Who Doesn't Love The Legend of Atlantis?

If there is one story theme that enthralls readers decade after decade, the legend of Atlantis has to be number one. As readers we never get tired of the mystery, romance, and suspense that permeate these stories. As a writer, I never tire of imagining the infinite scope of Atlantis.

Kelsey G. and I have begun working on a trilogy about the ancient culture of Atlantis rediscovered in our present day. The story is geared toward the YA reader, but because of it's scale and possibilities, we are sure this story will crossover to encompass all ages and genders.

Kelsey and I will be posting frequently about this project here on our blog. We want our readers to sense the intrigue and adventure. We'll introduce you to the characters and give you snips of dialogue and narrative. Don't worry, we won't be revealing any story 'spoilers'. We want you to feel like this is your favorite story long before you purchase the book.

We would also appreciate your comments and suggestions. So stay connected and tell us what you think.

Lynda Coker

Digital Photography - Review by Kelsey G.

Digital Photography: A Basic Manual

By: Henry Horenstein

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About the book:

This thorough, concise, and easy-to-use guide to capturing digital photographs
provides an entire step-by-step course for budding digital photographers. All
concepts are fully illustrated with sample work by internationally renowned
professionals, representing editorial work, photojournalism, and everything in
between. Topics covered include essential information for both film and digital
photography, such as exposure controls and shutter speed, as well as
digital-specific information on image editing, printing methods, and even file
storage. The first digital textbook by legendary photography teacher Henry
Horenstein, Digital Photography is the best guide yet for aspiring
digital photographers, essential both for photographers transitioning from film
to digital and those learning the art of photography for the first time.

Review by Kelsey G.

Finally! A book that just tells you how to take a good picture! Digital Photograpy is exactly that, a simple, easy to use guide for even the most amateurish of photogs (read: me). As a parent who owns a digital camera, this information was greatly helpful in capturing the best image in every situation you could possibly think of. This book needs to be on every digital camera owner's shelf; it is invaluable! Now if only I could figure out how to get my thumb out of the way of the lens...

Star-Crossed Saga Review by Kelsey G.

The Star-Crossed Saga, Protostar

By: Braxton A. Cosby

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About the book:

It Starts With Choice! What would you choose: love or irrefutable duty?
On the brink of Civil War, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his Council, King Gregorio Derry has agreed to send his only son on a mission to restore honor to his family. Bounty Hunter Prince William Derry has crossed thousands of light-years to planet Earth, in order to fulfill this age old prophetic practice. The quiet days of Madisonburg, Tennessee are officially over as Sydney Elaine now knows the full meaning of the phrase Be careful what you wish for when she is confronted by this strange visitor. As an unforeseeable event delays his assassination, William decides to study his target more closely and begins to form a connection with Sydney that challenges his inner being. But this conflict is the least of his problems, as a conspiracy back on his home planet Fabricius threatens the lives of those he loves and his father s royal legacy. Along with that, he must unravel a hidden menace here on Earth that seeks to secure a vested interest that threatens both his and Sydney s safety. Will William be able to complete his mission or will he choose love, sacrificing everything he stands for?

Review by Kelsey G.

Mr. Cosby has crafted a well-rounded universe and managed to populate it with sympathetic characters. At first I was thrown by the awkward dialogue, but then I remembered, this is, after all, a completely different planet...so who am I to say their everyday conversation style is dated and stumbling? Once I suspended my disbelief in that regard, I was able to enjoy the story as the young adult romance it was meant to be. I think that this may be a bit on the immature side for some, but Protostar is the first installment of what I think will be a very successful series.

The Comforts of Home Review by Kelsey G.

Comforts of Home

By: Jodi Thomas

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About the book:

In Harmony, Texas, twenty-year-old Reagan Truman has found her place, and found
her family. But with her uncle taken ill and her friend Noah lost and
disheartened with his life, Reagan is afraid of ending up alone again, and she's
not the only one. When a terrible storms threatens the town, the residents of
Harmony are forced to think about what they really want. Because making the
connections they so desperately desire means putting their hearts at risk...

Review by Kelsey G.

The Comforts of Home is as cozy and familiar as an old family heirloom. I really enjoyed getting to know Harmony, Texas and the people who live there. The plot is engaging, unique and vastly entertaining. As is true of any small town, (and as a resident of one, I should know) everyone's lives are deeply connected...sometimes even more so than they realize. There's no true "main character" in this book, but this allows the reader to almost feel like a main character themselves, wandering around town, getting to know the people. There are enough plot twists and surprises to keep things interesting, and the emotional tones are true and touching. Great book!

Drayling Review by Kelsey G.

Drayling
By: Terry J. Newman

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About the book:

Twenty-fifth century Drayling, and Britain as a whole, has benefited greatly from advances in technology and medical science, and life in the Graves' household, and in those of their friends and colleagues, is secure, clear and very content. The desire and need for clarity, truth and order has motivated communities to live in harmony, abandoning any potentially controversial aspects
or ways of life, including all religions, in favour of a modern civilised society that upholds order, implicity, honesty, love and honour as its ideals.


Review by Kelsey G.

I honestly didn't believe I would enjoy this book. Surprisingly, however, I found it fascinating. It might be slightly heavy on political inner workings but I think the heart of the story will win readers over. The concept of a peaceful future maintained by literally eliminating all which is controversial is...well...controversial in itself, but also strangely thought-provoking. The characters are interesting and multi-faceted, really well-developed. The one thing I found lacking was the romance, however the cover art itself is tantalizing, the rich colors and vivid imagery a fitting precursor to this unique novel. I recommend this book to any fan of sci-fi or dystopian fiction.

Open Minds Review by Kelsey G.

Open Minds

By: Susan Kaye Quinn

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About the book:

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can't read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can't be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf's mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she's dragged deep into a hidden underworld of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.



Review by Kelsey G.

Open Minds is everything an excellent young adult novel should be: fast paced, thrilling, romantic and unpredictable. This plot has so many twists I considered making a flow-chart....in a good way. As soon as you think you've got a person (or group of people) figured out, everything turns on its head and you're just not sure who to trust. The conspiracy theorist in me was fascinated. Of course, there was a love-triangle, angst-y enough to satisfy even the most dramatic of young adults, and all in all this book delivered on every possible level. The best part? It's part of a series! I can't wait for the next installment of the Mindjacker books and would recommend this first one to anybody who loves a darn good read!

Review - Hot Water by Erin Brockovich

HOT WATER
By Erin Brockovich ~ With CJ Lyons
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About The Book:
No stranger to balancing an intensely demanding work schedule with the stresses of keeping her family together, AJ Palladino now faces another challenge: she is leaving her young son home with her ailing parents so that she can travel to the site of a new case involving a nuclear power plant in peril. And it will take all her skills to keep her cool while the action and tension build to a fever pitch.

Colleton River, a new, one-of-a-kind nuclear facility designed to create medical isotopes with the potential to save millions of lives, has recently been plagued by a series of unexplained mishaps. The accidents have caused the locals to protest the plant, drawing the attention of an anti-nuclear protest group as well as several home-grown terrorists who sense an opportunity to sow fear and chaos. The plant's owner, Owen Grandel, has traveled from South Carolina to West Virginia to personally ask AJ for help. AJ knows she's going to have her hands full investigating the accidents and calming the situation at the plant. What she doesn't foresee is her simple business trip turning into disaster, with her family coming apart at the seams in her absence?and her young son disappearing. While AJ tries to find her missing child, she also discovers what caused the ?accidents." Soon the plant begins hurtling towards nuclear catastrophe, with AJ stranded at ground zero. But can she save her son, herself, and the community?and prevent a nuclear meltdown before it's too late?

Review by Lynda:
Gritty and intense, this story searches the depth of a mother's devotion for her ill son and pits it against her desire for truth and integrity in the realm of environmental investigation. The safe and clean nuclear energy issue is relevant for today's reader. HOT WATER is destinctive on it's own and is a fitting follow-up story to Erin Brockovich's first book titled  Rock Bottom. Tension builds on every page through creative plotting and character expansion. 

One aspect of this story did ring on the dull side for me. I felt that the writer tried too hard to create sensational tension and therefore left the plausibility factor hanging in the air a couple of times.  But overall, an exciting story.

Secrets - Review by Kelsey G.

Secrets

By: Freya North

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About the book:

They drive each other crazy. And they both have something to hide. But we all have our secrets. It's just that some are bigger than others ...

Joe has a beautiful house, a great job, no commitments—and he likes it like
that. All he needs is a quiet house sitter for his rambling old place by the
sea. When Tess turns up on his doorstep, he's not sure she's right for the job. Where has she come from in such a hurry? Her past is blank, and she's a bit of an enigma. But there's something about her—even though sparks fly every time they meet. And it looks like she's here to stay ... 

Review by Kelsey G.

Secrets is fabulous. From the very first page I was plain glad I was reading this book. Tess is such a human character, so relatable and sympathetic...the kind of girl you call a sister and just want to hug. With a toddler in tow, as she takes on the handsome stranger and tries to be an admirable housesitter for him, we are rooting for her every step of the way. You just want her to be happy. The writing is fresh, dynamic and hilarious. The romance...wow, the romance...it was not heavy handed and obvious, but rather it played out like an enthralling chess game. Move, countermove...and we're all holding our breath the whole time. I highly recommend this book for any fan of heroines with heart and stories with real class.