BettyDravis

• Rated 5 stars

“i AM ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS FEATURED IN THIS BOOK. ALL DONATIONS GO TO SWEET SUNSHINE INC. OF CANADA...A GROUP THAT HELPS FULFILL CHILDREN'S WISHES. A wonderful cause. ”

BettyDravis wrote this review Sunday, August 21, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“The Unwanted is a dark sci-fi tale of suspense and supernatural horror that pulled me into another world with lightning speed. And when author Daniel L. Carter had me in his well-defined landscape interacting with his dynamic, believable characters, it was all I could do to leave long enough to eat, sleep and do my chores.

This story is that gripping! That original!

The story opens with FBI agent Nick Catlin taking his life in his hands by entering the Chicago territory of a known crime kingpin. He's undercover, seeking clues about the recent bombings that always claim the lives of five children. He barely gets out of there alive... The story rapidly proceeds to another bombing, but this one goes wrong for the perpetrators when two young women manage to save the five children.

And the chase is on! Janet and Michelle need a place to hide the children. The evil characters need to find the children and eliminate them before the world finds out what they've done to them and foils their evil Master Plan. And Nick's FBI team needs to stop them from killing again, to discover what else they are hiding and why they are killing children in the first place.

The women manage to hide the children on Janet's Uncle Leigh Barrus's ranch in Oklahoma. The terrifying tale she tells him about genetic experiments is only the beginning of the shocking truths behind the murders of so many children.

For years, they manage to elude the evil people, who employ every devious means possible to find them and kill them all, including Janet and Michelle and anyone else who stands in their way. It's a huge challenge caring for the children (three boys, two girls) because they're growing at twice the rate of other children. It's soon evident that they also have super-human skills that differ from child to child. With the help of her uncle and his handsome ranch hand--who is attracted to Janet--they survive, with the children saving the day when their persecutors get close.

I can't tell you much more without spoiling the plot, but will attempt to intrigue you with questions: What role did Janet and Michelle play in originally helping the bad guys? Why did they suddenly take the children and run? What are the children's super-skills? How do they use them against the evil ones who pursue them? Why does Michelle want to leave them? What happens because of this? What or who is the horrible creature that lurks in the background of this story--a creature so huge it makes walls crumble when it walks? Why did he attack Sampson, the largest and most powerful of the children? Why is Sampson reluctant to kill him? And what does the FBI do when it finally "gets" the family?

This is such a twisting, complex story that I could go on and on with questions, but I think you get an idea of what our protagonists are facing. To learn more, you will have to read for yourself. I promise you a satisfying ending, yet one that holds the door wide open for the second in Carter's trilogy.

With surprises around every corner, this author is spot on with his pacing, plot, characterization, dialogue, etc. There are a lot of upcoming, good writers out there, but Carter is one of the best to cross my path in ages. To weave a complex, dark story like this around Christian protagonists and values is quite a feat.

In fact, I'll stumble way out on a limb by saying: Daniel L. Carter is a literary force to be reckoned with--a modern-day C. S. Lewis... I can't wait to read the rest of this trilogy! Write fast, dear author... Write fast!

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, October 6, 2010
Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books
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BettyDravis wrote this review Saturday, November 27, 2010. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“On the Soul of a Vampire is an impressive debut novel for such a young author; one can almost believe that she was born in her main characters' time period and knows them and their surroundings intimately. That's the depth of writing and characterization that author Krisi Keley manages to convey in this intriguing work.

In Keley's Amazon description, she says: "For some it takes a lifetime to discover their raison d'être. Imagine searching for eight centuries. In 1997 Philadelphia, 800-year-old vampire Valéry Castellane comes face to face with his reason to be, in the person of Angelina Lacroix, a young mortal woman whose understanding of immortality is about to change all he's known as truth and which will take him and his readers on a journey into the human soul..."

This book gripped me from the beginning as Keley describes in a unique, archaic prose how Valery discovers Angelina, stalks her and finally confronts her...and Keley does it in the Vampire Valery's voice, never faltering with her word choices throughout. What a lilting, poetic accomplishment!

I have read many vampire books--from teens lusting after vamps to the original "vamp in bat form visiting the lovely damsel in the dark of night"--but none has impressed me like this one. Those others were rather "campy" and read for entertainment, while this one is unique and definitely food for thought.

In On the Soul of a Vampire, Valery is stunned that a mortal girl knows all about him and he becomes obsessed with learning more about her and how she acquired her knowledge of centuries-old happenings. Through a series of guarded questions and even more guarded answers that continue throughout the book, the reader learns some of the secrets at the same time Valery does.

From their first meeting, Valery desires Angelina more than he's ever desired anyone or anything, and it's obvious she has "loved" him all her life. At first he thinks he'll turn her into a vampire and/or kill her as he has so many others, but soon learns he can't harm her in any way. Valery is frustrated by sensing that he will never be able to...

Angelina does not fear him at all, which further mystifies this complex vampire. She makes it clear that Valery is her life purpose and her trust in him is boundless.

Angelina is such a mystery to him that he has to confide in someone, so goes to his long-time friend, a vampire that he had "turned" and lived to regret it. Valery has "good" and "bad" vampire friends and foes who plan to destroy Angelina for various reasons.

What follows are theological discussions and visions that delve into the souls of the vampires and the humans, their relationship with God and their deepest desires.

Just who is Angelina? What's her connection to Valery and why is she focused on him? How does she know all about vampires and their ancient history? Why can't any of them harm her? And who is the lovely lady (an apparition?) in a corner of Valery's childhood bedroom as his mother ministers to him when he's deathly ill? How does the lady help him then? And does she figure in his current situation?

But most important, what is the internal battle waging inside all these mortals and vampires?

Author Keley answers most of those questions brilliantly in the first book of this series and is currently working on books two and three. She's always been intrigued with supernatural, paranormal and horror fiction and how these myths try to answer humankind's questions about the spiritual, good vs. evil and the nature of man. So expect more new theories about both vampires and the human soul from this well-educated writer and artist who has a degree in Theology and education in foreign and classical languages.

I eagerly anticipate learning more about vampires from Keley's next books. I heartily recommend this intriguing book, even if it did make me think deeper than I normally wish to. In fact, if there's one shortcoming in the book, it's that Angelina and Valery tend to dance around each other when answering questions, taking longer than I think necessary before giving a satisfactory answer...but that's their polite, cautious way and fits the characters' backgrounds and intentions... The fault is mine, not the author's.

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, September 21, 2010
Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books ”

BettyDravis wrote this review Saturday, November 27, 2010. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I wrote this book of inspiring celebrity interviews with co-author Chase Von who is a celebrity interviewer and author of several books of poetry.”

BettyDravis wrote this review Sunday, November 1, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Action-packed adventure! Kept me reading all night long.

As many people say, best-selling author Joseph Finder does for CEOs what John Grisham does for attorneys--makes them exciting, entertaining, and larger than life!

Finder's famous for focusing on various industries in his popular novels; in POWER PLAY it's the aviation industry. The action in this novel takes place at an elite hunting lodge off the coast of British Columbia. When the management team of California's Hammond Aerospace meets there, an unlikely character--a junior executive named Jake Landry--is asked to fill in for his boss.

Jake may not be as sophisticated, wealthy, and privileged as the higher-ranking businessmen, but he's clever and proves much smarter where it really matters. His "smart-mouth attitude" doesn't help endear him to the others or alleviate the tension developing between the "egotistical" men and the new female CEO, Cheryl Tobin, who has been hired to "clean up" the company.

Toss in some armed hunters who take over the compound--pretending to be thieves but whom Jake suspects have much more devious ambitions--and you have an action-packed drama with more twists and turns than an Indy race track.

And why are the thieves armed with military weapons? What is their real goal? Will the businessmen help Jake overcome them or are they too cowardly? Is the CEO who was in line for Cheryl's job behind it all? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. I promise you a thrilling, white-knuckle read from start to finish.

Finder keeps us guessing about Jake's background, hinting at some juvenile offense, and he's excellent at characterization. All his characters have unique identities and come alive for me. He weaves an irresistible premise with enough high tech jargon in the plot to keep it believable.

This is my fourth book by this author and I couldn't put it down. Finder once said that the best piece of writing advice he ever received was: start the story at the last possible moment--in the middle of the action. Perhaps that's why he's so good at "hooking" his readers on the first page.

I recommend purchasing this novel; it's well worth the money. I thank his promotional team for sending me an ARC of this fantastic novel.
”

BettyDravis wrote this review Sunday, October 21, 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Chick-lit with a capital C!!! Love those shoes on the cover. Reminds me of one of my very favorite book reviewers, Ravenova; she just loves stilettos and looks fab in them.

I know, I know that last sentence is not about the book, but I couldn't resist!

I really enjoyed this book because it made me laugh and entertained me in a good way. Bushnell is one of the best in this genre.”

BettyDravis wrote this review Friday, September 21, 2007. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I wrote this short story and it was in the top ten of short stories for quite a while, no. two at times. It's been posted over a year now, so is slipping down ... with the no. of wonderful shorts Amazon Shorts is adding each and every week.

Amazon Shorts is a great place for those who love short stories.”

BettyDravis wrote this review Thursday, September 20, 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Rod Diridon, former Santa Clara County Supervisor who now runs the Mineta Transportation Institute (San Jose State U), presented this book to me as a birthday gift many years ago.

I found it quite inspiring and the wisdom between its pages serves me even today. Gibran was a genius; way ahead of his time.”

BettyDravis wrote this review Wednesday, September 19, 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“As everyone who knows me knows, I love reading children's books. This was recommended to me by my Shelfari Friend, MzBubbles. I absolutely adore it. Lots of humor and the most lovable characters ever! ... hehehehehe ... I'd get the entire series, if I had time.

Try it, you'll like it!”

BettyDravis wrote this review Wednesday, September 19, 2007. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“AN INSPIRING STORY OF LOVERS TORN APART BY THE BOMBINGS OF HIROSHIMA & NAGASAKI

Dan Maloney's debut novel is one of the best I've read in a long while. It tells the story of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from an entirely new perspective--from the inside looking out.

Two lovers are torn apart on the day of the bombings, only finding each other years later. What happens to Tori and Mieko will tear at your heart strings. Why does Tori not reveal herself to Mieko when she finally finds him? Why does he seek revenge on Americans? And how are his eyes finally opened to forgiveness?

To find the answers you'll have to RFY (read for yourself). I'm not about to put any spoilers in this review.

This is a story of true love that lasts a lifetime, of destruction, revenge, and, finally, of redemption. Dan Maloney proves himself a talented writer as he brings his characters to life right before your eyes. He's great at dialogue, description, and pacing too.

I couldn't put this book down; the plot held me spellbound. I fell in love with Tori and was rooting for her all the way. I wanted to slap Mieko up the side of his face a few times, but, all in all, he was a good man.

Great job, Dan Maloney! I look forward to more novels from you and will follow your career with interest.
”

BettyDravis wrote this review Sunday, September 16, 2007. ( reply | permalink )