HOW TO WRITE A ROMANCE by The Team at Avon Books

Publisher:     Avon

Published:    July 9, 2019

ISBN:      978-0062899279

Genre:     Non-fiction

Format:    Paperback from publisher

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  myreviewbooks@aol.com

FIVE HEARTS

What a super resource!  The editors and several authors from Avon books have put together a journal type workbook for writing what they say is a romance, however much of the information, suggestions and exercises can be used for virtually any genre.  Written for both new as well as established authors HOW TO WRITE A ROMANCE takes the writer from the initial concept of the story to the flourish of “the end” as well as how to gracefully lead into the next book of what could be a series. 

Newbie authors have good story ideas but can get bogged down with needless details.  There are suggestions for what to do about that as well as exercises to get past them.  Conversely, established author can hit a period of writer’s block and just not know where to go with their story.

The exercises are quick and to the point and engage the writer’s imagination. 

Interspersed with the suggestions and exercises are supportive statements from a number of successful Avon authors.  Their own personal tips are included as well.  HOW TO WRITE A ROMANCE is a welcome addition to any writer’s library and one to keep by your writing area when you need a quick tip or inspiration to move forward with your story. 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

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THE PLAZA by Julie Satow

Grand Central

June 4, 2019

978-1455566679

Non-fiction

Hardback

Reviewed by Gina  (myreviewbooks@aol.com)

Obtained by Publisher

5 Hearts

 

The iconic Plaza hotel in New York is more than just a stunning building.  It is a journey through history chock full of people, names that will be familiar to anyone who reads Julie Satow’s biography, THE PLAZA, of the hotel.

While the people who passed through the hotel as guests, permanent residents, employees and owners often had their own entertaining story, Satow tells each one with style and class.  She does not just tell each person’s role in the hotel’s history, but takes the reader behind the scenes and into the lives of the people who populated the Plaza and times they made their way in.  You do not have to have lived in New York or in the times when some of the more memorable events occurred – like when the Beatles stayed there or the thirty nine widows who carried on year after year or “Eloise” the little girl who roamed its halls to enjoy each story. 

Who would have thought a book about a building would be so entertaining?  Well, the Plaza is more than a building.  It is part of the history of a city (New York) and the people who walked its halls.  For me, THE PLAZA was not only one of my best reads this year – it was a can’t put down read where I sought out every free moment to see what happened next.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

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MRS. SHERLOCK HOLMES The True Story of New York City's Greatest Female Detective and the 1917 Missing Girl Case That Captivated a Nation by Brad Ricca

Publisher:  St. Martin’s Press
Published:   January 3, 2017
ISBN:        978-1250072245
Genre:       Non-fiction, Biography
Format:     Print
Obtained via:  Library    
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com
 

FIVE HEARTS

 

As the calendar rolled over to 1899 to the early 1900’s few women, if any, attended law school.  If they did, it was almost as an afterthought—in night classes. One such woman was Grace Humiston.  But Grace was much more than a dilatant sitting in a night class. Law school was only the beginning of what Grace became and the impact she had on not only her home city of New York, but as far reaching as Italy.  In a world where the women who did pursue higher education and particularly law school, for most it was to meet a husband or learn a bit about their family finances.  Grace had something else in mind. Her professor, seeing how unique and talented she was quickly moved her to the day classes.  Upon her graduation she set about to help the poor of New York receive justice.  Bit by bit she took on cases of the people who could not fend for themselves—abusive husbands, a slave labor camp in the south and saving an innocent man from death row. Each case led her closer and closer to perhaps the most important not only her career, but in shaping how missing persons are handled even today in the City of New York.

I do not normally seek out non-fiction and even less biographies.  I read, for the most part, to step away from my everyday life and, while I love my day job, sometimes I need to go, at least in my mind, somewhere else. When I saw the blurb for Brad Ricca’s Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, however, I had to pick it up. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was treated to an even better read than I anticipated. Humiston was not only an attorney and a detective, she was a force of nature. The first female deputy attorney It is through Ricca’s amazing story telling that Grace comes to live on the pages of a book that, once you start, you simply cannot put down. He tells her story like a well told mystery. He draws you into Grace’s life and you cannot wait to see what she will do next. While I will tell my friends about a book I’m reading, I rarely go out of my way to discuss and encourage them to pick up and read one. Ricca’s Mrs. Sherlock Holmes so captured my attention I’ve told most of my friends and co-workers that this is one book you do not want to miss. If you read only one book this year, make it this one.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

THE LION IN THE LIVING ROOM by Abigail Tucker

 

Publisher:    Simon and Schuster

Published:   October 18, 2016

ISBN:        B01CO34KU6

Genre:       Non-fiction

Format:     Ebook

Obtained via:  Publisher via Edelweiss

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

THREE-1/2 HEARTS

 

I’m a cat person and myself am on the staff of three cats.  Pretty much all my adult life I’ve had cats. Several chose me by showing up in my yard and refusing to leave.  Two, ironically both orange tabbies came to live with me because their people, two people very close to me, died.  I tend to pick up books, either fiction or non-fiction, if they feature cats but it can’t hurt to learn more about these adorable, my way or the highway creatures.  Needless to say, when I saw Tucker’s book I had to option it for review.  She did not disappoint. 

Tucker offers readers chapters dedicated to various aspects of cat history and their lives.  She goes back to the earliest records of cats and details her own journeys to look at various skeletons from ancient times.  There are humorous aspects, sad aspects and a few that left me angry despite the fact that they happened decades ago.  Some aspects I disagree with, such as what comes across as saying all cats would prefer to be the only child in the family.  In my own household, that has never been true – at least two always pair up and siblings do well together.

I enjoyed the chapter entitled Nine Lives most of all because it talks about modern cats and where they fit in our lives today. 

Non-cat people probably will not enjoy this one—unless they are trying to understand their cat-owning friends.  For cat owners it can be a quick or enjoy over time read. Chapters do not have to be read in order to enjoy the book.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

THE ELIMINATION DIET by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre, M.S., CN

Publisher:     Grand Central

Published:    October 11, 2016

ISBN:        978-1455581863

Genre:      Non-fiction, Health 

Format:     Print

Obtained via:  Publisher  

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

THREE HEARTS

 

Elimination diets have become one of the main topics of conversation not only in health-related services but in the foodie community and more.  The basic premise is that to find out why we may not feel so great, or what foods might not be the best for us, we eliminate foods that could be causing our problems.  According to the authors, to date, there hasn’t been one comprehensive guide—a step-by-step how-to to follow. The authors start by giving readers a thorough walk through the different foods that can cause problems such as bloating, gas, fatigue and myriad other health issues.  They then offer a three phase program to first calm down the health issues we may be dealing with and the re-introducing foods in a step by step manner so we do not end up back where we started. 

Neither author is a doctor and base rely on an extensive number of years working toward and with this program.  It is, at least initially, a rigorous program to follow—especially for those of us who enjoy a cup of coffee first thing in the morning.  They do offer a suggestion – some green tea – to help with caffeine withdrawal.  Having had to go without caffeine for two days not too long ago I can tell you…that didn’t help.  But that doesn’t mean it won’t work for others and given how serious some people’s food sensitivities might be, the headache and other problems with giving up caffeine may well be worth it.

The program is quite rigorous and to their credit the authors recommend not even considering doing it during holidays because of all the food choices we already face during those times.  They include detailed food lists of foods to avoid and those you can eat as well as a collection of recipes.  I looked some of them over and without even attempting the program saw quite a few that looked easy to prepare and would taste delicious. 

From a healthy eating perspective I’d say give the book a look—there are parts that can apply to anyone and everyone even if the full program is not for you.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

The Power of Mercury: Understanding Mercury Retrograde and Unlocking the Astrological Secrets of Communication by Leslie McGuirk

Publisher:     Harper Elixer  

Published:     September 13, 2016

ISBN:        978-0062434937

Genre:       Non-fiction

Format:     Ebook

Obtained via:  Publisher via Edelweiss

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

FOUR HEARTS

 

It used to be there was only a small community who knew what the deal was with retrograde Mercury and a lot of the time we were not thrilled with it.  Mercury – or Hermes –- god and/or planet of communication.  It is the planet of “re” – redoing, revising, revisiting, replacing.  In her new book, The Power of Mercury:  Understanding Mercury Retrograde and Unlocking the Secrets of Communication by Leslie McGuirk takes the mystique out of retrograde motion and shows readers how to use that process to not only communicate with those around us, but open up a dialogue with ourselves. 

In plain English McGruik takes readers through a mini lesson on astrology bringing the uninitiated up to speed on just what various aspects of it mean.  She then takes you, behind the scenes as it were, of just what retrograde Mercury means – and it’s not all bad.  With detailed, yet understandable explanations, of how to find what sign your Mercury is in the author then shows you how to use those connections to enhance your communication.  This is one of those books that was a long time in coming and McGuirk gives her readers a solid lesson in astrology and just what the deal is with retrograde mercury and then how to use it.

One aspect of the book I plan to put to good use is, how use Mercury’s placement in my own chart before entering into negotiations or enhancing business discussions. In personal relationships, where we do share our birth information, it will provide an awesome tool for enhancing relationships between family and friends.

Definitely a keeper.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.