encounters
February/11/2015 04:52 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Like poetry in prose, Jabry explores the psychological churning that accompanies the push-pull within the mind as a person experiences negative and positive feelings for another. She captures attention with well-crafted phrases and subtle play on words, offering a new literary take on the commercial romance novel. An experimental collection of articulate perceptions, this book delves into the process of tumbling in and out of love.
ForeWord Review - Obsessed
February/10/2015 01:50 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Writing about sex for the sake of sex is a literary art form attempted by many but mastered by few. This unconventional collection of nineteen short stories for women focuses on obsession and the ways a fixation can be expressed. Written by some of the best authors in the genre, the anthology explores sexual situations and describes intimate encounters, rather than placing explicit scenes in a plot propelled by external factors and emotional involvement. Bussel’s unusual selections and meticulous editing are to be commended, yet that elusive mark of quality remains subjective.
ForeWord Review - Beloved Enemy
February/09/2015 04:55 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A bilingual woman in the British Women’s Army sneaks into Germany during World War II to seduce Karl von Richter, a Nazi intelligence colonel, and ultimately falls in love with her enemy. In a gripping story that spans twenty years, beginning in 1942, this courageous heroine, a hired assassin, sacrifices her safety and well-being to carry out her assignment. The book follows her psychological adjustment and relationships thereafter. The prose is filled with period detail, enhancing the sense of place in war-torn Europe.
ForeWord Feature - I'm So Into You
January/28/2015 01:41 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Obscure, subjective, esoteric, dubious. Like no other concept known to civilized humans, romance may be the most difficult to define. Complex and diverse, romance fiction in the publishing sphere encompasses far more than blazing erotica or clandestine patronage. As in all great writing, it’s the characters in the books we treasure that determine the best of literary romance.
ForeWord Review - Principium
January/22/2015 10:42 AM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
This somewhat typical tale of persecution and New Age witchcraft crosses into the monster-creature zone. Infused with descriptions of psychic phenomena, prophetic dreams, and subliminal persuasion, Lamarre’s intriguing novel fortifies the power of every woman, promoting her to goddess status. Though written presumably for entertainment only, symbolic imagery and situational statements abound in this playful, young adult romp.
ForeWord Review - Beautiful Woman
January/20/2015 02:16 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Contrasting the extravagant wealth and the devastating poverty of Miami, Mowbray’s book is a political statement as much as a novel. The protagonist, a liberal newspaper columnist, pits himself against a stratified city in this terrifying story of a successful journalist’s downfall after his romance with a Sanctuary Island socialite goes bad. A fascinating escapade into the dark elements of possessiveness and jealousy, this title will appeal to diverse readers interested in psychological probing as well as gritty action.
ForeWord Review - Reconstruction
January/15/2015 04:34 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A vibrant woman hangs on the brink of life and death in this candid look at the horrifying results when a medical procedure leaves a patient fighting for her rights. This incredible journey reveals the inner turmoil and the impenetrable darkness that encompassed her while she lay in the hospital drugged and contemplating suicide. Ashburne’s story is an example of motivation, drive, and stamina emerging when weaker individuals would give up and die. Her book is a gripping memoir and an exploration of the human will to survive.
ForeWord Review - The Lives of Lyman Liri
January/15/2015 01:08 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Hidden within clouds of philosophical mist that shroud the narrative, Lyman Liri emerges in a series of brief sketches told from the viewpoint of those who knew him. Johnston-Brown shines a spotlight on human nature, exposing raw behavior and cruel intentions as well as sterling morals and simple kindnesses. She offers a parable that asks what would happen if key decisions could be reversed. Though some believe fate and destiny play a part in determining one’s happiness, this foggy perception can lead to a lack of action and no goal, rather than a potentially wrong goal. Lyrical and graphic, this innovative storytelling sets the book apart from other works of intellectual fiction.
ForeWord Review - Silent Partner
January/13/2015 02:23 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A former celebrity and socialite hires an investigator to prove that her executive assistant’s disappearance eighteen years ago was actually murder. Even more dreadful is her suspicion that her ex-husband, wealthy and elusive, committed the crime. Buck Jaspers looks down every path for an answer. The result will surprise even the most jaded mystery connoisseur. Blanton’s style does not overwhelm the text with unnecessary words that detract from the story. Every scene is executed with precision.
ForeWord Review - Awakening to Awareness
January/13/2015 01:47 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
In a gripping story of rebirth, McMillan escorts the reader into the recesses of a traumatized woman’s mind as she lingers between life and death due to injuries sustained in a car accident. From the Australian Gold Coast hospital where this resilient heroine is a patient, this exciting protagonist relives her life in Las Vegas ten years earlier, an escapade involving money, entrapment, and undercover operations. The theme is reminiscent of the esoteric writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, a theologian and mystic who described visions of the afterlife and its intermediary, transitional phases.
ForeWord Review - Every Day a Holiday
January/08/2015 01:58 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
A collage of vintage memories and modern musings, this collection of vignettes will ignite a real spark of life in a contemporary society immersed in an artificial digital age. Writers who agonize over finding just the right word, obsessed with making a startling impact more than leaving a visual imprint, will learn from Ellis’s ability to present a scene in a concise yet commanding manner. Her goal is to entertain and educate, inspiring new traditions.
ForeWord Review - Henry First
January/06/2015 04:42 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Fine cuisine and morbid excess create an exquisite word parfait in this sardonic look at the competitive world of gourmet cooking. Laced with potent dark humor, Lawrence’s entertaining yet often disturbing novel crosses the fine line drawn between satire and realism. This in-depth literary masterpiece is hardly based on mere competition, however, for lurking in its complex structure is a life-or-death punch.
ForeWord Review - Quick Kills
January/06/2015 04:28 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
Rock-bottom self-esteem, along with a desire to please, reaches a treacherous psychological cliff in Lurie’s frighteningly realistic novella. Art and pornography vie for prominence in this ultra-sophisticated take on fashion and photography. A compilation of literary snapshots expose the dark side of a glamorous profession by revealing the damaging impact on a young woman’s mind.
ForeWord Review - Styling the Stars
January/06/2015 04:07 PM Filed: ForeWord Reviews
With primarily black-and-white and a small number of color stills, Twentieth Century Fox has maintained a vault of visual gems, outstanding shots of icons in the movie industry. Actress Angela Cartwright and actor Tom McLaren present a revealing collection of photos never before seen. What makes this book unique is the intent opposed to the content. Each picture was taken for technical purposes only, not for promotional avenues. Eccentric and artsy, this candid glimpse of the world’s beloved film stars focuses on a bygone era of traditional romance and old-school charm.