“Winston the Traveling Dog” by Cynthia Anne Finefrock

Winston the Traveling Dog

Cynthia Anne Finefrock
Faithful Friends Publishing (2021)
ISBN: 9781736945902
Reviewed by Lydia (age 7) and Mom for Reader Views Kids (11/2021)

“Winston the Traveling Dog” is a funny book about a dog named Winston who travels around the world. The story begins when Winston gets bored at his house and wants something to do. He gets done watching TV and realizes that he wants to travel; traveling sounds exciting, but also kind of scary. Winston gets the okay from his parents (“pawrents” – haha) and gets on a plane! Winston starts his trip in London and sees Buckingham Palace and the London Eye. He eats some yummy food and plays some before he heads to Paris. In Paris, he shops for some new clothes and meets a new friend! Then Winston travels to Italy where he learns that there is not a leaning tower of pizza but still gets to eat pizza while he’s there! When Winston is done traveling, he is exhausted but happy that he got to visit some cool places.

I thought this book was funny because there were several times that I laughed at things that Winston said and did. I thought it was funny when he thought the Leaning Tower of Pisa was actually a pizza; I would like for it to actually be pizza and see him eat it! I laughed when Winston called his parents his “pawrents” and when there were other times that “paw” was mentioned in the story. I learned about new places around the world and a couple of new words in other languages. I learned about the guards at Buckingham Palace and a movie star that I hadn’t heard of before. I liked the pictures in the book because of the funny places that Winston was at. If there was another book about Winston and where he travels, I would love to read it! 

A Note from Mom: “Winston the Traveling Dog” is a comical story that is appropriate to read at any time. I loved that Lydia learned about landmarks and people from around the world in the story while also reading an enjoyable story. The reading level is right at her level, although she would have trouble with the landmark names. Reading “Winston the Traveling Dog” was enjoyable for both Lydia and me; this story is great for any aged reader. “Winston” is a lighthearted book that teaches about the world around us that many readers may never experience first-hand as well as how to better themselves by extending outside of their comfort zones. Lydia and I both recommend this story!

“The Man From Burnt Island” by Wendy Sura Thomson

The Man From Burnt Island

Wendy Sura Thomson
Quitt and Quinn (2021)
ISBN: 9781737260059
Reviewed by Amy Lignor for Reader Views (11/2021)

I’m not sure how many people have a “list.” You know, the one that states goals you wish to accomplish; people you wish to meet; or, like me, amazing places you want to visit before heading into the Great Beyond. I blame books for my “list,” because I learn about so many locations from reading. I’ve been successful in hitting seven out of ten so far, with only Greece, Scotland, and Rome left. However, after reading “The Man From Burnt Island,” which brings the beauty, history, and the “real” language of the Scottish folk to life, I have to say Scotland has pushed Greece into my number two slot.

The author, Wendy Sura Thomson, was even kind enough to use her Preface to introduce a glossary of terms, so that she could better explain the accent and words of the Scots circa early 1900s. She also wrote with so much passion for her subject that you end up cheering for the courageous country that, no matter how many times it was knocked down, continued to persevere.

We first meet the ‘hardscrabble’ protagonist, Robert Funkie Thomson Sharp, as he’s taking his class picture on graduation day in 1912; he stands in the back because he was always the tallest in class. Robert has a large clan. Two of his four brothers he will be joining, along with their father, in the Rosie Colliery. He’s not looking forward to the coal mines; he knows he will come home each day covered in black dust, suffering aches and pains from the tedious work. Even though his schoolmaster advises him to continue his education because of his skills, Robert knows the next day he will start at the bottom of the mining food chain as a ‘drawer,’ spending his days pushing and pulling carts loaded with coal, though because he can’t fit in the small spaces where a ‘drawer’ would work, he automatically gets pushed up the ladder to a new position and gets offered more money.

As things are going fairly well for Robert, he meets the woman of his dreams: Margaret Ferrie. He doesn’t have much time with her. The very next day Great Britain declares war on Germany. Even though coal miners are exempt from the draft, because the military will pay five times the amount Robert gets now, he’s forced to enlist and goes off to fight in WWI. After the war, Robert comes home very much alive to a loving woman he wishes to make his wife. Although the bulk of his family ends up heading to the States for a better life, Robert wishes to stick it out in his homeland. But in 1924, when the Immigration Act arises, he actually has to wait because he’s now banned from America until 1929…the year the stock market crashes and the world faces one of the most turbulent times in history.

Every backstory of Robert, his friend, and his family members is interesting, especially when the reader gets to America and settles in Detroit during the harshest of time, only to watch the eventual uprising in the 1950s that made the auto industry one of the most profitable. Watching Robert shed the cloak of poverty, you root for him as he experiences loss, enjoys love, and shows us all that his schoolmaster was right. Robert is a man with smarts, ambition, and one who will not stop until he’s at the very top of the proverbial ladder.

Wendy Sura Thomson has put together a thrilling story, prominent characters, and has used her words as one would use stunning photographs. Each description she gives of locations, eras, and her characters allows readers to see it all clearly in their minds. “The Man From Burnt Island” is truly a fantastic read!

“The Song Endures” by Amy R. Saltz

The Song Endures: Drumming with a Different Beat

Amy R. Saltz
KDP Independent Publisher (2021)
ISBN: 9798468567951
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/2021)

In “The Song Endures: Drumming with a Different Beat,” Amy Saltz reaches out to lost souls who are becoming despondent from having to deal with the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Health compromised individuals such as herself cannot rejoin our reopening society in person at this time because the new variants are causing viruses to break through the protection from the vaccines.

Saltz shares her story with us, and how she has been horribly affected because not only has she had to extend her isolation, but she also lost several family members and soulmates during this time. Not being able to say goodbye in person has made these losses even more painful. Dealing with the breakup of a partner also led to more feelings of separation. Fearing the ramifications of getting the virus has reopened trauma wounds for Saltz. Rather than allowing herself to spiral downward into a deep depression, she shares how she has reached outside of her home and still has meaningful connections. By following her story, readers can think of ways to utilize this information for themselves so that they can feel inspired to learn how to make a difference in the outside world.

Many of these ideas involve using technology and social media to share meaningful interactions. Through these routes, Saltz is also able to continue to share her healing gifts with music. As the world goes back to the new normal, Saltz will still be able to play a role in both the lives of those who have already returned and those who will slowing be wandering back.

Having already been touched by Saltz’s “Finding the Song: Living After Attempting Suicide,” I was pleased to look back into Amy Saltz’s life to see how she was dealing with surviving through these difficult times. Once again, she fully conveyed the depths of how much despair with which she was dealing, yet her overall message gives hope to readers to look outside themselves to find ways to connect with others and still feel relevant in this current society in which many people are feeling left behind.

For me, I was already trained to counsel students remotely, so the technological aspects were not a limitation nor a huge source of stress. Due to health issues, I continue to work remotely, and have never been healthier because I am not getting exposed to anything. Since my job involves reaching out to others, I’ve learned to put on a face to help them feel better, even on my down days. I am in my safe place, and happy that I can do the work that I love, but I wish it were a choice for me, and not a necessity because the world was hit so hard by a horrific pandemic.

Outside of my safe home, I see how people have been hit by this nightmare. Living near a hospital, in a county that was the epicenter of the virus, I have watched those around me suffer from horrific losses. Funeral processions did not stop here, and they were going down my street almost continuously. Listening to helicopters constantly flying patients out, because we had no space for them, was horrific. I was so afraid that I could end up being on one of those flights. I understand how easy it is to sink down into a depression, especially for those who have gone through trauma. I truly believe that, “The Song Endures: Drumming with a Different Beat,” will touch the lives of those who need a connection to help lift them from their despair. I hope that they will follow Saltz’s lead and take the steps needed to reach out to others.

“Cape Henry House” by Jolly Walker Bittick

Cape Henry House

Jolly Walker Bittick
Independently Published (2021)
ISBN 978-1737030904
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (11/2021)

You never know when you’re going to be inspired. Moved by an old song on the radio and a comedic coming of age movie, author Jolly Walker Bittick grabs hold of the moment and pens, “Cape Henry House” a novel set around a crew of sailors and their escapades during a three-week period in 2008. It’s a whirlwind tale full of drama, adventure and friendship as the group creates lasting memories and forms lifetime bonds.

Based on true events, the story is genuine and appealing and I knew from the start “Cape Henry House” was going to be a laugh and a wild ride. In that, it does not disappoint. The author writes from a place of blissful nostalgia as he portrays an authentic recollection of events through his narrator, Petty Officer Third Class Bosner. As a reader, you can feel the author’s delight in reminiscing about these times through his protagonist.

Life in the military is rigorous at best and the story begins with our 21-year-old narrator, Petty Officer Third Class Bosner, as he unfolds a clear picture of the structure, the discipline and the grueling hours spent on shore during his time as a helicopter greaser in the U.S. Navy.

The house on Cape Henry Avenue becomes the gang’s party place when two of the guys move into the house upon the invitation of a newly married couple looking for roommates. The excitement of having a place to call their own to relax and have a few beers after a hard week of work intoxicates the friends and sets the tone for the entire tale.

The story is well-written and the author paints a clear picture for readers through his casual, easy-going style. The dialogue and other interactions between characters provide many laugh-out-loud moments. It is definitely a character-driven novel that revolves around one central character—not Bosner, but the house itself! Cape Henry House seems to take on a life of its own and puts a new perspective on the age-old statement, “If these walls could talk!”

I would like to have learned more about the guys in their work element. The party scenes reminded me of National Lampoon’s Animal House where good times ruled. While those scenes are absolutely fun, it seemed like a never-ending party at times. For me, it’s in those precious few moments when we catch a glimpse of the characters in their more vulnerable states where I could craft a deeper understanding of what drives them and form a deeper connection.

Overall, it’s clear Jolly Walker Bittick enjoyed himself immensely writing “Cape Henry House.” He has successfully created a tribute to a seminal point in his life, as well as an outrageous coming of age saga.

“Black Table” by Anttimatti Pennanen

Black Table

Anttimatti Pennanen
Independently Published (2020)
ISBN: 9789529438044
Reviewed by Amy Lignor for Reader Views (11/2021)

Although I don’t have the numbers, considering how fast tickets sell out, I would assume Comic Con expos and events are one of the most sought-after journeys for die-hard comic/sci-fi fans to take. I personally love the costumes and the fanfare. From the grandiose events held in NYC to the Roswell Galacticon held in the UFO capital of the world, all are a whole lot of fun. Not to mention, the big stars that attend; from the days of Kirk and Spock to the more recent Hayden Christensen of Star Wars fame, these fests are truly exciting. Which is why when this incredible book began at a Comic Con and readers could “walk through” the sights and sounds with the two main characters, I was beyond thrilled.

Their names are Jon and Gus (think Bill & Ted here for a second), and their excellent adventure is to travel all the way from Finland to attend the Comic Con being held in Portland. These two ‘awesome dudes’ really get into the fanfare, arriving at the convention dressed in “Star Trek: Next Generation uniforms.” And, no…they did not forget the one-of-a-kind ears. They’re not only into the hullabaloo, but they are also looking forward to meeting one of the persons they’ve looked up to for a long time who will be appearing: Dr. Wells. Call it fate or call it tragedy, their icon suffers a heart attack at the convention, but not before shoving a book at Jon and Gus and telling them to go “find something.”

Like two good soldiers following orders from their hero, Jon and Gus end up going into the “unknown” where the unexplained awaits them. They will follow clues left behind by Dr. Wells, and the book’s information, and end up standing face-to-face with aliens, and a technology that the aliens own that works much like a time-transport machine.

They learn that there is a darkness coming across the land and it is headed straight for Earth. Using the Black Table device, Jon and Gus, and their new buddies met along the way, will travel between the alien world and the present attempting to halt the Swarm – which is the entity that’s doing its best to destroy all life in the universe. Now you’re talking about the blind leading the blinder, as Jon and Gus stumble while they try to understand this strange situation, as well as all the gifts the Black Table can give them on their path.

Jon, the guy who understands survival techniques, paired with Gus, who, much like Dr. Spock, is a techno wizard who searches for sanity and logic in everything they come up against, make for the perfect duo in this interstellar jaunt. And with the great job the author did of inserting well-known sci-fi references from TV shows and films, you can tell that this writer was “on board” at all times with the world he created. The Bill & Ted comment refers to the dudes who love fist-bumping and working together to save everything in the galaxy, even though they have no clue whatsoever what’s going on most of the time.

Add in the fact that, for once, every character is a “good” person – whether human or alien – and you have a read that is exciting, shows great unity, and causes you a little bit of heartbreak knowing, post-pandemic, that events, conferences and the job of just having fun was simple and brought joy to everyone. I give 5-stars to this one, gang, in every category. From the nerds to the pop-culture inserts to the fun storyline that involves the reader instantly, this author has done a heck of job. Best part? There is a Book 2 that’s just as great! Enjoy!

“The Kingdom I Came to Love”

The Kingdom I Came to Love

Fernando G. Ting
Christian Faith Publishing (2020)
ISBN 9781098056629
Reviewed by Ashley Hooker for Reader Views (11/2021)

Fernando G. Ting wrote, “The Kingdom I Came to Love” with a specific purpose in mind. He wanted his time in Saudi Arabia to be recorded for his family. Ting felt it important that his children and grandchildren knew what he did in Saudi Arabia and why he went there to begin with. The memoir Ting has created will be a treasured piece for his family and a testament to his legacy.

The author was born in the Philippines, the son of immigrants. His father was Chinese, and his mother was a native Filipino that moved from her home on the island of Leyte to Manila. The immigrant blood Ting felt in his veins made him desire a life full of travel and unknown lands. His ticket to the world outside Manila was to take an overseas job.

Ting explains the process of applying for jobs, getting the right paperwork, and what it meant to leave his family. On his first trip to Saudi Arabia, Ting left behind his immediate family and sweetheart. This trip would be under a one-year contract. He was ecstatic and ready to meet the world. Upon returning to the Philippines, Ting marries and realizes that he would need to work overseas again to support his growing family. He shares throughout the rest of his story what life was like in Saudi Arabia and what his job and coworkers meant to him.

I commend the author for wanting to record this time in his life. In his introduction Ting states, “Ultimately, all these priceless memories become an integral part of you.” His statement is a profound truth that most of us don’t understand. I look back on my journeys and realize that without the experiences I had, I would not be who I am. I would not be able to pass on a legacy to my children and grandchildren.

My favorite part of Ting’s story was when he wrote about his coworkers. The brotherhood that developed among workers from different parts of the world was wonderful. When he wrote about the job they did together, the memories they made together, and the sorrow they felt together, you could almost feel what he was feeling.

“The Kingdom I Came to Love” did not get five stars from me for a few reasons. First, I felt the author wrote this story with only his family in mind. To the larger audience, it could be confusing at times. More background information would be helpful. Secondly, I personally would have like to have more insight into what Saudi Arabia was like. The reader learns exactly what Ting does in Saudi Arabia, but why he came to love this land is more obscure.

Overall, this piece is a wonderful story of sacrifice and commitment. It has a moral to the story. Ting has crafted a story that his family will cherish for years to come. I think this work has a place on the bookshelves of those who want to know what true love and sacrifice looks like.

“Chasing Zorba” by Jerry Steimel

Chasing Zorba

Jerry Steimel
BookBaby (2021)
ISBN 9781098334628
Reviewed by Mark T. Sneed for Reader Views (11/2021)

 “Chasing Zorba: A Journey of Self-Discovery in a VW Bus” is an interesting tale by Jerry Steimel. It has a little “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” feeling to it as well as Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” with a sprinkle of “Easy Rider” mixed in.

This entertaining read begins as a travelogue about the author trying to remember all the events of a misguided trip with a goal to travel cross-country that ended unexpectedly in Florida. The story rambles a bit as the author matures and suddenly finds himself wishing to accomplish his failed trip. The trip restarts after the author has grown a bit to fulfill his trip across the country in his VW Bus. The VW bus is a story in and of itself, with a number of minor stories, breakdowns, and mechanical issues, as the author stops sometimes in the middle of nowhere to repair the VW over and over again. Again, the maintenance of the VW in places that have no VW mechanics or only shade tree mechanics is a story that could standalone.

All the people the author meets along the way is another story that could be a standalone tale. What is nice is that the travel story parallels the most unlikely story of Zorba the Greek. I was unfamiliar with Zorba the Greek, other than the song, until the reading of this book. It is well written and the tone is conversational, a good read full of adventures. The stories drive the writing. It is nice to know that.

It is also a deeply personal read. What is engaging is that there are pictures of the journey included, which was a nice surprise. The adventures, the stories, revolve around getting the VW Bus across the country in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During that time, the nation was a different place. The people the author encounters are truly different from nowadays. The story is the journey, and the journey is fraught with numerous detours as the VW Bus runs into a number of mechanical issues. Yet, it is in those mechanical delays the author gets to see and understand the nation he is traversing. Fun read. Interesting read.

“Oh Olivia!” by Patricia Fry

Oh! Olivia

Patricia Fry
Matilja Press (2021)
ISBN 9781736943007
Reviewed by Jen Oliver-Rigsby for Reader Views (11/2021)

“Oh! Olivia” by Patricia Fry introduces readers to a calico cat names Olivia, and her human, Parker Campbell, who is an investigative reporter. Parker has been asked to help save a cat colony site from developers. The cat colony site has an interesting mystery surrounding it. The feral cats that reside there have been digging up personal belongings of missing people. Parker sets off with Olivia, her friend Savannah, and Detective Judson Caldwell to try to figure out who these items belong to and find out exactly what happened on this site.

During Parker setting off, she visits her mother and Olivia works her magic in finding a lost boy and ends up getting arrested. Olivia then helps Parker find her aunt, who is hurt and has a mysterious man trapped in her house. A lot of these stories take away from the main mystery but are fun to read and truly show the antics of some cats. As a cat owner myself, I can relate to a lot of the side stories and behaviors of Olivia and the other cats in the book. But since this is supposed to be a cozy mystery where a mystery is supposed to be solved, these side stories should be at a minimum and more emphasis on the actual main mystery. The main mystery was easy to see the conclusion, and it leads to a future book which this reader is curious about where it will exactly start from.

“Oh! Olivia” is the first book of the Calico Cat Mystery but there are several references to other stories that Olivia and Parker found themselves in, like references to other books. This did not make sense to me since this is supposed to be book one in a series. This reader would rather not have references to other mysteries and have them as future books.

If you are a fan of cats and cozy mysteries, then you will probably enjoy “Oh! Olivia” but be prepared to have it more focused on the cats and their behaviors, which can cause some laugh out loud moments.

“The Broda Salt Cabin” by A.H. Nedani

The Broda Salt Cabin

A.H. Nedani
Owl Publishing (2021)
ISBN: 9781896512594
Reviewed by Amy Lignor for Reader Views (10/2021)

“Riveting” is the perfect definition for this book! Although going into it, I had no idea what to expect. I came out of it feeling the same way I did when an author named Pam Jenoff appeared on the scene and introduced a WWII book entitled, “The Kommandant’s Girl.” Not only was that as mesmerizing as this was, “The Broda Salt Cabin” took things one step further, adding not only WWII and that evil to the mix, but by also delving into the tragedy that was the Greek Civil War.

Our main character here is Danae. A young lady, Danae most certainly does not deserve a future that includes war, being locked in jail and charged with being a communist and being hurt by men so that she must live on the street, with her little girl, no less, and survive murderous monsters on a daily basis.

It’s WWII, the Germans have arrived in Greece, and communist guerillas are a step away from seizing Danae’s country; America – Churchill and Truman – are working diligently to make these nightmares go away. Living in Broda, Macedonia, Danae’s very first true love is with Nicholas. Meeting at a wedding, Danae falls in love with this stranger, and although they know nothing about each other, their love runs so deep that it cannot be denied. Nicholas delivers some salt she is carrying to a cabin near Broda; hence, the Broda Salt Cabin—this cabin becomes almost an icon that stands for their love.

This incredible love affair and marriage occur during a god-awful time. It is during their wedding ceremony that masked men enter the church and open fire on their guests. The attackers are pro-Bulgarian collaborating with the Germans and despise the Greeks. Danae and Nicholas are patriotic Greeks, yet none of that matters when her beloved Nicholas falls into the evil hands of the collaborators and is eventually killed. Danae’s life is thrust into turmoil. Feeling like there is nothing to live for, she even jumps into his grave at the funeral and pallbearers throw dirt on her, as if they wish to bury her on top of her husband’s coffin.

But that is only the beginning. It is after Nicholas’s death that Danae’s own father finds a husband for her in another village. A marriage that unleashes everything from murder to imprisonment to the true evilness of humanity.

Was her true love a secret agent while alive? Was the other man fighting for the Greek guerillas? You will have to read in order to find out. What is a fact is that Danae is broken – by men’s words and promises, as well as by war and hideous people in power. As she find herself a single mother living on the streets of a strange village, Danae must fight to protect herself and be the protective mother she truly needs to be.

But do not think for a moment that this poignant, emotional tale ends there. In fact, it is when Danae immigrates to Canada that a whole new ‘chapter’ of her life begins to emerge. When an odd encounter with a mysterious man comes about, a photograph ends up in Danae’s possession that uncovers a shocking secret that will stun Danae and readers alike.

This author, A.H. Nedani, was born in a war-torn Greek village and came to Canada at a young age. This novel is supposed to be based on a true story. As a reader, I give thanks to A.H. Nedani for fulfilling her goal and sharing this amazing tale with all of us. 5 Stars!

“Oak Street Treehouse: The Day the New Kid Moved In”

Oak Street Treehouse: The Day the New Kid Moved In

Dick Daniels
Leadership Development Group (2021)
ISBN: 9781737081500
Reviewed by Lydia (age 7) for Reader Views Kids (11/2021)

“Oak Street Treehouse: The Day the New Kid Moved In” is about a time when a new kid moved in across the street; this is the second book in the “Oak Street Treehouse” series.

In this book, all the kids were in the treehouse having fun when they saw a moving truck across the street. Everyone got excited and wanted to see who it was. The Oak Street kids went to a bush and peeked at the moving truck; three people got out of the car, and the kids heard that the little boy’s name was Cooper. The kids heard a bell go off at their treehouse and got excited about chocolate chip cookies; the kids left to go back and then saw that Cooper followed them. Cooper wanted to get to know the kids, but the kids were more interested in their cookies. After Cooper left, they heard their tablet ding and saw that God had sent them a message. The kids talked to God and found out that it is best when you include other people instead of leaving them out.

I liked the story because it shows kindness by including other people. I wouldn’t like the story too much if the kids left Cooper out because I wouldn’t like to be left out myself. I didn’t like how the kids acted toward Cooper at first when they hid the cookies from him and were selfish instead of being kind and sharing them. I would like some of their cookies; I hope they would share with me!

I liked looking at the pictures in the book because the colors are pretty. I also liked that there are animals in them, too. I like that there are a lot of kids in the Oak Street Treehouse and that they eventually let in another kid.

If the author wrote another Oak Street Treehouse book, I would like to read it; I like that the kids can talk to God through a tablet – I asked my mom why I can’t do that! I wish we could do this, but my mom said we do this through prayer.  

A Note From Mom: I love kids’ books that have a Christian theme and are still relevant to today’s behavioral norms!