Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

An Imaginary Affair

Diana Raab

Poetry

An Imaginary Affair is a collection of sensitive and sensuous poems for poets and non-poets who appreciate the challenges and intricacies of being human. The poems touch on key human elements, such as love, desire, passion, memory, loss, and gratitude.

Amy’s Review: Magnificent and Intimate

This collection of poetry by Diana Raab, PhD is a remarkable work of words and expression. Diana Raab’s poetry resonates withs Pablo Neruda, one of the most widely read poets in the 20th century. Raab, however, puts her own thoughts and emotions into her work. Neruda was one for writing love and odes. In An Imaginary Affair the words almost linger across the pages, the emotions filling the air as each one is read. I liked this so much, I read many of the poems twice or more. Each one was so intimate, intense and a celebration of being a woman, and a human being, that I can’t pick just one that I loved. Each one is different and shows the heart and passion of the poet. Somethings you can’t explain, especially when you read something, and it invokes emotions of your own, while feeling the emotions and thoughts of the poetry. I look forward to reading more by this poet.

What Wakes the Heart

Karen A. Wyle

Historical Romance

Immerse yourself in a story of love, immigration, and religious differences, set in 1884-1885 Nebraska.

Will their hearts bring them together, or will their differences keep them apart?

Amy’s Review: Another Grand Romance!

Karen A. Wyle writes a romantic historical tale with What Wakes the Heart. This book is part of the Cowbird Creek series, and this is volume four. Wyle writes imaginative and romantic historical romance stories, and each one in the Cowbird Creek series really brings it together. Different stories with romance, fate, and of course, the setting and story itself. It’s not just about who met who and fell in love. The lovers are not forced together through writing, it is a connection that the author brings to the story. The story is set in the 1880’s in Nebraska, and it gives a lot of the interactions and time setting that shows a story of not just immigration and the relationships of not just brother and sister, but the rest of the small town, and respect of humans, especially immigrants and religious differences. It’s a very interesting and intriguing story with a lot of details and it is definitely unpredictable. I’m a big fan of this author!

Whispered Truths Ted Tayler Noir Crime

Mark Fennell moved to a small village in 2005 with his partner, Helen Roker. Six months later, Fennell lay dead in the hallway of his home. Someone had shot him with a double-barrelled shotgun. Helen Roker was found dead in her bath nine months later.

Amy’s Review: Another Magnetic Case

What a great story in Whispered Truths by Ted Tayler. This book is part of the Freeman Files series, and it is volume 19 (and I’ve read every one of them). I really love reading about Gus and his team, and how they have these interesting cases to solve, some feeling unsolvable. The cold case they are working on now, is the death of Mark Fennell and suicide of his partner, Helen, months later. Gus and his Crime Review Team are on the case, working hard, and trying to decide what is relevant as clues start to slowly spill out. The characters had a lot of depth and were very realistic. This author has a great imagination and I’m glad it’s being shared with stories. It is a very well-written plot, and I enjoyed it. It is always an honor to read this author’s books. This author is a great storyteller that keeps this reader coming back for more. The story brings the reader on a superb journey. This is a magnificent story that kept this reader turning the pages. This book captures the reader’s attention at chapter 1. The author’s technique of raw, magnetic characters and great plotlines is a gift. It’s a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. Tantalizing and intriguing!

The Quiet Girl Nichole Heydenburg

How far would you go for revenge?

Violet Hale is a quiet teenager whose family moved from Michigan to North Carolina. She misses her friends, especially her best friend, Abby, and her old life. But the worst part of her new school is the popular students who have targeted her, bullying her ceaselessly until she can’t stand going to school.

Amy’s Review: Wonderfully told Nichole Heydenburg writes a thrilling tale with The Quiet Girl. If you haven’t read work from this author before, like I have, this is one of those hidden gems. The story introduces Violet, a shy and quiet young girl, who just moved with her family, leaving all her friends behind. Coming to a new school, she becomes the target of bullying, and that is putting it mildly. When reading it, sometimes you have to put it down and take a breath or two, especially if you get as enraged as I do about bullies. This story is very well written, and shows the audience how bullying can affect a chain of events that neither the bullies or target can see. I’m a big fan of this author! Whatever this author writes, I want to read. It’s such an emotional rollercoaster. You keep thinking “will she?” or “won’t she?” and what happens next, well, is unpredictable.