For the run-down on great books to stimulate your mind, Gary Roen has the review you need. Here. At OrlandoAdvocate.com.
The Teacher
Freida McFadden
Poisoned Pen Press
www.sourcebooks.com
9781728296210, $17.99 pbk / $3.99 Kindle
The suspense comes in waves, in “The Teacher.” Eve. a math teacher at a high school is cautious with one of her students, who the year before was involved in a scandal, with a fellow instructor. Now he no longer works there. As Eve talks to her husband who is part of the English department, she finds he defends this female, no matter the issue. The novel takes many twists and turns to the humdinger conclusion that will change all the characters lives forever. “The Teacher” races along with solid writing, interesting people, and an out of the ordinary finale that ensures page turning excitement.
The Surrogate Mother
Freida McFadden
Independently Published
www.freidamcfadden.com
9798639013379, $17.99 pbk / $3.99 Kindle
“The Surrogate Mother” opens quietly, then roars along to the end in a suspenseful story. Abby and her husband have been unable to have a child, no matter the way, they’ve tried. She has felt incomplete as a woman until Monica, a personal assistant volunteers to a medical procedure, to ensure Abby’s world is complete. All is perfect until Monica turns it into something sinister. “The Surrogate Mother” is a page turning thriller that is a roller coaster ride with plenty of twists and turns until the very last page
Do Not Disturb
Freida McFadden
Independently Published
www.freidamcfadden.com
9798474673417, $19.99 pbk / $3.99 Kindle
Freida McFadden captures the reader with the first paragraph in “Do Not Disturb” “While I’m washing the blood off my hands in the kitchen sink, the doorbell rings.” Quinn Alexander has committed a crime. Rather than staying around and facing her situation, she runs away staying in touch with only her sister. Along the way she encounters someone from her past she never expected. She finds a hotel to stay in during a blizzard to find out the lodge has strange elements to it she begins to explore as she realizes she is stuck there. “Do Not Disturb” is a rousing read from start to finish filled with strong mysterious characters, solid plotting to the very end sure to keep readers glued to the last page.
Do You Remember
Freida McFadden
Independently Published
www.freidamcfadden.com
9798799032494, $10.99 pbk / $3.99 Kindle
“Do You Remember?” opens with a great line to ensure readers want to continue “An ice pick is jabbing me in my right temple.” Tess Strebel is unsure of everything in her life as she struggles to remember things that people now say is not true. She has doubts though about a man who says he is her husband but she recalls someone else who is in touch with her but she is told things she is not sure about him. All her life is upside down, but she is sure what is before her, is not as it should be. She is sure someone is preventing her from her learning the truth. Later things emerge where she knows without a doubt matters, are not as they should be. “Do You Remember” is great to the end where it is confusing with two different endings.
Navigator Down! A Jewish P.O.W. In Nazi Germany
Rick Lockenbach
Independently Published
www.amazon.com
9798334850996, $18.99 pkb / No Kindle
Books on World War II continue to come out, and that is very good. So many of the men and women who served in the armed forces or other ways to beat Germany, Italy and Japan have died off leaving fewer and fewer people from that generation as well as Holocaust survivors. Author Lockenbach in his book “Navigator Down! A Jewish P.O.W. In Nazi Germany” is so much more than the retelling of his combat fighter father but the story of so many other GI who served and were prisoners. For so long details depicted here have been mostly unknown until now. Told in easy-to-read prose “Navigator Down” is the authors account of his family’s contribution that also informs, concentrating on that era, in the hopes we learn from history to not repeat it.
Not Nothing
Gayle Forman Author
Aladdin
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665943277, $17.99 HC / $10.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Not-Nothing-Gayle-Forman/dp/166594327
“Not Nothing” is so much more than Alex a twelve-year-old boy sentenced by a judge of the court system for a bad thing he did. Alex is to spend his summer volunteering at a senior living center for his punishment. At first he resents the whole situation. As he begins his punishment, his mood changes from one person he has met, The individual opens up to him, a first for him to talk to anyone. Alex learns of a dark and sinister past of World War II in the patient’s life. They bond as Alex also changes as a person who is more caring for others. “Not Nothing” is a much more complicated YA novel than it first appears to be that is thought provoking reading for all ages to enjoy and discuss.
Rise Of The Spider
Michael P. Spradlln
Margaret K. McElderry Books
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665947213, $7.99 pkb / $7.99 Kindle
Many of us have heard over the years stories of how Hitler and Nazi Germany rose to power after World War I. “Rise Of The Spider” shows the effect on a father and his two sons. One is brainwashed to believe all is happening is for the good of the country, while father and second son are determined to not support the cause, like their lost relation. “Rise Of The Spider” delves deep into the darkness that took over Germany to show what can happen when people are caught up in the frenzy stirred of nationalism. “Rise Of The Spider” is the first of a series of novels that should be required reading for all ages.
Marvel After-School Heroes Ghost-Spider’ Unbreakable Mission
MacKenzie Caderhead Author
Dave Bardin Illustrator
Simon Spotlight
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665959094, $5.99 pkb / $5.99 Kindle
Marvel expands its universe with a new story, in the realm of super heroes with “Ghost Spider Unbreakable Mission.” Gwen Stacey briefly pauses her school assignment, to be Ghost Spider to save the universe. Its hard enough being a crime fighter, but her educational task as Gwen is just as difficult, to see to it that an egg in her possession does not break apart. “Heroes Ghost Spider’ Unbreakable Mission” is another entreating excursion into the Marvel world for all ages to enjoy.
The Make-Believers
Ryan Seacrest and Meredith Seacrest Leach Authors
Bonnie Lui Illustrator
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665949873, $19.99 HC / $10.99 Kindle
“The Make-Believers” is for all ages to enjoy the combination of prose and art fused together to tell a single story. We all have dreams when we sleep. Some of us remember them and others don’t. There are lots of underlying messages here but one that is very clear is never lose your sense of imagination that is with us awake or not. We can train ourselves to experience imagining anytime anywhere in the future. “The Make-Believers” fun for all of us.
Love From Snoopy Inspired by the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz
Written by Maggie Testa
Scott Jeralds Illustrator
Simon Spotlight
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665968591, $9.99 HC / $9.99 Kindle
The doctor is in. Five cents please, applies for “Love From Snoopy” Resident medical expert Snoopy, exposes the many ways of love. in the world, just in time for the spectacular holiday, Valentines Day. The expert delves into all types of emotions, for people to experience. “Love From Snoopy” is the perfect title for a romantic relationship. Even Charlie Brown and Lucy Van Pelt would enjoy,
Gary Roen
Senior Reviewer
- Gary Roen
- Gary Roen
- Gary Roen
- Gary Roen
