Kendra E. Ardnek - Water Princess, Fire Prince

Water Princess, Fire Prince
The Rizkaland Legends


By Kendra E. Ardnek


Available on Amazon

Product Description (from Amazon)

When the Lady Dragon does come,

Hold fast, do not fear, do not run.

Your Water Princess will fight

Fire Prince will set all to right

Each shall come from a fall

Their Union will save you all.

Despite the fact that she's on track for competing in the Olympics, and he's practically raised his younger brothers since they lost their mom in a car accident, Clara Mandras and Andrew Stevenson are pretty much normal teens. They have normal hopes, normal dreams, and they live in a normal world.

All this is torn away from them when they are thrust into another world and declared Water Princess and Fire Prince. With no experience ruling a country, meeting each other for the first time, and being expected to fight the Lady Dragon – an evil sorceress plaguing the world of Rizkaland – Clara and Andrew are underprepared and inexperienced. Unless they learn to work together despite their standing opposition, Rizkaland's hope will be lost.

What is to come will change their lives forever.

About the Author (from Amazon)

Kendra E. Ardnek has been writing her own stories since she was a toddler. She fell in love with books, drama, and fairy tales at a very young age - and has been filling notebooks with her stories for years. Joining NaNoWriMo gave her an opportunity to be a published author at 16.

She writes her own blog (knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com), homeschools, cooks, knits, and crafts when she isn't writing stories and acting them out with her younger cousins and siblings.

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Tenya

This is a well-crafted story by a maturing author about young people who are snatched from reality and thrust through a portal into a fantasy world which is dependent upon them for its very survival.  The book is full of spiritual allegory and symbolism which gives the tale another facet of meaning that goes deeper than the mere plot.  Miss Ardnek has created a truly unique and fantastical realm from the topography of the land and many colors of water to the somewhat frightening and fantastic wildlife and varied people groups which inhabit this place called Klarand, an island in Rizkaland.  This world is populated by magical creatures, elves, awesome flying and talking equines, and some particularly fascinating bug children, along with one curiously illusive time traveler.

The description of the land, animals, and people unfolds piece-by-piece throughout the story which prevents one from becoming bogged down with too much descriptive narrative all at once, a fault which makes some fantasy books difficult to wade through as a reader.  The main characters are also revealed layer-upon-layer by the author which is a good writing ploy to slowly introduce the reader to the strengths and weaknesses of each while naturally peeling back the surface to demonstrate the metamorphoses necessary for the main characters to become the Legends (what histories are called in Rizkaland) for which all the inhabitants of Rizka have been anxiously awaiting.  Experiencing the changes of each character, not just the main characters, but supporting cast as well, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the story because it gives a tangible human element to the book to which a reader can intimately relate.

Clara, the Water Princess, is a confident, sporty, and athletically talented young woman who is presented as no-nonsense and even arrogant at the beginning of the book.  The Fire Prince, Andrew, on the other hand, lacks a bit of confidence particularly in physical pursuits and with girls, but he has other talents, particularly on the practical and scientific side of things.  Together, Clara and Andrew must save Klarand from the evil Lady Dragon who has ravaged the land for years.  Therein lays the problem, this togetherness matter.  The Legends speak of it taking BOTH the Water Princess and Fire Prince to defeat the dragon, and Andrew and Clara must learn to work together as one to accomplish the daunting task and win the battle which lies ahead of them.

The romance between the main characters is handled beautifully by the author with just the right push and pull to keep drawing the reader into the mix.  The deep understanding of marriage and relationship is approached maturely by this young author.  There is nothing about the romance which could be embarrassing or inappropriate for any reader, but this reviewer would only recommend the book for middle school age through adult because some of the relationship issues are a bit complicated and may need a more mature understanding.  This differs from Kendra Ardnek’s Bookania series, which I would highly recommend as family reading.

It is true that by the fourth or fifth chapter of this book, I had difficulty putting it down.  There is a lot to be said for that as I have been known to give up on books because they ‘bore’ me.   If you like fantasy and symbolism, Water Princess, Fire Prince is a going to thrill you!

And, this is only Book 1 of the Rizkaland Legends!

Genre/Theme: Portal Fantasy, Christian

Reading Level: TEEN - upper elementary to middle school to
Mature TEEN - high school to college 
Profanity: NONE - no offensive language 
Sexuality: MILD - descriptions of affection/desire - Handholding, hugging, kissing, discussion of holding off on more serious stuff.
Other: 
There is some fighting, characters do get injured. 

Clive S. Johnson - Of Weft and Weave

Of Weft and Weave
The Dica Series #2
By Clive S. Johnson

Available for Kindle at  Amazon and Amazon UK

Other Books in this Series: Leiyatel’s Embrace (O.Scarlett! Review)
Available through Amazon

Product Description
A finely wrought and exquisitely detailed Speculative Fiction Mystery set at the end of a castle kingdom's epoch-long history. The failure of a strange army to arrive at the gates marks the end of an era, and sets in motion a fascinating and revealing insight into the realm’s rich but crumbling culture, bringing with it the unravelling of an age long mystery. At its heart is Leiyatel – the Living Green Stone Tree - long the preserver of the realm of Dica. What is to be the fate of her and of all those who depend upon her, even those far beyond her gaze?

A highly original, intricate and exquisitely imagined world, the ancient castle kingdom of Dica has slowly declined to a somnolent shadow of its once illustrious past. Expected salvation is long overdue and so a convoluted and at times darkly humorous tale steadily grows, within a broad canvas, to stunningly epic proportions.

The complex tale follows Lord Nephril, Dica’s Master of Ceremonies, and his oddly assorted companions who take up the challenge of saving the kingdom themselves. What comes to light is a multi-layered fabric of interwoven interests and conflicts that takes them far beyond the comfort and safety of Dica. Their journey marks an absorbing rebirth of ancient myth and legend, as alive and immediate now as in its dim and distant past.

At its heart is Leiyatel – the Living Green Stone Tree – preserver of the realm’s fortune and wondrous creation of the ancient Engers of Bazarral, but there’s more to their world than her own Certain Power, more within Nature’s far wider and wiser domain.

This is a sequel, a continuation of a story that couldn’t be followed, the story of Leiyatel’s Embrace. The two are uniquely linked within Nature’s own unrestrained knowing of a timeless universe. The end will certainly surprise and leave you thinking.

Of Weft and Weave will not only appeal to those who like a rich and involving read, but also to those who enjoy writing that’s innovative, original, tragically humorous and deeply thought-provoking. The tale is widely illustrated with the author’s own drawings and will also appeal to those who like maps for, like Leiyatel’s Embrace, it has two!

About the Author
Clive Johnson was born in Yorkshire in the UK, Bradford in fact, in the mid-1950's but was lured away by the bright lights of Manchester in the seventies to acquire a degree in electronics. Torn between the arts (a natural and easy artist) and the sciences (struggled with maths) teenage rationality favoured science for recompense leaving art for pleasure.

Twenty years implementing technologies for mainframe computer design followed by the mind-numbingly prosaic tedium of being a Group IT Manager for an international print company finally led, after a corporate takeover, to the freedom and simple pleasure of motorway incident support and a return to the arts.

A late seventies manuscript was unearthed during loft improvements and one thing led to another, a naïve and inexpert seed given benefit of mature loam in which to grow, and Leiyatel's Embrace steadily blossomed.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.

Find Clive S. Johnson on Goodreads.

O.Scarlett! Review by Tenya

As if I could not give Clive S. Johnson’s first book enough accolades, I am in a great quandary yet again to express my vast enjoyment of his second novel. It was a profound pleasure to read this book, and I find I may have enjoyed it even more than the first, Leiyatel’s Embrace. Perhaps that is because I automatically had high expectations, but the author exceeded the height of the bar I had set in my mind.

The two books cover the same period of history within the vast realm called Dica, include many of the same characters, and use the same basic issues undergirding the plot, yet each stands alone as a quest for the discovery of the true mystery of the kingdom’s demise.

The Dican kingdom is in decline as the Certain Power, Leiyatel, the Living Green Stone Tree, continues to weaken. Nephril, the ancient servant of the Dican kings, may be the only one with the knowledge to rejuvenate Leiyatel – if only he could remember… Joined by an eclectic band of would-be-heroes, Nephril must discover the hidden secrets of Dica’s destiny, and his own.

Political drama, romance, danger, mystery and internal personal conflict weave together as a wonderfully wrought tapestry of a tale. The plot achieves a level of intrigue that honestly left my jaw on the floor a couple of times. The author threw me a few curves amongst the twists – how wonderfully delightful – I like surprises! Many scenes are laced with a quirky humor that causes snickering throughout despite the somber tone the circumstances demand.

Johnson’s fleshing-out of his characters reaches a greater depth. The old friends remain true while their alterations surprise both pleasantly and, at times, unpleasantly. The revelation of fresh facets of their personalities fascinate anew while the introduction of a wide variety of completely unique individuals into the story make it all the more charming and complete. Interaction between the characters is subtly fashioned, causing the story to be driven as much by emotion and character interaction as by plot.

This is a literary work of speculative fiction – finely crafted through words and phrasing. Containing the archaic along with elements of science fiction on occasion, this series continually stuns the senses and provokes deep thinking.  Clive Johnson’s style is poetic and daringly descriptive. If you are a reader looking for an action-packed, casual fantasy, you will not find it here. Instead, it is epic! The writing is classically formed fantasy which readers of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien or George McDonald will appreciate. Of Weft and Weave reveals the meticulous engineering mind behind the consistency of the parallelisms within the world created by this author. These books contain the authentic devices of an epic – a true saga of as-yet-unknown mysterious proportions. It views like a role playing video game in the reader’s mind simply for the fact the world Johnson has created is minutely detailed and monstrously vast.

Book three in this series is currently a working manuscript.

Of Special Note:
-- Clive has included a special treat in Of Weft and Weave by inserting several pieces of his own artwork into the manuscript. This adds a pleasant personal touch not to be missed, even on an ereader. The Tolkien-style maps are still included with this volume, a useful reference as one reads.
-- The author has also furthered the original ancient tongue of Dica to a point where the observant reader should pick up a great deal of the language by book’s end.

Genre/Theme:  Speculative Fiction, Quest, Mystery, Fantasy (classic style)

Reading Level: (by appropriateness) - TEEN to ADULT – these books are challenging from a vocabulary and plot standpoint and require an advanced sensibility as a reader
Profanity: (by amount in text) – LOW  – there are several instances of expletives being used in fewer than ten scenes of the book, the sort you might commonly hear on a (US) television program.
Sexuality: (by content) – mostly MILD to slightly OBVIOUS – a couple of times the shape and parts of a woman are alluded to. There is reference to a sense of rising desire in one of the characters, but it is subtle and somewhat symbolic. Although attractions between men and women are described, it is more on the intellectual or soul-ish side of attraction.
Other:  One discussion between two characters at the end of the book broaches the subject of producing offspring, but it is quick and not overly explicit. There are really no scenes of violence, but a couple of dangerous episodes. A very minor character is injured badly during a struggle, and a rather morbid happenstance occurs at one point.

Sean McDevitt - The Wizard Murders

The Wizard Murders


By Sean McDevitt

Kindle Edition Available





Product Description (from Amazon)
The year is 1981. A small California town is rocked by a series of seemingly random -and increasingly violent- murders. An aging detective tries to capture the elusive killer- but with so few clues, can anyone stop the killing?

About the Author (from Amazon author page)
Sean McDevitt is a filmmaker, videographer, actor and -thanks to Amazon- published author.

His brand new full-length fictional crime novel, titled "THE WIZARD MURDERS", is now available for Amazon Kindle. It is a project that he has worked on -in one form or another- for nearly 30 years.

He is also the author of "The Velvet Sofa," which is based upon a never-before-published short story written by the author's late father, Dr. Steven J. McDevitt.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.

O.Scarlett! Review by Tenya
*Special NOTE - Sean has revised this book recently, and I am looking forward to the re-read soon.
      A couple months ago I followed a Twitter link to a You Tube trailer for this book. The trailer is simple, but intriguing. My fifteen-year-old son watched over my shoulder and said that the trailer made him want to read the book (me too!). This is a big deal because that boy does NOT like to read ANYTHING. Now that I have it downloaded, he’s waffling… I guess he’s waiting for the movie.
       This is a short novel which I found easy to read in the midst of one of my mother’s far too infrequent visits and the presence of many extra family members in and out of my house. It took me about one week to read simply because I was very busy. Ordinarily, it would be an easy one or two sitting book. I did not have a problem keeping the plot and characters straight as I read in snatches here and there. That does not mean that the plot is overly simplistic; the plot is quite involved, truthfully.
       I did struggle a bit with the present-tense in which the author chose to write. After about half way through the book, however, I was captured enough by the story to not notice it any longer. It did feel as if I was reading a script or a police report, which could be considered a genius device by McDevitt that really places the reader almost literally within the pile of paperwork heaped upon the desk of the police detective who is the main character.

When a small, southern California town is sent into a tailspin over a young girl’s murder, aging detective Andy Pitt must try to follow the strange series of clues left by the killer before he claims his next victim. In the wake of the ensuing murders, Pitt, along with his partner Clarence and a bubble-gum-chewing secretary, scramble to discover the secret behind the only real evidence they have – the strange paintings of a wizard at each crime scene. Deciphering cryptic clues and reading star charts is not what Pitt has in mind for this stage of his life; he planned to be sitting in a cabin somewhere in Maine – finally retired from police work. But, when the police chief is diagnosed with cancer, the burden of keeping the little town secure falls squarely on Andy’s shoulders.

       Figuring out the clues along with the characters, and sometimes before the characters, is the real fun of reading this book. I enjoy investigative police drama on television, and this book was quite familiar in the way it presented the story in that manner. I do wish the book had a bit more depth to feel more like a suspenseful full-length feature film instead of a sixty minute TV show. I put the read down feeling like I needed more “episodes” to really get to know the characters better. If the author’s intention is to follow-up with more short novels in a series, The Wizard Murders is a great beginning.  I would really have liked to see more about the killer himself revealed slowly throughout the story.  I think it could have really tweaked the suspense factor of the book.
       Sean McDevitt certainly has great potential to write very intriguing and involved thrillers and mysteries. I look forward to watching him grow as an author. Although I felt that this book left open-ended options for more character depth and plot intrigue, I would definitely pick up the next write by McDevitt and gladly read it.
       I think my fifteen-year-old would actually enjoy this read more than I did. Now, if I can only get him to pick up the Kindle and put his eyeballs on it… In the meantime, maybe you should start working on the screenplay, Sean!

Notes:
There is no sex in this book at all. The language is mostly mild except that ‘Jesus Christ’ is misused quite a few times. This is a police investigation of multiple murders, so be prepared for a bit of gore and the macabre. The last murder is the worst, but the author does not go into explicit detail about blood and guts. It’s simple text which explains the facts without the gore – like a TV crime drama in words.


Genre/Theme: Police drama, murder mystery, thriller
Reading Level: (by appropriateness) TEEN to ADULT – as long as one is not bothered by bloody murders as the subject matter
Profanity: MODERATE (just generally heard expletives once in a while, but Jesus’ name is misused several times)
Sexuality: Almost NONE – There are a couple references to Pitt thinking the secretary is kind of ‘cute’ and there’s very subtle flirtation in one scene. A mention of teenagers going to a place outside of town for partying and such is quite subtle. Anyone of a basic maturity could handle what is mentioned without embarrassment.
Other: As mentioned above, this book is a murder mystery about multiple murders that get progressively gorier. One scene describes, although not in too graphic detail, a man dying and a lot of blood on the scene. The final murder scene is pretty gross, so people who are very sensitive to that sort of thing might not like it. Expect bloodiness and such as it is the theme of the book.

Melissa Foster - Come Back to Me

Come Back to Me


By Melissa Foster

Kindle Edition Available




Product Description (from back cover of paperback)
Tess Johnson has it all: her handsome photographer husband Beau, a thriving busines, and a newly discovered pregnancy.  When Beau accepts an overseas assignment, Tess decide to wait to reveal her secret -- only she's never given the chance.  Beau's helicopter crashes in the desert.

Tess struggles with the news of Beau's death and tries to put her life back together.  Alone and dealing with a  pregnancy that only reminds her of what she has lost, Tess is adrift in a world of failed plans and fallen expectations.  When a new client appears offering more than just a new project, Tess must confront the circumstances of her life head on.

Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing honor killings find Beau barely alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged by the crash.  Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent.  Beau bonds with the women and the children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.
What happens next is a test of loyalties, strength, and love.

About the Author (from Amazon author page)
"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"--Author Jennie Shortridge

Melissa Foster is the bestselling, award-winning author of three novels, Megan's Way, Chasing Amanda, and Come Back to Me. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women's Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Cafe, and Fostering Success. Melissa is currently collaborating in the film production of Megan's Way.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, she's written for Calgary's Child Magazine and Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa is currently working on her next novel, and lives in Maryland with her family. Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping women see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on The Women's Nest or her personal website.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.



O.Scarlett! Review by Tenya

Come Back to Me is a contemporary romance which spans the globe and tugs at the emotions. It did bring me to tears at one point, a difficult task since I do not cry over books easily. I wanted to love this book with a first chapter that captured my attention and compelled me to keep reading.

Beau and Tess are separated from one another by his photography assignment in war-torn Iraq, but this job could bring the recognition that will break Beau’s career wide-open. When the wreckage of Beau’s chopper with bodies burned beyond recognition is found in the desert, Tess cannot accept his death. She has newly discovered she is pregnant; however, that fact does not fit her husband’s five-year-plan. Now that he might be dead, Tess’s only hope to keep her sanity is hanging onto Beau’s promise that he will come back to her.

After month’s go by, she slowly learns to let go of Beau and begins to accept the child growing inside of her. Surrounded by a set of rather tragic characters (her friends), Tess struggles to find the path back to wholeness and normality. Perhaps her new client, Louie is the way she can find herself again.

Meanwhile, Beau struggles to survive in the desert, miraculously aided by two women and a group of children as he recovers from his wounds. In turn, he is obligated to assist them in escaping from the hellish life they have known in Iraq. The bonds which grow between him, the children and their mother are intense, but Beau hangs on to one thing – Tess! Will he be able to return to her?

At the end of the book, I felt a bit unsatisfied. It seemed more of a tragedy than a romance. I have no problem with the author ending it this way, but too many loose ends remained. One of the characters had suffered a brutal attack, but the psychological issues of that were never addressed. Too many things were too neatly tied up in pretty packages in the final chapter while other things were ignored and not tied up at all.

This book is well-written (as far as style) and formatted successfully. The cultural aspects about the women from Iraq and their interactions with Beau and others are authentic and obviously well researched.  The basic plot is intriguing and draws the reader into the world of the main characters immediately. One really cares about what happens to these people and how the conflicts will be solved.

NOTE:
     I usually enjoy a romance with a good plot, so I believed I would like this book. As far as plots go, I did enjoy it, for the most part. The consistently bad language throughout the book, which even permeated the private thoughts of the characters, ruined the story for me. This reader found the profanity of the female characters particularly disturbing, especially since it included the most vulgar of words. The Lord’s name was not used wrongly much in this book, but just about every swear word was used – and frequently toward the end of the story.
     There are many instances of adult situations in this book including rape and abuse, especially within the context of the back story of one of the Iraqi women. A couple of the characters have rather “loose” morals. No qualms are raised concerning “sleeping around” before marriage except for the one female character that has a few too many one-night-stands and suffers the tragic consequences. Quite a few scenes take place in a bar where people are drinking alcohol.


Genre/Theme: Contemporary Romance
Reading Level: (by appropriateness) Mature Teen to Adult (except those offended by bad language or loose morality)
Profanity: The amount in the text bordered on EXTREME (all kinds of words used, even the worst)
Sexuality: OBVIOUS - Nothing explicit, but sexuality is most definitely a major theme throughout.
Other: Adult themes: some violence, rape, abuse, language, tragic death, etc.

Kirkus MacGowan - The Fall of Billy Hitchings

The Fall of Billy Hitchings
A John Reeves Novel #1


by Kirkus MacGowan

Kindle Edition Available





Product Description (from Amazon)
The John Reeves Creed: "Kill them with kindness. Unless you have a gun."

Book Description:
     John Reeves, an ex-Marine, drives to Myrtle Beach to confront his fiancée, hoping to repair their damaged relationship. Instead, he finds her unconscious in the hospital, the victim of an unexplained explosion at a local restaurant.
      During his investigation, Reeves meets Billy Hitchings, a teenager who knows more about the explosion than he should. Their questions lead to an ancient legacy best left alone.
     Pulled into yet another crossfire, John Reeves fights to protect his friends and keep a primeval power from falling into the wrong hands.

From the Author
The first novel in the John Reeves series is a stand-alone. Reading the series in order isn't necessary.


About the Author (from author's Amazon page)
     Amazon bestselling author Kirkus MacGowan wrote his first book at age eight about traveling to Mars to find the cure for cancer. He put his writing dreams on hold for twenty-five years and focused his energies on playing baseball. He moved on when he found playing softball with his friends more enjoyable than his pipe dream.
    Since then, he graduated with a B.S. in Psychology, married a woman too good to be true, and moved back to his hometown. He gave up an amazing career waiting tables and now stays at home with his two crazy children. He spends his time writing thrillers and fantasy, playing softball with friends, enjoying the occasional computer game, and wrestling with his kids.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.



O.Scarlett REVIEW by Tenya
I downloaded this book because the cover caught my eye. I'm not even sure I read the description very closely, and for some reason I thought it was about baseball. I have no idea why I thought it was about baseball, and although I was looking forward to a sports-oriented story, I was not disappointed that baseball was not the theme because this ended up being a simply-written but uniquely styled thriller worthy of the paranormal genre.


The very first paragraph captures the reader's attention. It's a thriller filled with action from the first line, although throughout the book, pages of calm give the reader a break. I was unsure of the constantly switching point-of-view writing style at first, but once I got used to it, I actually enjoyed the device. Each chapter is titled with one of the character's names, noting from which point-of-view the chapter is written. It was not at all confusing. In fact, I enjoyed the few chapters where the points-of-view overlapped the same time period. Perhaps even more of that type of overlapping might have given this book a new sense of cohesiveness. The chapters are short, a fact I found convenient since I tend to read in snippets between loads of laundry or school work. I did not have to back track two or three pages each time I picked it back up to reorient myself.

I really enjoyed the archaeological aspect of the plot, but wish there had been a bit more detail to underpin that part of the story. The story might find a deeper richness if the archaeological and Native American themes were played up. Although some reviewers have commented that they found the characters to be shallow and not fleshed-out enough, I did not find this necessarily true. I found I could see and understand the main characters well enough to really care about what happened to them, especially Billy and his friend. The author’s portrayal of these two young men on the cusp of manhood, their adventures and misadventures, read as an authentic microcosm of young adult life in America.

At the beginning, the reader is introduced to John, the rough and tough security-guard-for-hire. Immediately drawing the reader into his story, the author then switches to Billy’s story. This back-and-forth from one character to another tactic helps build the tension at the beginning of the book as the plot begins to unfold. All the primary players are introduced in some way within the first few chapters, but it takes a while before their connection to one another is fully revealed.

I suppose I could agree with the thought expressed by some reviewers that many of the actions of certain characters make no sense. John’s break-up with his fiancé is caused by his illicit actions with a near stranger in the front seat of his car. I wish it had been some other reason to qualify the breaking of their engagement, but it does establish John’s impulsive and sometimes uncontrolled nature. Therefore, accepting some of his seemingly irrational behavior later in the book is not so difficult. I’m not sure, at least in this reader’s mind, he ever quite redeems himself in spite of all his noble actions. I enjoyed the quirky descriptions of some of the peripheral characters, like the chain-smoking woman who rents out beach cottages and the grumpy girl who works at the burger joint with Billy.

Anytime an author can leave me with my mouth agape because I was expecting the climax of the action and didn’t get it, they’ve really done something. Kirkus MacGowan builds and builds this event, the last great battle so-to-speak, but pulls the rug right out from under the reader in a way that lurches the stomach. I literally felt sick. Then… there’s the slow burn to the finale and resolution of the story. Yes, the end is slightly ambiguous, but the author has given the reader the opportunity to use their own brain to figure out the pieces of the puzzle and complete the picture for themselves.

With flurries of action, danger and thrills, MacGowan has written a good story interspersed with discovery of the underlying mystery, creating a suspense compelling enough to keep the reader going back over and over to finish the read. A lot of fun, eclectic characters fill the pages, their lives woven together intricately in a plot that surprised me in places. Even with the touches of the legendary element and paranormal themes, The Fall of Billy Hitchings is a down-to-earth story about everyday people, the kind we all know.

This book will not be an exercise in stretching your vocabulary skills or something that will spin your brain like a tornado, but it was extremely entertaining, a very promising debut novel. There is more to come from this promising author who, like most of us, will improve with experience and time. I look forward to seeing what Kirkus MacGowan produces in the future.

Note:  I was sweetly satisfied that the reasoning for the title of the book is not revealed until near the end of the story, so do not get frustrated over the title's seeming misfit -- it DOES work!
     There's a good bit of violence in this book.  John gets shot a couple of times and bleeds a lot.  A dog is killed and a few things like that.  Generally, there are some rough characters in the book, but that's the nature of the story.


Genre/Theme:  Modern-day Paranormal Thriller
Reading Level: (by appropriateness) MATURE TEEN to ADULT
Profanity: (by amount in text) MODERATE - just general cursing, not much of the really "bad" words - and not too much throughout the text at all
Sexuality:  OBVIOUS - There's really only one scene (or group of scenes) near the beginning of the book, none of which is overly explicit.  These scenes center around one "bad girl" character who soon falls out of the story.  Other instances of attraction are described, but it is quite subtle.
OTHER:  As mentioned above, there are a good many scenes with violence, including guns and bows & arrows!  This book does have paranormal elements centered around the archaeological artifacts and Native American legend.

Catherine Kirby - Sari Caste

Sari Caste

By Catherine M. Kirby

Kindle Edition Available

Product Description (from Amazon)

 A courageous voyage through destitution, intrigue and murder.

Manasa is abandoned by the man she should marry. He marries her sister instead. Meanwhile Manasa finds herself pregnant with his child. She flees her Bengali village wondering where to go. Eventually, she finds herself wandering the streets of Calcutta. Without money or food, life is a daily struggle. Finally, she is taken on by a brothel. She is desperately unhappy until she meets a different sort of man. This man she marries in secret and together they plan her escape from the brothel.

Murder, corruption, and intrigue threaten to swallow up the new life they attempt to establish in the beautiful hill country of Darjeeling.

About the Author (from Amazon author page)

Writing has always been a passion for me. I started with short stories, poems and haikus and finally found myself writing a novel. It was exciting to see it grow and take shape. I had no idea where the story would take me. I just found my starting point and followed the muse. The research was fascinating, time consuming but absorbing. Once I reached those magical words 'The End', I was overjoyed. Then the real work of editing and rewriting began. Once I'd finished my first novel, I was keen to write another. My novels do not follow the same genre but do deal with the intricacies of relationships - what makes them go wrong and what, if anything, can save them from destruction. I hope my readers will enjoy the results.

This biography provided by the author or their representative.

O.Scarlett Review by Tenya

The description of this book grabbed my attention because the subject matter is something which interests me.  I advocate for necessary changes in this world to stop the exploitation of women and children around the globe.  I hope to do this by bringing awareness to these matters in entertaining stories, the novels I write.  Ms. Kirby has done the same in Sari Caste, a contemporary story set in the country of India. 

The reader is quickly drawn into the traumatic world of Manasa, one of four daughters unwanted by their father.  (Culturally, India still values the birth of male offspring over that of girls, and I’m reminded of an article I read recently about Indian girls and women changing their names in mass groups because the names they had been given by their parents meant “unwanted.”)  The father is abusive toward Manasa’s mother, blaming her for a lack of sons in the family.  He’s a drunkard who takes every advantage to marry off his daughters as cheaply as possible, hoping their required dowries won’t deplete the coffers he has failed to fill.

Locked into working long hours to provide a dowry which will allow her younger sister to marry the man Manasa loves, the drama of this family’s life captures the attention and compassion of the reader.  Finally, Manasa is forced to flee her country village with her newborn child and seek out a new, and hopefully better, life in the city.  But, the city is not all she dreamed it would be.  She soon discovers that her dreams may end in starvation for her and her baby.  The only true friends she finds are “pavement dwellers,” street people, who experience tragedy heaped upon tragedy.

Desperate to provide for her own child and her friends, Manasa takes a job in a brothel.  Eventually, her sister escapes to the city and joins her.  As Manasa and Kajal struggle to survive their circumstances, one would think it could not get any worse, but it does.  Discovering that the orphan children living at the brothel are being exploited in the worst way by the owners, Manasa determines she must save herself and anyone else she possibly can.  The bulk of the book deals with the struggles she endures and her efforts to escape a life of prostitution and slavery.

For such a horribly difficult subject, I cannot imagine that anyone could have handled the presentation of the situation into which young Manasa is forced, out of necessity, any more tactfully than this author has done.  This story is hard to read, simply because of the subject matter, but Catherine Kirby has written it in a compelling way that forces the reader to continue to the last page, no matter how horrific the lives of the characters become.

Sari Caste is a work of fiction, but the heart-wrenching situations and tragic circumstances of Manasa and the other characters are far too real for many people living in India today.  Yes, today, not one hundred years ago!  Your support of organizations that strive to help women escape this kind of hopeless lifestyle is important.  Often stores or internet retailers who offer Fair Trade merchandise will carry items produced by people like Manasa who have been rescued from the horrors of forced prostitution, or prevented them from choosing it as a desperate means of survival.   The jewelry, handbags and other lovely items produced by these people is astoundingly beautiful!

Is there victory and escape in this story?  Truthfully, the end left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.  Every man in this book ends up being a total louse!  I resolve my dissatisfaction by remembering that true liberty is having the freedom to mess up your own life rather than letting others do it for you.  It is a most compelling and heart-wrenching story that I recommend to adults who like some real 'meat' in their fiction.

Notes:

As previously stated, the subject matter of this book is difficult.  Obviously, there’s going to be sex involved because much of the story takes place in a brothel.  There are descriptions of certain situations, but they are not overly explicit.  The events are clear without becoming vulgar.

The book is written in first person which is not my favorite.  I really did become tired of the word “I” but this is probably just a personal pet peeve of mine. If you are not a great fan of first person narrative, be prepared when you do read this book.  Don’t let it keep you from reading! The story is compelling enough to overlook such a simple thing, and truthfully, Catherine pulls it off very well.  After a few chapters I did not even notice anymore.

Genre/Theme:  India, Human Trafficking/Slavery, Drama

Reading Level: (by appropriateness) ADULT – because of subject matter

Profanity:  NONE – I cannot remember any.

Sexuality:  BLATANT – subject matter could not be presented without it, but it is never vulgar or overly explicit

Other:

There are many tragic things in this book including children starving to death, murder, rape, and the general horrors of the exploitation of women and children in the forced sex trade.  Several very unwholesome characters appear, and their behavior is characteristically lecherous.

Expect this story to shock you!  It should. 

Clive S. Johnson - Leiyatel's Embrace

Leiyatel’s Embrace
The Dica Series #1

By Clive S. Johnson

Available for Kindle through Amazon and Amazon UK

Product Description (from Amazon)

A finely wrought and exquisitely detailed Speculative Fiction Mystery set at the end of a castle kingdom's epoch long history. The arrival of a strange army at the gates marks the end of an era and the unravelling of a mystery. At its heart is Leiyatel – the Living Green Stone Tree - long the preserver of the realm of Dica. What is to be her fate and those who depend upon her?

A highly original and intricately imagined world, the ancient castle kingdom of Dica has slowly declined to a somnolent shadow of its illustrious past but changes are in the wind, heralded by the sudden arrival of a mysterious army.

A complex tale unfolds as Lord Nephril, Dica’s Master of Ceremonies, and his oddly assorted companions strive to uncover not only who is then arrayed at their gates, but how their realm might be restored. What comes to light is a multi-layered fabric of interwoven interests and conflicts, an absorbing rebirth of ancient myth and legend, as alive and immediate now as in its dim and distant past.

At its heart is Leiyatel – the Living Green Stone Tree – preserver of the realm’s fortune and wondrous creation of the ancient Engers of Bazarral. What is to be her own fortune, though, and in whose hands will it finally rest? How will the disparate interests of Dican royalty, of Galgaverre’s Guardian, of the ancient Bazarran Stewards and of Leiyatel herself play out within Nature’s own domain?

The story culminates in a fascinating climax and deeply satisfying conclusion that will particularly appeal to those who like a rich and involving read.

Readers who enjoy this story may like to know that the author’s next work is coming soon. ‘Of Weft and Weave’ is equally original, set in the same world and, strangely enough, at the same time and with most of the same characters.

About the Author (from Amazon)

     Clive Johnson was born in Yorkshire in the UK, Bradford in fact, in the mid-1950's but was lured away by the bright lights of Manchester in the seventies to acquire a degree in electronics. Torn between the arts (a natural and easy artist) and the sciences (struggled with maths) teenage rationality favoured science for recompense leaving art for pleasure.

     Twenty years implementing technologies for mainframe computer design followed by the mind-numbingly prosaic tedium of being a Group IT Manager for an international print company finally led, after a corporate takeover, to the freedom and simple pleasure of motorway incident support and a return to the arts.

     A late seventies manuscript was unearthed during loft improvements and one thing led to another, a naïve and inexpert seed given benefit of mature loam in which to grow, and Leiyatel's Embrace steadily blossomed.

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.

Find out more about the author:

Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Blog

O.Scarlett! Review by Tenya

Follow a pair of old, eccentric souls, Falmeard and Nephril, along with their younger counterpart, Pettar, on their journey through the vast reaches of Dica.  Finding a way for this once great kingdom to defend itself against the foreign army which suddenly appears at its gates is only the immediate need.  The underlying need is their quest to unravel the mysteries of their own identities and discover themselves within the context of the power which sustains Dica, the Living Green Stone Tree -  Leiyatel.  Discover villains, obvious and hidden, and unexpected heroes within this enchanting work.

This book won’t smack you in the face with vast battle scenes where a cast of thousands fights to a bitter end or with wizardly effects to baffle the senses.  It’s a slow simmer which leads the reader through a tastefully woven plot of intrigue gradually urging one into a galloping pace that must be kept through the last chapters to uncover the truth – the great mystery of a dying realm and the winds of change sweeping in upon it.

I downloaded Leiyatel’s Embrace as a way of supporting a fellow indie author with whom I’d causally connected on Twitter.  The description pulled me into the pages because I wanted to read some bit of modern fantasy without supercilious wizardry and sword-play.  Thankfully, I pursued the read! More than one reason makes me glad I did.  Not only did I have the gratifying experience of reading a superbly crafted piece of fiction, but I have also gotten to know its author by the reading and through our internet interaction.  Truly, it has been a pleasure!

In all fairness, I was more than ultimately pleased with this book; therefore, I shall sound as if I gush with enthusiasm over its attributes.  I must also admit that my admiration is not for the quality of the writing alone, but also for the author, Clive Johnson, a fine person.  All writers amputate pieces of themselves, grafting it into their works.  Johnson’s writings are no exception; in fact, they are a fine example of the author’s personality glimmering throughout the story.  Therefore, for my part, the reading carried a unique perspective.

 His rhythmic writing style captivated me from the first line with a musical quality that truly spoke to my poet’s soul.  Savoring beautifully written passages, reading many over multiple times just for the pure flowing enjoyment of it, resulted in a very slow read for me.  Taken at a slower pace does fit the tenor of this manuscript, for the story unfolds layer upon layer to reveal the mystery hidden deftly by the author.

Leiyatel’s Embrace felt like something old and familiar, a worn sweater or the 53^rd reading of Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe.  The multi-faceted characters remained fresh but friendly, old acquaintances that consistently surprise the reader with a new and charming quirk of personality.  Building an original world, a difficult literary task for any writer, comes across effortlessly for Clive Johnson.  Undoubtedly however, this is a life’s work, a deep stretching of the author’s fiber, which makes  the knowledge that the follow-up book, Of Weft and Weave, is already available nearly unfathomable to me.  I anticipate sinking comfortably into that tale soon!

The circular pattern of the work thrilled me as the author neatly and seamlessly pins the end to the beginning.  This is a must to read over again and again, if for no other reason than the pleasure of the words themselves and the enrichment these characters, now old friends, add to life.

To conclude, I cannot find enough buttons labeled “like” or stars to press or kind words to write in order to adequately express my vast enjoyment of this epic mystery. 

Genre/Theme:  Fantasy, Epic, Mystery, Quest
Reading Level:  TEEN and up - depending upon reading skill.  This is not easy to read because many archaic terms are utilized by the author and it is highly stylized and poetic.  I found myself looking up more than one word during this read.  This is a fun way to broaden your vocabulary.
Profanity:  Moderately Low - one minor character has a bit of a bad mouth, but it fits his persona.  I can only remember one instance where one of the main characters used some rather colorful language.
Sexuality:  NONE - although there are some casual and short references to attraction between a couple of characters, it is most chaste.
Other:  Many people would find this a difficult read, but if you love Tolkein's work or C.S. Lewis, you will most likely enjoy this book.  Fans of traditional fantasy should give it a try.  On average, I would rate this as needing a strong high school level reading skill set.  This is a long book, so be willing to take your time.

Treasure Me - Christine Nolfi

Treasure Me
The Liberty Series #2


by Christine Nolfi

Kindle Edition & Paper Available




Product Description (From Amazon)

Petty thief Birdie Kaminsky has arrived in Liberty, Ohio to steal a treasure hidden since the Civil War. She’s in possession of a charming clue passed down in her family for generations: Liberty safeguards the cherished heart.

The beautiful thief wants to go straight. She secretly admires the clue’s author, freedwoman Justice Postell, who rose above the horrors of slavery to build a new life in Ohio. According to family lore, Justice left South Carolina at the dawn of the Civil War. Heavy with child, she carried untold riches on her journey north. As Birdie searches for the treasure, she begins to believe a questionable part of the story: a tale of love between Justice and Lucas Postell, the French plantation owner who was Birdie’s ancestor.

If the stories are true, Justice bore a child with Lucas. Some of those black relatives might still live in town. Birdie can’t help but wonder if she’s found one—Liberty’s feisty matriarch, Theodora Hendricks, who packs a pistol and heartwarming stories about Justice. Birdie doesn’t know that an investigative reporter who has arrived in town will trip her up—as will her conscience when she begins to wonder if it’s possible to start a new life with stolen riches. Yet with each new clue she unearths, Birdie begins to discover a family history more precious than gems, a tradition of love richer than she could imagine.

About the Author (from book page on Amazon)
Christine owned a small public relations firm in Cleveland, Ohio. Her articles and
press releases have appeared regionally in The Plain Dealer, The Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland Magazine and other media outlets. Her short story,
Night Hour, appeared in Working Mother magazine.

Christine closed the firm fifteen years ago after she traveled to the Philippines and
adopted a sibling group of four children. She has been writing novels fulltime since 2004.

Contact her at
christinenolfibooks.blogspot.com/
and christinenolfi@gmail.com

Christine's other books:  The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge
O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Tenya

I found this novel a charmer because it's cleverly written! I really enjoyd the author's writing style. Ms. Nolfi has talent with words that pushed my eyes down the page. This was an easy read, but the plot kept my interest. Honestly, I did not feel it started slowly as she built the backgrounds for her characters. Because my favorite stories (of any kind) show how broken people can be mended, I was pulled in by the main protagonists. I really wanted to see them find wholeness.

Beautiful Birdie is a thief with a jaded, hurtful past which is shrouded in mystery, even to herself.  Hugh is a reporter with his own secrets, which he keeps for good reason.  The story follows many of the formulas for traditional romance fiction, but with enough twists and turns to carry this book beyond the ordinary.  Lives woven together, although unknown to the protagonists, is a knot the reader must unravel before putting the book down.

As contemporary romances go, this is a good write and a pleasant read. Shrouded in a bit of mystery, there's enough attraction and breaks between the scenes of the main characters to keep urging one toward the next chapter. I rated this five stars on Amazon because within its genre, Treasure Me is a very worth-while piece of fiction.

The descriptions of the little town of Liberty and its cast of homespun inhabitants returned me to my own roots of growing up in a small, snowy town filled with people so unique one would believe they could only exist in books. Yes, it made me homesick, and I'm glad for it. It's the reason I enjoyed the book so much!

Notes:  My greatest disappointment with this book was that I found the cover art to be very misleading.  I picked this up, expecting a period romance, but got a contemporary one instead.  This did not bother me because I did enjoy the story; however, I always had that Victorian woman in the back of my mind.  The art does relate to the story, just not directly.

If you get hung up on conservative morality, this book probably is not for you as the story is about characters who have been casual about their sexual relationships outside of marriage.  Some of the characters are a bit course and there's a little language and some sensual/sexual description.

Genre/Theme: Contemporary Romance
Reading Level: Mature Teen to Adult
Profanity: Low with a few instances of swearing
Sexuality: Obvious but not overly explicit - only two small scenes I can remember
Other:  This is a secular romance.  Illicit sexual relationships and adultery are hinted at and carry a large part of the plot.

Ben Woodard - The Boy Who Flew With Eagles

The Boy Who Flew With Eagles
Mythic Adventure Collection #1


by Ben Woodard
illustrated by Laura Leikona

Kindle Edition Available




Product Description (From Amazon)
Famine. A giant eagle. And a boy who would be prey.

The book combines excitement, adventure, and the dream of all humans. To fly. Naa'ki, a boy snatched by a giant eagle, must use his wits and knowledge to survive. And to save his people and animals from starvation. To succeed, he will have to give up his future.

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Tenya

Having been raised in the Pacific Northwest, I have a great appreciation for these kind of Native American tales, full of wisdom and a true appreciation for the natural world.

Ben Woodard has woven this story beautifully. It's easy to read. As an adult, I enjoyed it immensely. What human has not wished to soar on the wind? I was charmed from the first sentence. Wonderful!

As a homeschooler of 13+ years, I recommend this book as an example of Native American folklore and as a thought-provoking, unobtrusive invitation to wildlife conservation. Most third or fourth graders should be able to read this book on their own, and even those into their teens will probably enjoy it. Even though it is aimed at boys, which is fantastic, I think many young ladies will value it as well.

Notes:
Additionally, the illustrations by Laura Leikona which highlight each chapter are simple and beautiful.  Between the lovely aesthetic of this book and the good writing, it's a must read for all families, and especially for boys.  One of Ben Woodard's goals is to create books which excite young men about reading.

Genre/Theme:  Native American Tales, Children's Literature, Wildlife Conservation
Reading Level:  CHILD to ADULT - Most 3rd graders should be able to read this book independently.
Profanity: NONE
Sexuality: NONE

Aimee Roseland - BAIN

BAIN: the Bar'axus Bridge Chronicles
The Bar'axus Bridge Chronicles #1


by Aimee Roseland

Kindle edition available





Product Description (from Amazon)

Altehr is a plundered world.

It has been stripped of magelight and all that survives of its once luminous past are the glowing ‘purebloods’, Altehrians whose ancestors never crossbred with the travelers.

The purebloods are a dying race. The breedwatchers cannot find a way to replace their Females and fewer are born every generation.

Bain, a forbidden crossbreed, dared to fall in love with one of the rarest of their kind; a pureblood Female of unimaginable power. He suffered the ultimate penalty for his transgression. Soulstripped and cast into the Dark Expanse, Bain found the strength to fight the breedwatcher’s laws and the dictates of the Royal House. He would start a revolution to free his love from the ‘watchers mating decree.

Lyr’ese, the most powerful Female born to their world, fell in love with Bain, the kind young Guard she met amidst the glowing gardens of his Queen’s palace. They shared a few stolen nights during her last unbonded summer; a friendship that, once discovered, would change their lives forever.

Now, years later, they are thrown together again as war erupts within the walls of the very city that started it all. Unable to trust each other after all they’ve been through, they are forced to work together to uncover a traitor before Lyr’ese is returned to the life she despises, and everything Bain has accomplished for his people is destroyed.

This book has approximately 88,450 words and includes a teaser for Vanik: the Bar'axus Bridge Chronicles (Book Two)

O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Tenya

Although this is not a fictional genre I read very much, I'm admittedly a plot junkie. I love a good, enthralling story! From the start, I was pulled in by Aimee's writing and the interesting world of characters she created. After reading the description of the book, I was uncertain if I would like it, but the plot out-weighed my misgivings.

Don't mistake this as merely a sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal romance. "Bain" is much more. It's an adventure-filled, raucous journey into a magical world pulled from the author's imagination, which she has more than adequately painted in words. Under-girded by a plot of twisted political mystery, the story kept me wondering what could possibly happen next. I wanted to discover the true villains and the true heroes enough that I was lying awake thinking about it. Better just to pick it up and finish!

Since this is the first in a series, Aimee Roseland has laid a solid ground-work for the continuing saga of the Bar'axus Bridge Chronicles. I anticipate great things to come!

Notes:

Admittedly, I'm an over-stimulated visualizer.  I struggled with getting a picture of the characters in this book for some time, but the scenery played like a movie in my head.  This is most probably just me; however, I recommend reading the forward portion of the book carefully as this assists the mind tremendously in getting a clear understanding of the alien species presented in the book.

I could have done without the vampire/blood drinker element that seemed unnecessary to the essence of the story.  I've just come to see that storyline as having passed its prime, but it didn't make me stop reading.  In fact, I enjoyed this book the most of anything I have read in a long time.  I keep reflecting on the characters and wishing I had the next book to read already.  Great job, Aimee!

Genre/Theme:  Science Fiction, Aliens, Romance, Adventure (w/ battles & warfare), Political Intrigue, Fantasy

Reading Level:  Mature TEEN to ADULT (some subject matter)

Profanity:  Moderate (not often, but some strong language)

Sexuality:  Hinted Situations and some Mild Description
OTHER - contains some subtle adult themes and battle violence

Kendra E. Ardnek - Sew, It's a Quest

Sew, It's a Quest
The Bookania Quests #1

by Kendra E. Ardnek


Kindle Edition Available
Paperback through CreateSpace

 

Product Description (from Amazon.com)

Robin and Robert are royal twins. They are the only two to have received a Fairy Godmother gift in nearly a century, an amazing honor. Soon it was clear that their gifts had been switched and a search began to find the Fairy Godmother to right the mistake. When she is finally sighted by a knight, the family learns that the pair must find her for themselves and they only have until their 18th birthday ... only 4 months away. Will they be able to find her in time?

About the Author

Kendra E. Ardnek has been writing her own stories since she was a toddler. She fell in love with books, drama, and fairy tales at a very young age - and has been filling notebooks with her stories for years. Joining NaNoWriMo and writing Sew, It's a Quest at age fifteen gave her an opportunity to be a published author by age sixteen.

She writes her own blog (knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com), homeschools, cooks, knits, and crafts when she isn't writing stories and acting them out with her younger cousins and siblings.


O.Scarlett! REVIEW by Tenya

Take every traditional thing you know about fairy tales, dump them in a sack, shake them up, and dump out this very fun read. This book, a delightfully quirky and humorous story, is filled with unexpected plot twists and down-right funny cliche' to make you chuckle every time it comes to mind.

The author wrote this at age sixteen, and I look forward to following her career as she matures and her writing skills are refined. Kendra has created fun, unique characters with a story line that captivates the attention.

A safe and entertaining read for anyone, especially as a read-aloud book for family, "Sew, It's a Quest" stirs the imagination for what else will follow in the next installment of the Bookania Quests. After all, with enchanted princesses who wield swords; fairy godmothers with strange habits; and brave princes who never disappoint in the bravery department, what else could a reader want?

Pick up your copy, print or digital today, for a delightful read. But, whatever you do, don't let the cat out of the bag; that's a pesky situation for sure! (You shall have to read the book to findest what I doth mean by that.)

Notes:

This is truly a fun read, but you will have more than a few formatting and typographical errors in the eBook version.  These do not detract from the charm of the story, which shall continue, as I understand very soon in the second installment of The Bookania Quests.  Kendra claims a family of truly talented writers and is currently working on a book of short stories, co-written with her mother.

Genre/Theme:  Fantasy, Fairy-tale, Comic

Reading Level:  Child to Adult (Children under age 12 may need assistance for vocabulary reasons.)

Profanity:  NONE

Sexuality:  NONE