Under the Liberty Oak

Author: Paige M. Cummings
Publisher: BookSurge LLC
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-4196-6801-2
Pages: 321
Price: $14.99

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Brittan Lee Hayworth does not want to return to Liberty, Georgia, until a nine year-old girl’s body is discovered in the Altamaha River. Everyone thinks it’s Beth Ann Hamilton, Brittan Lee’s best friend back in 1964 – until the night she disappeared.

FBI Agent Andrew Zeller is already in Liberty, investigating civil rights violations from that year. The night Hurricane Dora swept through Liberty, a terrible fire started in the black community. Everyone always assumed that lightning started the fire, but its origin is now being questioned.

Brittan Lee joins the investigation reluctantly. Always encouraged to believe they were just nightmares, she now has her memories validated and tries to remember what really happened that fateful night. As Liberty faces another hurricane, Brittan Lee finds herself in danger once again, as someone doesn’t want that long-ago night’s events revealed.

The suspense builds as repeated attempts are made on her life, leading to the stunning conclusion when Brittan Lee finally remembers the details of what really happened the night Beth Ann Hamilton disappeared.

Paige M. Cummings has beautifully recreated the turbulent times of civil rights unrest, revisiting the 1960’s through Brittan Lee’s memories. She writes with a strong southern voice, painting delightful sensory images. If you enjoy southern mysteries, you’ll love this novel.

Under the Liberty Oak is a nominee for the Georgia Writer’s Association’s “Best First Novel”/Georgia Author of the Year award for 2007.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

The Prometheus Project – Trapped

Author: Douglas E. Richards
Publisher: DNA Press LLC
Genre: Juvenile / Science Fiction
ISBN: 0-9748765-4-2
Pages: 140
Price: $9.95

DNA Press website
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After six weeks in Brewster, Pennsylvania, Ryan and Regan Resnick are looking for anything at all to help relieve their boredom. So, when they discover their scientist parents are working in a top-secret facility where something seems suspicious, they want to find out what’s going on.

Getting in requires some logic and skill, but they soon find that getting out might pose a larger problem, as will saving their mother from certain death.

As they explore this fascinating location, they come across challenges that test their intellect and reasoning ability. Using the scientific method, they need to discover how to navigate this strange environment that occasionally turns hostile on them. And saving their mother will be the ultimate test.

This book held my interest from the moment I picked it up. Just like Ryan and Regan, I wanted to know what was happening in Prometheus Alpha, and I tried to solve the puzzle of how to get in right along with them.

The alien city was reminiscent of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, where anything could happen, and there were no limits to the places they could go or the things they could do. I would have loved for the kids to spend more time exploring, but under the circumstances, they had no time to waste.

The unique puzzle they needed to solve to save their mother made my head spin, but ultimately their logic was right on. It certainly will give kids something to think about.

This is a well-written and enjoyable science fiction adventure. I highly recommend it.

See review of: Captured

Reviewer: Alice Berger

The Intellectual Devotional: American History

Author: David S. Kidder & Noah D. Oppenheim
Publisher: Modern Times / Rodale
Genre: Reference / Pop culture
ISBN: 1-59486-744-5
Pages: 378
Price: $24.00

Author’s website
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If you’re looking for a daily bite-sized portion of intellectual stimulation, look no further than The Intellectual Devotional.Written in the style of the daily spiritual guides, this volume is designed to educate the reader in American history, one day at a time.

Each day of the week is devoted to a particular theme:Mondays are Politics and Leadership, Tuesday deals with War and Peace, Wednesday looks at Rights and Reform, Thursday is Business, Friday covers Building America, Saturday is Literature, and Sunday showcases the Arts.

One would expect to see references to our founding fathers in an American history book, but how about the Simpsons, Michael Jackson, and Gone With the Wind?The eclectic mix of topics keeps The Intellectual Devotional from becoming yet another boring reference book that never leaves the shelf.

Many Americans keep books by their bed to read when beginning or ending the day, and The Intellectual Devotional now sits on my own nightstand. If you enjoy learning something new every day, I’d suggest youadd it to your own collection. You’ll find it a fascinating read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christmas on Deery Street

Author: Steven Roberts
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1311-9
Pages: 90
Price: $12.95

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Christmas On Deery Street is a collection of short, cozy stories centered around the popular Christian holiday. Steven Roberts has neatly spun a collection of his father’s well-told tales into an entertaining and often inspiring book.

Each segment is a fictitious account, “with a small element of truth” according to Roberts, of life in the not-so-distant past. The reader learns about the hardships and miracles of life through the eyes of everyday folks during the magical time of the Christmas season.

“The Angel at Union Station” is one tale that seems almost too good to be true, but nonetheless, you believe it anyway. The reader has little choice because in this nutty world of ours, a dreamy story that firmly puts a smile on your face is a welcome respite.

Who would not want to read about an anxious soldier, away from home for several years, wondering if his girl still loves him after all this time? Of course we know how it turns out, but the charm is in the way Roberts tells the story. The magic and mystery are what make it all worthwhile.

“Magic Socks” and “Our Star” are two others that go well with a fire and a hot cup of tea on a cold night. And if you are sitting, reading next to your Christmas tree or not, you may find yourself happily reminiscing of your own favorite childhood memories or ones of your family or friends.

Christmas On Deery Street is a wonderful book for all ages that will delight the heart and warm the spirit. And you can get these good feelings reading them at Christmas or any old time of year.

Reviewer: Gene Berger

Never Without You… Again

Author: Francine Craft
Publisher: Kimani Press
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 978-0-373-86037-1
Price: $5.99

Kimani Press website
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Theda Coles and Hunter “Brave Wolf” Davis were once young and madly in love, until circumstances ripped them apart. Now Hunter has returned to Theda’s life and threatens to turn it upside down.

Hunter has a son with his ex-wife Helena, who also follows him to Crystal Lake. Determined to get him back, she’ll stop at nothing in trying to ruin Theda’s life. Theda has always had a dream of becoming a high school principal, and Helena’s actions are threatening that dream.

Theda is still grieving the loss of her husband and Hunter’s son. She has to make a choice – does she allow herself to trust this man she once loved deeply not to hurt her, or does she turn him away forever? And will he allow Helena to continue to come between them, threatening everything Theda’s always wanted?

Francine Craft has created a beautiful romance between two very real people facing some of life’s most difficult challenges. Throughout their struggles, they are loving and intimate, while also feeling all their feelings around their problems, and being honest with each other. The decisions they must make aren’t easy ones, and the reader can empathize with their situation while cheering them on to make the right one. This is a heartwarming story, and I enjoyed reading it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Traveling Bear series by Winning Kids, Inc.

Traveling Bear and the Drive-Through Safari (Vol. 1)
Traveling Bear and the Yellow Flipper Roller Coaster (Vol. 2)
Traveling Bear and the Search for Treasure (Vol. 3)

Creator: Christian Hainsworth
Publisher: Winning Kids, Inc.
Genre: Children’s
ISBN: 978-1-933547-01-4 / 978-1-933547-11-1 / 978-1-933547-03-0
Price: $14.95 each

Traveling Bear website

Traveling Bear is a new learning series created by Winning Kids, Inc. This fourteen part series is designed to help children overcome obstacles, make good choices, have a positive outlook on life, set goals and have the desire to always do their best.

The series is set up so that a theme is introduced on each day of the week, and then that theme is repeated in the second week. All of the books in the series have read-along CD’s included, as well as a motivational song at the end of the CD.

In volume one, Traveling Bear and the Drive-Through Safari, the theme is building confidence to ask questions and find answers on your own. Traveling Bear is encouraged to ask questions at the safari, and then to look in a book to find those answers, rather than asking the safari leader.

The second volume, Traveling Bear and the Yellow Flipper Roller Coaster, stresses the importance of thinking ahead and trying your best. Traveling Bear and his friends need to decide how they can ride on the roller coaster, while still making it to their bus on time.

And in the third volume, Traveling Bear and the Search for Treasure, the importance of setting and achieving goals is introduced. In this story, Traveling Bear makes the decision to search for treasure, and he needs persistence to make it to his goal.

This series provides a positive message for kids, and teaches them life skills in a fun way. Kids will learn to read as they read along with the CD, and they’ll learn valuable lessons that will help them as they grow up.

Reviewer: Alice Berger