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- Stir, Laugh, Repeat (2)
- By Martha A. Cheves
- Finished in 2008
  
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Stir, Laugh, Repeat

This is the perfect cookbook for Young Adults and even those experienced cooks who don't have much time to spend in the kitchen.

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— Oct 28, 2008 | 1 feedback
- Drowned Sorrow (2)
- By Vanessa Morgan
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Drowned Sorrow

Don't go into the water

Drowned Sorrow – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“I wanna go live with my father.” Giselle paused a moment to take it in. Why didn’t his answer surprise her? In fact, somehow she had been expecting this. “That’s out of the question and you know it.” Miserably, she st ... (continue)

Drowned Sorrow – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“I wanna go live with my father.” Giselle paused a moment to take it in. Why didn’t his answer surprise her? In fact, somehow she had been expecting this. “That’s out of the question and you know it.” Miserably, she started to wash up the dirty dishes while Mark turned to wait on the customers. She scrubbed furiously, more than was actually necessary, but she bent her mind to the task, glad that she had this activity to clear her mind. There was no way that Mark was going to leave Moonlight Creek. No one ever left this place. If he ever left, he wouldn’t survive. She was sure about that. Her mind turned to several directions, looking for solutions, but couldn’t find any. There had to be something, something she could do to make her son stay. “It’s not completely impossible,” Mark said. “I warned you,” Giselle said, her voice gentle and without a trace of anger. “It’s not safe.” “I don’t care.” “I care. You’re my son.” She paused. “If I were you, I’d just forget all about it. There’s nothing you can do about it. Moonlight Creek isn’t like other places. Things work different here.”
Megan Blackwood had been a reporter for national television for eight years. With a growing reputation as an authority on international politics, she was regarded as a leading light in journalism. But that all came to an end with the death of one of her two children. It had been seven months and still nothing seemed to ease the pain that Megan felt. So at the suggestion of a friend, she and her daughter Jenna would be taking what would hopefully be a time for the two of them to bond and hopefully put some of the past behind them. Their vacation was to take place in a small secluded village called Moonlight Creek.
Upon arrival, Megan began to wonder about her destination decision. Moonlight Creek was beautiful, nestled around a beautiful, peaceful lake, but the people were different. She knew that life in a small town moved slow but these people seemed to move at a pace slower than any she had ever encountered. And the smell. Everything had a moldy, musky smell, even the rooms of the small hotel she and Jenna would be staying in. But Megan finally decided this was due to the almost continuous rain that seemed to fall on Moonlight Creek. And then there was the lake itself. There was something simply not right about the lake that scared not only Megan but the family dog too that had come along for the trip.
Drowned Sorrow took me completely by surprise. I have to admit that I never saw the ending coming. Or for that matter, I was surprised throughout most of the book. The characters created by Author Vanessa Morgan were perfectly cast, as was the setting. This has been a very enjoyable read. But I will tell you that I will probably think twice before spending even a weekend at a small town with a lake.
164 pages
Lumina Press
2008
ISBN# 978-1-60594-162-2
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat

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— May 3, 2011 | Add your feedback
- Dead Witness (2)
- By Joylene Nowell Butler
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Dead Witness

Dead Witness - Joylene Nowell Butler, Author

Dead Witness – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘A long, narrow building, beyond the small shed, blocked her view. Valerie inched past a rusty engine leaning against the hut and peeked around the corner. Two men in black tee shirts and black pants stood at the stern of th ... (continue)

Dead Witness – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘A long, narrow building, beyond the small shed, blocked her view. Valerie inched past a rusty engine leaning against the hut and peeked around the corner. Two men in black tee shirts and black pants stood at the stern of the sleek cabin cruiser docked at the wharf. Three more men stood on the pier: One young, one old, one dangerously attractive. Facing her, she could see he was perfect, in fact. Except, why was he wearing a long, tan raincoat? Maybe she wasn’t the only unprepared foreigner. No way would she interrupt their business. Two of them walked way. Mr. Perfect, the handsome Latino in the tan raincoat, smiled after them. His sensuous, slightly accented voice broke the silence. “Gentlemen, please. It has been my experience that even in times of indecision, a solution exists.” His arms spread wide as if to embrace them. The two men stopped and turned back. Still smiling, the Latino reached inside his raincoat and pulled out a gun. Valerie gawked at him. She heard a pop. The older man fell backward onto the wharf. Pop. The younger man’s head exploded. The man in the tan raincoat leaned down and fired a third bullet in the older man’s head. The body twitched, then lay still.’
Valerie McCormick is the mother of 3 beautiful daughters and wife to Ed. Ed owns a timber business in their home town of Prince George, Canada. In the process of trying to secure the business he runs across a possible client who has his eyes set on a boat docked in Seattle, Washington, so when Valerie wins a trip to Seattle, what better time to take pictures of the boat with hopes of scoring brownie points with the client. But when Valerie witnesses the murder of 2 men she decides she must do her duty and report it to the police. To her relief, the police ended up arresting Miguel DeOlmos on a traffic violation and now had him in jail. To her disappointment, after the American FBI talked her into testifying against DeOlmos, he ends up escaping during his trial. And to make matters worse Miguel DeOlmos is the leader of one of the largest drug cartels in the both North and South America. DeOlmos will stop at nothing to keep from being tried in the US due to its death penalty and it’s not beyond him to kill the only witness the FBI have against him.
Author Joylene Nowell Butler took me on a ride from Canada, Seattle, Nevada, California and then to Baja as FBI agent Mike Canaday chases DeOlmos while still doing everything in his power to keep Valerie alive. Valerie comes up with her own ideas of how to capture DeOlmos and ends up in the clutches of his psycho brother Vincente. Dead Witness is a superbly written murder mystery that has everything from greed to murder to deceit and of course love. I thoroughly enjoyed myself reading Dead Witness.
Dead Witness
2008
Published by Joylene Nowell
278 pages
ISBN# 978-0-9810-3050-0
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat

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— Nov 8, 2010 | Add your feedback
- Talented Horsewoman (1)
- By L.C. Evans
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Talented Horsewoman

Tension to the End

Talented Horsewoman – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘I turned to follow Tinker’s movement, hoping she wouldn’t head back toward Millie. As I tracked the galloping form past the barn, a bundle of rags on the ground hardly merited my attention – until an instant later whe ... (continue)

Talented Horsewoman – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘I turned to follow Tinker’s movement, hoping she wouldn’t head back toward Millie. As I tracked the galloping form past the barn, a bundle of rags on the ground hardly merited my attention – until an instant later when I realized the bundle wasn’t rages. With a jolt somewhere in the center of my chest, I forgot all about the horse and stumbled forward a few steps. “Oh, my God, it’s Rita,” Millie sang out, echoing my thoughts. She scurried over to grab my arm, her fingers digging in like pinchers until I peeled her loose. I glanced sideways and noted her complexion was the color of an undercooked biscuit.’
After her divorce, Leigh McRae and her daughter lived on the horse ranch that they had once lived in as a family. Both enjoyed raising and showing horses and had won their share of ribbons. But the best shows were to come after Leigh bought Sonny Joe from Rita Cameron. But now their horse days are being threatened. After the death of Rita, Leigh’s ex-husband Kenneth has decided that horses are simply too dangerous for his daughter to be around. He and his soon to be wife have decided that ballet was a more suited hobby. And to push his point, he reminds Leigh that the ranch is half his as well as the horse Sonny Joe. The ranch and the horses are to be sold and sold soon.
So, with this situation facing Leigh, the last thing she needed was to convenience herself that Rita’s death wasn’t an accident but that it was murder. Biggest problem is to convenience the police. To do this, she must find enough evidence to make them keep the case open and not rule it as an accident.
Rita was very well off. She had inherited property and money from her grandparents and increased her value through smart investing. Knowing this, Leigh makes a list of her suspects. First on the list is Rita’s sister Maggie who was cut off by the grandparents and always in need of help and money. Then Rita’s investment agent Parker Fielding shows up claiming that she had changed her will, writing Maggie completely out and writing him in due to the fact that they were in love and were to be married. This was new to everyone that knew Rita and this story was pushed aside when her godchild Angie shows up claiming that she was to inherit the estate.
So, who killed Rita Cameron? They all have motive – money. As Leigh starts finding out, they all have alibis. Is someone lying? And how will she save her own ranch and horses?
L. C. Evans has done it again with her story of horsewoman Leigh McRae. I simply love her light drama style of writing. Evans keeps me in suspense without stressing me out as I try to decide who will end up being the murderer. And Talented Horsewoman kept me guessing until the last few pages.
This story was especially interesting to me due to the setting/location. I had the pleasure of living in Florida and the story takes place near and around the town I lived in.
2008
Draumr Publishing, LLC
251 Pages
ISBN# 978-1-933157-25-9
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat

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— Oct 25, 2010 | Add your feedback
- November (1)
- By J. William English
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November

November - J. William English, Author

November – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘It was his mother who had wanted to call him November. His father had called him Liam, after his grandfather. And there was now only one person he permitted to call him by his middle name. She could call him anything she wante ... (continue)

November – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘It was his mother who had wanted to call him November. His father had called him Liam, after his grandfather. And there was now only one person he permitted to call him by his middle name. She could call him anything she wanted, and she knew it. What she did not know was that she could do anything, ask anything, and he would do it. If she had asked Liam November O’Callaghan to leap in a loch on a winter morning wearing only his birthday suit, he would have done it, he thought ruefully. If she had asked him to feed himself to Nessie, he would do it. But she never asked him anything. And she never really understood him.’
Liam has just graduated university and is now going to the family home, he now owns, in St. Dunstans, Scotland. After his older brother running away from home, his mother’s death and his father’s constant flow of women, Liam talked his father into selling him the house they had all once called home. He would miss his friends from school but he was looking forward to returning to St. Dunstans and reuniting himself with the only woman he had and ever would love. Her name was Sara Mar. He had met and fallen in love with her when he was only 9 and she was 14. She would always be his true love and he would finally confess his feelings to her. But first he must find a job to support himself and his dog Cara. And since Liam is a writer, what better place to work than the local newspaper.
After securing employment with The St. Dunstans Chronicle, Liam starts to get back into his life before university by socializing with some of his old friends as well as a co-worker named Carra. As for Sara and his dreams of their future together, she seems to be rejecting him which drives him closer to Carra. With her rejection and the murders that have started popping up among his friends, Liam starts losing his faith in God. And the further he gets from God the more he loses in life. Is he savable and if so will he be saved before it’s too late?
When I met J. William English at a book signing this past summer I was extremely impressed. He was 16 when he wrote November, in the Summer of 2008. The book's been out just about a year. Upon graduation from high school he will be going to university in Wales called The University of Wales Trinity Saint David. This young man plays the bagpipe, travels the world, frequently and will be going to Switzerland on research for his next novel. After reading November I can assure you that J. William English is an author to watch. He can only get even more better than he already is. And he's pretty good right now!
2009
Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC
362 pages
ISBN# 978-1-60799-870-9
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat

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— Oct 11, 2010 | Add your feedback

- The Turn of the Karmic Wheel (2)
- By Monica M. Brinkman
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The Turn of the Karmic Wheel

The Turn of the Karmic Wheel – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Harry had owned his shop for many years, seen some come in and go out in a sea of police gunfire, but, hell, he couldn’t worry about every customer who purchased a weapon. Fact was, he had given up trying to ... (continue)

The Turn of the Karmic Wheel – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Harry had owned his shop for many years, seen some come in and go out in a sea of police gunfire, but, hell, he couldn’t worry about every customer who purchased a weapon. Fact was, he had given up trying to figure out man‘s nature years ago. Course, Euclid wasn’t one to carry arms of any sort. He didn’t remember him ever going hunting or even showing interest in the sport. Perhaps now that he was alone in life, with much time on his hands, he had decided to take it up and save some money by providing his own meat for the table. In any event, Harry knew Euclid to be a solid citizens of Raleigh, a man with a pure heart. Yes, he was a good man and a great friend.
Harry went to the window and watched his friend walk down the street. He wondered if he should be concerned. For some reason, he felt a bit of uneasiness; just couldn’t put his finger on the why or wherefore. Aw, hell, he reasoned, it ain’t none of my business. Yet there was something eating at his mind, a voice telling him to go no further with this transaction. It was a gut feeling he couldn’t shake, a feeling that his friend and neighbor of over 30 years was not ‘quite right’. There was definitely something ‘off the scale’ about Euclid today. A vivid image entered his mind. A vision so unfathomable he had to let it go. Harry shivered as he moved to slowly close the store’s door, continuing to watch the retreating figure kicking stones along the road, unable to shake his feeling of dread.’
Euclid is one of the most easy going people around but he just hasn’t been himself since his wife died and he was laid off from the car plant. Even so, it just isn’t like him to buy a hunting rifle. Especially one as powerful as a 243 Winchester Super Shot Magnum. And his request that Harry speed up the paperwork is even more out of character. Problem was, Euclid had started hearing voices and music in his head.
Karman Shelton is a nurse at the Out Patient Psychiatric Clinic. Karman has spent her life helping others both through her work at the clinic as well as volunteering for just about any cause that needed her help. She too has started hearing music and voices.
Angela Frank will soon find out that she has something in common with both Euclid and Karman. The only difference is that she has been hearing the music and voices for years and their meaning is finally coming together to make sense. The voices have told Angela that she will soon be on a mission and Euclid and Karman are the missing pieces that are needed to complete this mission.
In The Turn of the Karmic Wheel, Author Monica Brinkman takes you through the minds of those that are good as well as those that are bad as they are given a choice to change their ways and join the forces that can and will make life better for themselves and others around them. Some will chose to take life into the right direction and some will not. It’s interesting to see which characters live by greed and which don’t. The Turn of the Karmic Wheel was an enjoyable read from beginning to end.
2010
All Things That Matter Press
206 Pages
ISBN# 978-0-984-6154-6-9
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat

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— Oct 6, 2010 | Add your feedback
- Miss Hildreth Wore Brown (1)
- Anecdotes of a Southern Belle
- By Olivia deBelle Byrd
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- Quantum Earth (2)
- By Julie Achteroff
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Quantum Earth

Quantum Earth - Julie Achterhoff, Author

Quantum Earth – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘When the two women form the hotel reached the tenth and top floor they went to the beach side where there was a balcony overlooking the scene. “Oh my God!” said one. Words failed the other, for in the distance, about a mi ... (continue)

Quantum Earth – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘When the two women form the hotel reached the tenth and top floor they went to the beach side where there was a balcony overlooking the scene. “Oh my God!” said one. Words failed the other, for in the distance, about a mile out they could see a giant mountain of water the size of which their brains couldn’t comprehend. And it was building larger as it headed for the coast. They could still see several people way out who seemed oblivious. They began shouting at the top of their lungs, knowing even then that they wouldn’t be heard. But maybe there was a chance still for those on the beach below. Many of them looked up at them and tried to understand why they were screaming. But some of the people had already seen the big wave coming fast and hurried away from the beach. Some were screaming themselves as they ran. But they could see many small children looking lost. Nobody was taking them away. They would surely be crushed by the oncoming waters. All at once the two women stopped their entreaties and could only watch as the horrific scene played itself out. The wave had already reached those who were the furthest out. Of course they couldn’t hear the screaming, but they did begin to hear the low rumbling sound as the water came closer. It sounded like a freight train if you put your ear to the ground near the tracks.’
Dr. Mel Hawkins (Hawk) and Shauna Troy have formed a group that will study the sudden increase of natural disasters, and as 2012 approaches with the predictions that earth will no longer be, the team find themselves running out of time. Hawk and the whole team have agreed that there is the possibility that people are bringing the destruction on themselves with their thoughts and wishes. With this possibility, the team relies on its member Noah Meade, who is a medium, to contact some of those killed in these mass destructions. During one of the group sessions with victims of a major flooding, Noah is working through his “crossed over being” Jackson. As the team listen to messages from people on the other side, Jackson is suddenly taken over by a voice that isn’t earthly. This voice blames humans for the conditions of earth. It is the belief of the team that this voice may be from an alien.
Discovering that there may be a chance of contacting aliens that have passed on, Hawk and Shauna decide to have Noah try to contact them to see if they can shed light on what might be done to stop earth from being destroyed. Fortunately for them, Noah is able to get through, but unfortunately for them and all of earth they are told that earth is in the process of cleansing itself and to do this, humans must be destroyed so it can start over again.... Just as it did with the destruction of the dinosaurs. These aliens feel that no animal is a plague to the earth like the humans are. So, with the increase in earthquakes, floods, and even medical epidemics, the task before this small group of 7 is to do whatever they can to stop the destruction of the world?
Quantum Earth took me on quite a ride. If you listen to the predictions and theories for the year 2012 you will hear: there will be increases in earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes, left will be right and right will be left, just to name a few. Are we really creating these changes with our own minds? I think I’ve read somewhere that “thoughts attract” so only think good thoughts. I’ve for one have decided that, just in case this is true, I'll think as many positive thoughts as possible.
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat

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— Aug 25, 2010 | Add your feedback
- Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers (1)
- Tweaking Your Tweets and Other Tips for Integrating Your Social Media
- By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
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Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers

Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers - Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Author

Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Once upon a time in the early days of Twitter everyone said, “I don’t get Twitter.” Time magazine reported that the CEO of Twitter agreed that most people don’t get Twitter when they first start ... (continue)

Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Once upon a time in the early days of Twitter everyone said, “I don’t get Twitter.” Time magazine reported that the CEO of Twitter agreed that most people don’t get Twitter when they first start using it. In fact, he said he didn’t get Twitter when he first floated it as a new social network on the Web.’
If you have a computer, television or even a friend who has a computer, you’ve heard of Twitter. It’s has to be one of the most talked about networks in cyber space. I can’t even imagine how many people are members of this “say it in 140 characters or less” site. I know that I’m a member that had no idea at to what it was really all about. In the beginning I saw Twitter as a site where I could meet someone, post my message of “Hi, how you doing?” Get an answer back from them “Fine, how are you?” And that was about it. After playing around on the site for a while I found its use of notifying people when I posted book reviews to my site A Book and A Dish or new recipes to my site Stir, Laugh, Repeat. But after reading Frugal and Focused Tweeting I found that I’ve really missed the boat on it’s true purpose… promoting yourself and your product(s).
Frugal and Focused Tweeting teaches the importance and uses of hashtags, avatars, direct messages, follows and followers. It explains the importance of taking those 140 characters allowed and making them into eye catchers. You’ll learn what a moniker, an HTML and a RSS Feed is and how they can help you and your business. The Author even gives you connections to other sites that will not only help on their own but also work with Tweeter to improve your visibility.
Twitter is a network that is used by millions with any and/or all of them being potential customers. It’s a site that you can easily take full advantage of for many your promotional needs. And I’ve found Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers to be the best source for finding Tweeter’s uses as well as how to find and use then. And best of all, Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers is written in “English” not “computerish.”
2010
HowToDoItFrugally Publishing
129 Pages
ISBN# 9781451546149
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat

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— Jul 16, 2010 | Add your feedback
- Rightfully Mine (God's Equal Rights Amendment) (2)
- By Aggie Villanueva
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Rightfully Mine (God's Equal Rights Amendment)

Rightfully Mine - God's Equal Rights Amendment - Aggie Villanueva, Author

Rightfully Mine – Reviewed by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Zelophehad’s eyes fluttered. “Bring my daughters and my half brothers. I want all my family here – to bless them.” His eyes succeeded in opening and as Rizpah looked into them, she admitted at last he was truly near d ... (continue)

Rightfully Mine – Reviewed by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Zelophehad’s eyes fluttered. “Bring my daughters and my half brothers. I want all my family here – to bless them.” His eyes succeeded in opening and as Rizpah looked into them, she admitted at last he was truly near death. Moses, Joshua and Caleb, Israel’s ennobled leaders, rose tactfully to leave but Zelophehad reached a trembling arm toward them. “Please stay. I said I want all my family present.” Moses’ eyes softened and the three men turned back to face the old man’s bed.
“Moses – you are like a brother to me,” Zelophehad wheezed. Moses came closer. “We are the last, aren’t we, my friend?” “NO,” Zelophehad inhaled sharply. “Do not pity me. We both know the mercy of Elohim Hayyim, the living God, do we not? So we must accept also His judgments. He is the object of all our human striving and the end of all seeking. I look gladly to the end.” He coughed weakly, but his voice gained volume. “What will you do when this plague is over?”
Noah, who was nicknamed Rizpah by her father, is the second born daughter to Zelophehad. She’s strong willed and minded, and often speaks her mind before thinking. With the death of her father Zelophehad, Rizpah and her sisters are left with no man in their household. As the rulings were, no land would be inherited by a woman, leaving Rizpah and her sisters at a loss when Israel is finally allowed to cross the Jordan. But Rizpah will not let the injustice go without a fight. She will speak her mind to Moses asking that her father’s land be inherited by she and her sisters.
This book came at a good time for me. I had just bought a new Bible and had decided to start reading from page one through. When I picked up this book to start reading I found that I had just finished reading the story of Moses and sure enough, when I went back to check I found Noah as being a real person. The story that Aggie Villanueva has scripted made the story I had just finished in the Bible so real.
Sometimes when reading a Bible story we unconsciously see it as just that… a story. Aggie Villanueva gave the characters of Rightfully Mine passion which made them more human and believable. It also helped pass along the lessons to be learned from their mistakes. I feel that Rightfully Mine would make a great book for Bible study classes and discussions, especially among young adults.
2009
Lulu
174 Pages
ISBN #978-0-557-08654-2

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— Jul 14, 2010 | Add your feedback

- Dead of Knight (1)
- A Jack Staal Mystery
- By William R. Potter
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Dead of Knight

Fast Action Page Turner

Dead of Knight – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“It’s a good day to die,” he said quietly. “Pardon?” “Happy birthday, Kim.” “What?” She retreated a step. “How did you know it’s my birthday?” Tyro clenched the lighter in his fist, pulled back and struck a quick blow to her ... (continue)

Dead of Knight – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“It’s a good day to die,” he said quietly. “Pardon?” “Happy birthday, Kim.” “What?” She retreated a step. “How did you know it’s my birthday?” Tyro clenched the lighter in his fist, pulled back and struck a quick blow to her throat. The porcelain cup of steaming coffee burst from her grip and smashed to the ground. Her eyes widened in shock as she clutched at her neck and sunk to her knees. He grabbed her hair in both hands and slammed her face down against his rising knee once, twice, releasing her so that she cracked her head against the wall. He stepped aside to survey the results of his attack. “You have accomplished a great deal in your thirty-two years, haven’t you, Miss Walker?” he said as he dragged her into the hidden space between the two dumpsters. “Two illegitimate children, a deadbeat boyfriend, and a minimum wage job slinging burgers to the scum of the earth.” He undid his leather belt and pulled it from his waist.
Jack Stall is a detective with the Hanson Major Crime Section. At times, teams from his department are sent to a crime scene to start the work-up and secure the scene until the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team arrives. Jack and his partner Rachel Gooch have both been assigned to this preliminary work for two prior cases where the victims have been violently raped and murdered on their birthdays. The media has dubbed the killer as “Birthday Boy.” Now they can add a third victim to the list with the killing of Kim Walker, who has been murdered on her birthday.
Author William R. Potter takes Jack Stall through the wringer with Dead of Knight. He is already fighting depression from a mass killing in the park. His deceased partner’s wife Wendy Reynolds has called asking him to find her missing daughter and now the Birthday Boy killings. This may be a lot for one person to deal with, even in fiction, but the writing abilities of William R. Potter not only makes the characters believable but the story as well. This story was so well written. There were no super cops coming along to save the day. The events unrolled so well that you actually felt as if you were following a real police story. This is one author that I will continue to follow and will be waiting on his next Jack Stall Mystery. Until then, I’ll be indulging myself in his book Lighting the Dark Side.

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— Jun 20, 2010 | Add your feedback
- Bingo the Banjo Picking Bear (2)
- By Jay Miller
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Bingo the Banjo Picking Bear

Beautiful Book for Children

Bingo The Banjo Picking Bear – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Bingo is a young bear, with music in his soul, who believes that fish are like genies and will grant your wishes. Bingo's wish is to have a banjo so he can make up songs and sing them to his Grandpa. Will th ... (continue)

Bingo The Banjo Picking Bear – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Bingo is a young bear, with music in his soul, who believes that fish are like genies and will grant your wishes. Bingo's wish is to have a banjo so he can make up songs and sing them to his Grandpa. Will the fish grant his wish?
This is a sweet little book, with beautifully done artwork, that will have just about any child making up their own tune to Bingo’s words. I actually found myself doing just that.
2007
Outskirt Press, Inc.
33 pages
ISBN 978-1-4327-0739-2

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— Jun 10, 2010 | Add your feedback
Future Imperf-
ect Book Two…
- Future Imperfect Book Two - Miraculous Deception (1)
- By P. I. Barrington
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Future Imperfect Book Two - Miraculous Deception

Future Imperfect Book Two - Miraculous Deception

Future Imperfect Book Two – Miraculous Deception – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“Gavin. Gavin!” Payce’s voice hissed urgently in his ear. Only she wasn’t speaking, physically at least. He sat up in the chair and looked at her, lying silent and unmoving in the hospital ... (continue)

Future Imperfect Book Two – Miraculous Deception – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“Gavin. Gavin!” Payce’s voice hissed urgently in his ear. Only she wasn’t speaking, physically at least. He sat up in the chair and looked at her, lying silent and unmoving in the hospital bed. He frowned, drawing his brows down and together. Gavin shook his head, attributing it to his lack of sleep. He remedied that by leaning back into his chair and closing his eyes again. “Ga-vin! Listen to me!” “Okay, that does it!” He jumped up and leaned over her inert form. “Open your eyes and look at me, Payce.” Silence answered him. “Payce?” Still nothing. I can’t even tell if I’m awake or asleep anymore. I need some of that good old American coffee. Gavin turned toward the door and got one step. “Gavin. Listen to me. Just shut up and listen.”
Payce and Gavin’s both work for the LVPD as partners but while investigating the murder of several women in the Las Vegas area, Payce had been hurt and was now on a type of “life support” which would allow her body to heal. But someone doesn’t want her to live and went to the extreme of turning off her support system. She is in a comatose state and there is no way she can be speaking to Gavin.
Due to his job as well as his personal feelings for Payce, Gavin finds himself trying to find a way to protect her while at the same time determine who wants her dead and why. His search for the truth will take him back to the their original investigation of a group of people that call themselves “The New Creation.”
P. I. Barrington has me hooked on the Future Imperfect Books. They take place a bit into the future but not so far ahead in time that they are unbelievable. The future that Barrington exposes, is actually quite possible. The stories take place in Las Vegas, where due to the destruction of Earth’s atmosphere, the city is in ruins but still living up to its name “Sin City.” Drugs have been legalized and are being distributed by a company named Chemical Recreational, Inc. Crimes are at their normal high rate with the police department and the medical field personnel being at a sad low. Mix this with a recall being placed on the most popular recreational drugs “Glycerine” and you have the perfect target for a religious cult such as The New Creation.
Barrington seems to start a book with a bang and end it with a bang, leaving you craving the next one. And that’s exactly what I’m doing right now. I’m waiting and watching for a message telling me that Future Imperfection Book Three – Final Deceit is out there for me to read.

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— Jun 2, 2010 | Add your feedback
- I Thought I Heard the Lion's Roar (1)
- Discerning the Voice of God in Turbulent Times
- By Cindy L. Allen
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- The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella (1)
- A Modern Mother's Tale
- By D. E. Montgomery
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The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella

One of the Funniest Books I've ever read

The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Stripperella Goes Shopping
'The mother had taken Stripperella to the store one morning. She had taken extra care to dress her in a pair of overalls that didn't unsnap at the crotch. All prec ... (continue)

The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Stripperella Goes Shopping
'The mother had taken Stripperella to the store one morning. She had taken extra care to dress her in a pair of overalls that didn't unsnap at the crotch. All precautions have been taken. Well, perhaps not. As the mother was checking her list and comparing the prices of bar soap, she sees movement out of the corner of her eye. "Oh she's just playing with the seat belt no problem" thinks the mother. She makes her soap selection and places it in the cart not really paying attention to the child's appearance. The mother arrived at the checkout and really looked at Stripperella only to realize she had taken her arms out of the overalls and has pushed them down to her butt. Thank goodness she was strapped in the cart and she probably would have been buck naked in the middle of the store! "Why won't she keep her clothes on," the mother wonders "she shows no interest at all in using the potty. Perhaps she simply wants to show what she's got." Perhaps the mother will need to keep her in backwards sleepers at all times until she gets past this.'
I've loved reading my whole life, and that's a long time. I read many types of books... mystery, murder, suspense, humor and even a vampire book now and then. BUT - I've never read a book that had me laughing so hard that I had tears in my eyes. And this was the case throughout the whole book!
This mother/author has her hands full with a child who simply doesn't like to wear clothes. She also has her hands full with a child who loves to "check things out." I'm not sure I could be as strong and patient as she has and I'm sure still is. And as for Stripperella, she has a determination which will allow her to be just about anything she wants to be when she grows up. You can't help but love her and laugh through every page.
I see The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella as a book that should be read by every mom, young and old, and every mother to be. This one of the funniest books I've ever read.

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— May 21, 2010 | Add your feedback