BOOK REVIEW: The Haunting of Alligator Lake by B.J. Robinson

One of the things I love about Kindles and other e-book readers is that we now have more short stories to read. Authors don't have to tailor the length of their stories to fit the publisher's print process. They can write short stories, novellas, and novels of various sizes and find a market for them.

The Haunting of Alligator Lake is such a story. I'm not sure how long it would be in pages, but it is just the right length for a quick read on your Kindle. Often a short story is limited in the number of characters and number of situations the characters get involved in. This book was much fuller than most short stories I read.

It is about tales and fairy tales of white alligators and mermaid on Alligator Lake in St. Cloud, Florida. The story comes alive with likable characters who meet up with the alligators and mermaid in interesting ways. Allan and his wife Jan used to spend time together on the lake. Since her death, he goes alone. The stories about white alligators rescuing people meant nothing to him, since they didn't save Jan. Other characters may not have as strong a connection to the lake, but they probably form one by the end of the story.

BOOK REVIEW: The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

This is the story about the gradual death of brick and mortar bookstores. Every town has that little bookstore you love that doesn't always have the books you want, but it has people who care about you and people who love books. In this Karen Kingsbury's novel, The Bridge, a fictitious place, is the oldest bookstore in historic Franklin, Tennessee, 20 miles away from Nashville. Unlike some bookstores, it is making it. But, just barely. When a flood comes and ruins all the books, owners Charlie and Donna Barton are devastated. He can't give up on the store. She knows they must.

It is also a love story about a couple who met at The Bridge during college but were separated for many years until the flood closed the bookstore. What follows is a heartwarming story about how acts of kindness sometimes get repaid.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

BOOK REVIEW: A Heartbeat Away by Harry Kraus

This is the story of oncology surgeon Tori Taylor. She is an excellent surgeon, but she has no concern for others. She doesn't get to know her patients and none of the nurses want to work with her. Work was all she had in her life. She hadn't taken a vacation in more than two years. Her peers respected her ability in the operating room, but stayed away from her for the most part. She had no family and only one friend. After an incident with a janitor, the hospital where she worked required she have counseling to learn to express her emotions in a positive way. She is passed over for promotion.

When she gets ill herself and has to have a heart transplant, her life changes.

There is also a story about Christian Mitchell and Emily Greene. Christian had lived in Africa with his missionary family, where his father was a doctor. Christian falls for Emily, but when his family goes back to Africa, he loses contact with her.

Dr. Taylor's life crosses the lives of Christian Mitchell and Emily Greene after Taylor starts having nightmares and decides to search for her heart donor.

I'm not sure if a person with a heart transplant can actually feel anything from the life of the donor, but the story made me feel it was possible. I wanted to keep reading from the beginning to the end and found the story satisfying. It is a Christian novel, but not preachy at all.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Naming Fictional Characters

I'm not in a critique group so my wife was the first to read my latest book. She found a lot of missing words, misused words, wrong words (installation instead of insulation), and she made comments about everything that didn't make sense. I made the changes and sent the manuscript to my friend Rollo. He's been a close friend since high school and he reads many books. With co-authors he published an anthology of mysteries set in Texas. I'm also sending a copy to three friends from church who have read the prequel and all three are readers, one an editor.

But, getting back to my wife's comments. She didn't care for the name of one of the characters because it was difficult to pronounce. Let me say first that I select character names carefully and have blogged about it in the past. See the following posts:

Find the Perfect Name for a Fictional Character Part 1

Find the Perfect Name for a Fictional Character Part 2

Find the Perfect Name for a Fictional Character Part 3

Find the Perfect Name for a Fictional Character Part 4

Find the Perfect Name for a Fictional Character Part 5

The name that bothered my wife was David Bownpole. She said Brownpole was easier to say. However, I don't like Brownpole because it is brown pole. This character's name was originally Kerwin Bownpole, but I changed Kerwin to David because Kerwin sounded too much like the main character Karen.

If you looked over the articles referenced above, you'll find reference to an online source for names. It is called Fictional Character Name Generator (http://www.jimwegryn.com/Names/FictionNames.htm). Well this is where I got the name Kerwin and Bownpole. I can't remember if the first and last name came together or not since there is a family of Bownpoles in my book.  

So, now I'm going the process of finding the perfect name. I even posting a request on Facebook for help. Doing all this reminded me of the blogs on the subject I've already written and thought you might find them interesting and useful.

If you think of a good name, let me know.

COTT: November's Newest! Last Clash of 2012

Clash of the Titles makes things easy for book lovers everywhere--including Christmas shopping! This week, they present five of Christian fiction's hottest new titles. Surely, one of them will be the perfect gift for Grandma or Auntie Martha. Or maybe even... for yourself!

Introducing, November's New Releases clashing novels...

Don't forget to vote for the one that most catches your interest!

Former army communications specialist Maddie Jerrard may not remember the details of the deadly mission on the Texas-Mexico border, but she knows she's not the one responsible for betraying her unit to the massive ambush that left only her and investigative journalist Chris Mason alive. Logic says the culprit must be the only other survivor—Chris—but with a killer targeting them both, taking a chance on trusting each other may be the only way to make it through alive.

The Colorado Rockies have always been home to journalist Kelly Shepherd, but after the death of her father, and facing her first Christmas alone, she accepts an assignment that leads her deep into Louisiana’s Cajun country.

Since his wife’s death, Denny Labouve has focused his attention on his ten-year-old daughter and the family business, but Kelly sparks the dying embers of his heart even as a Christmas cold front moves through his beloved Cajun country.

Every year Amber Weathersby loans the Bloomfield Garden Club her garden gnome to display their prized trophy in the contest winner's garden. When Gnorman is gnomenapped, Amber chases the gnome around town trying to win the trophy, while Stan chases Amber, trying to win her heart.

The world plunges into chaos when an ancient manuscript is discovered that reveals the Gospels were an orchestrated fiction. When a retired Dead Sea Scrolls expert gets in over his head investigating the scroll, his agnostic son continues the quest for the truth and uncovers evidence of a grand plot that will tip the balance of world power.

As Harvey Girl Meghan Thorson waits on doughboys at the El Garces Hotel in Needles, California, she meets Caleb McBride, a local horse breeder whom the townsfolk have branded a coward and profiteer. Will threads of love unite this couple, or will pride keep them forever apart?

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New Reviews Posted for The Vengeance Squad

Two New Reviews On Amazon.com 

4.0 out of 5 stars The Vengence Squad, December 13, 2012

By 

Gaylan King - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: The Vengeance Squad (Kindle Edition)

The Vengeance Squad.
I appreciate that this is a Christian novel. The plot was well laid out and had plenty of plot twists.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, December 13, 2012

By 

Sharon Konnick "Sharon" (Scranton, PA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: The Vengeance Squad (Kindle Edition)

I very much enjoyed this book. It was realistic in its portrayal of the way one would feel after seeing a loved one brutally murdered. I came to care about the characters, and was happy to see the emotional and spiritual healing that took place.

More Praise for Where Love Once Lived

Feeling the love from readers
Thank you

More reviews and email messages are coming in after Where Love Once Lived was free last month. I am so proud of the feedback, I wanted to share it here.

Email 12/4/2012

Hello Mr. Frost,

I just finished reading your book, "Where Love Once Lived"  and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it.  I loved how you had so many characters and how you talked about life's issues.  I really, really enjoyed reading it.   Christian romance is the best!!!

Thanks,

Email 12/5/2012

I just finished the book this morning and I loved loved loved it.  So refreshing to read a good christian novel that actually deals with the secular world we have to deal with on a daily basis.  I will be looking for other books you have or will write and have already recommended this to several friends. 

As a side note I am also Presbyterian and a Stephen Minister.  I also lived in Texas for 18 years so it was good to see the descriptions of Austin although I did not live there it sounds just like friends I have who did live there describe it.

Recent Amazon Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A sweet tale, December 8, 2012

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Where Love Once Lived (Kindle Edition)

Karen and Brian used to be college sweethearts until they broke up thirty years ago.

Now Brian returns to town, all set to win Karen back. Karen, now divorced and with

a daughter, wants nothing to do with him as hidden secrets and whispers loom in

the distance.

5.0 out of 5 stars Where Love Once Lives can Love Live Again?, December 8, 2012

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Where Love Once Lived

Loved this novel with a bookmobile driver and teacher. Can't wait to read more by this author. It's my type of book set in a Southern town with a Christian message that tells a great story. Karen and Brian were college sweethearts but life got in their way as the secular world can sometimes do. Love the title, love the cover, and love the story. The characters are true to life. Romance with plot twists, and it's inspirational. Love doesn't always work out the first time around, but some people are blessed to get a second chance. This novel was written from the heart and is not your usual formula romance. That's why I loved it. I don't care for those easy formula romances with plots too easy to figure. I like surprises and twists. This was the first book I've read by this author, and I can't wait for the next.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to beleive a man wrote this, December 6, 2012

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Where Love Once Lived

I just finished the book this morning and I loved loved loved it. So refreshing to read a good christian novel that actually deals with the secular world we have to deal with on a daily basis. I will be looking for other books you have or will write and have already recommended this to several friends. So glad to know there will be a follow-up, can't wait.

You can find more recent praise for Where Love Once Lived here: http://christianbookmobile.blogspot.com/2012/12/where-love-once-lived-praise.html 

BOOK REVIEW: America America by Ethan Canin

Through the use of several interesting characters, this story describes what could happen when politicians and supporters place more importance on being elected than on doing what's right, even what's legal.

The story begins with Corey Sifter, the publisher of the local newspaper, attending the funeral of Senator Henry Bonwiller. The Speaker-Sentinel is the last of local dailies left in the area, all the others having been bought out by the larger publishing conglomerates. Corey's intern, Trieste Millbury, is also at the funeral. Her assignment was to help the reporter and to write a sidebar for the story.

From this beginning, the author cleverly takes the reader back in history to the time when Corey first meets Senator Bonwiller, while periodically returning the reader to the time of the funeral and forward.

Corey grew up in a working-class family, but, at an early age, had an opportunity to work for a neighbor who was quite powerful. The neighbor took a liking to Corey and got him into a good school and later into college. His work for the Metarey family continued during the times when he came home from school.

The story centers around the time the Metareys were supporting Senator Bonwiller in his run for president. The fight for the party's nomination was interesting and informative. Corey gets involved in the senator's run for president and learns more about politics than he thought possible.

This is a novel everyone in America should read. You'll not only learn more about American politics, you'll meet a number of characters you won't soon forget.

P.S. I found an excellent copy of America America on eBay cheap.

For links to my books, see:

COTT The Winner of the October New Releases Clash

 

The Winner of our October New Releases Clash is:

A Flight of Fancy by Laurie Alice Eakes

A hearty congratulations to Laurie Alice!

We had a tremendous response for this Clash. So many said they wanted to vote for and loved all of the books. A special thanks to the other authors for their wonderful books and for being a part of this week. 

Shattered Silence by Margaret Daley
A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman
Callie’s Mountain by Katt Anderson
Murder in Marietta by Deborah Malone

About A Flight of Fancy

Her head is in the clouds. His feet are planted firmly on the ground. Can love cover the distance?
Cassandra Bainbridge may be a bit of a bluestocking, but when Geoffrey Giles is near, love seems a fine alternative to passion for Greek and the physics of flight. With his dashing good looks and undying devotion to her, the Earl of Whittaker sets Cassandra’s heart racing with his very presence. It seems his only flaw is his distaste for ballooning, the obsession that consumes so much of her thoughts.

When a terrible accident compels her to end her betrothal, Cassandra heads for the country to recover from both her injuries and her broken heart. With time on her hands and good friends to help her, she pursues her love for ballooning and envisions a future for herself as a daring aeronaut. But when Lord Whittaker slips back into her life, she finds her heart torn between her love for flight and her abiding love for the man she fears will no longer want her once he knows of her hidden scars.

What Voters Had to Say about A Flight of Fancy

I love Laurie Alice's deft use of craft and I love her spunky (though not anachronistic!) heroines.

Fabulous read of a passionate couple. Well done. Laurie Alice Eakes

All the books sound great, but I've read Flight of Fancy, and it's a wonderful story.

Title is adorable. Very creative.

Keep writing! I love reading and love your books.

Love this book! It's one of Eakes's best.

Every book I've ever read by Laurie Alice Eakes, I've loved.

Great Review for A Flight of Fancy

Romantic Times
Four Stars

“Eakes has a charming way of making her novels come to life without being over the
top. The second Daughters of Bainbridge House story has romance, mystery,
suspense and characters who transcend the stereotype of stiff English formality. …”

Endorsements for A Flight of Fancy

“Eakes seamlessly blends romance and intrigue, faith and history, into a story that readers won’t want to put down.”—Booklist

“Masquerades, English manners, romance, and intrigue abound in this historical series. Regency romance aficionados and fans of Nicole Jordan will adore this.”—Library Journal

“Eakes weaves the fine silk threads of historical richness, dangerous intrigue, and forbidden romance into a flawless literary tapestry . . . that will leave readers breathless.”—Louise M. Gouge, award-winning author of At the Captain’s Command


About Laurie Alice Eakes

Bestselling, award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes used to lie in bed as a child telling herself stories so she didn’t wake anyone else up. Sometimes she shared her stories with others; thus, when she decided to be a writer, she surprised no one. Family Guardian, her first book,  won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007. In the past three years, she has sold six books to Baker/Revell, five of which are set during the Regency time period, five books to Barbour Publishing, as well as two novellas to Barbour Publishing and one to Baker/Revell. Seven of her books have been picked up by Thorndike Press for large print publication, and Lady in the Mist, her first book with Revell, was chosen for hardcover publication with Crossings Bookclub. She also teaches on-line writing courses and enjoys a speaking ministry that takes her from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.
Laurie Alice lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs and two cats, and is learning how to make tamales.

Buy Links for A Flight of Fancy

Christian book.com
http://www.christianbook.com/flight-of-fancy-daughters-bainbridge-house/laurie-eakes/9780800734671/pd/734671?item_code=WW&netp_id=458641&event=ESRCG&view=details
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fancy-Novel-Daughters-Bainbridge/dp/080073467X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342153502&sr=8-1&keywords=a+flight+of+fancy
Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flight-of-fancy-a-laurie-alice-eakes/1108259480?ean=9780800734671
Family Christian
http://www.familychristian.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=laurie+alice+eakes&skey=5f4556c42dd539b2f5a1494a78b8c019
Lifeway
http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/flight+of+fancy+laurie+alice
Parable
http://www.parable.com/i.A-Flight-of-Fancy-Eakes-Laurie-Alice.9780800734671
Books A Million
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Flight-Fancy/Laurie-Alice-Eakes/9780800734671?id=5421536989977

Clash of the Titles Hostess Gail Pallotta

After a career as an editor and article writer Gail started to follow her dream of writing fiction. In 2004 the American Christian Writers Association named her a regional writer of the year. In 2010 an excerpt from Love Turns the Tide, her first romance, won the Clash of the Titles Challenge in the best nature / weather scene category. She published her first short story, “Lifeline,” in Splickety Magazine in January 2012. When she isn’t writing, she loves to bargain shop with her daughter, swim, read and visit with friends and family, especially at the beach.

Where Love Once Lived Praise

What Readers Are Saying About 

Where Love Once Lived

(Email dated 11/29/2012)
YOU SIR HAVE WRITTEN ONE OF THE GREATEST STORIES I HAVE EVER READ.  THE TEARS ARE STILL WET ON MY CHEEKS.  JUST SO YOU KNOW ME, FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH, I AM A 76 YEAR OLD, SOUTHERNER FROM TAMPA.  MY WIFE GAVE ME A KINDLE 2 YEARS AGO THIS CHRISTMAS AND I HAVE LOGGED IN ABOUT 400 SINCE THEN.  THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW THAT MOVED ME AS MUCH AS YOURS BUT NOT MANY.  I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE TEARS.  THE STORY IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND INSPIRING THAT I SHALL REMEMBER THIS ONE LONG AFTER THE OTHERS OR THOSE IN THE FUTURE. 

THE WAY YOU CRAFTED FAITH IN TO THE STORY WAS VERY MOVING.  I WAS RAISED IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH BECAUSE OF MY MOTHER BUT LATER WENT TO METHODIST, NON-DENOMINATIONAL AND ULTIMATELY BAPTIST CHURCHES.  ALONG THE WAY I HAVE GRAVITATED AWAY FROM ATTENDING CHURCH BUT I HAVE NEVER NOT BELIEVED IN GOD.  QUESTIONED, YES.  BUT NOT DOUBTED. 

I READ ‘THE VENGEANCE SQUAD’ BEFORE THIS ONE AND BECAUSE OF IT I LOOKED FOR YOUR NAME.  THE ENDING WAS PERFECT YET I WISH THAT I COULD HAVE KEPT READING THE STORY FOREVER THOUGH I CAN’T IMAGINE MORE JOY THAN I HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED.  

(Email dated 11/30/2912)
Thanks for your book and for the message of Gods love forgiveness and prayer.

I lost my husband nearly four years ago to small cell lung cancer. I had a very hard time getting back into church without him by my side and just the past few months have I found myself back in church. I also started helping anytime I can at the church and find it has changed my outlook and my faith in people. I know God has always been there for me but I had blocked him out of my life as the years passed.

Two weeks ago I was in Sunday school for the first time with my mother. Her prayers have finally been answered.

Hopefully God has someone in his great plan for me to meet and love once more in my life. I am only 41 so there is still hope! If not I will be satisfied with the love my husband and I did get to share, with God at the center.

Thanks for hope and a great story.

(Email dated 12/1/2012)

I loved your book! I hope you write many more such stories of faith that overcomes. Kitty 

Recent Reviews on Amazon.com

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great relationship story., November 30, 2012

Dishonesty and deception take their toll in the lives of three people ending up in broken marriages and broken hearts. Trying to go back and pick up the pieces brings up old hurts and creates new ones. This story of damaged relationships kept me turning pages. Mr. Frost did an excellent job of making me feel the emotions of the characters and deal with emotions of my own. A good read.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WHERE LOVE ONCE LIVED, November 29, 2012

OKAY, CALL ME AN OLD ROMANTIC, I DON'T CARE. I JUST FINISHED THE BOOK AND TRUTHFULLY, UNASHAMEDLY, THE TEARS ARE STILL DAMP ON MY CHEEKS. THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF ALL TIME. BTW, I AM A 76 YEAR OLD, MALE, SOUTHERNER WHO HAS READ ALMOST 400 BOOKS ON MY KINDLE IN THE PAST 23 MONTHS. THE STORY IS SO BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND SO RELIGIOUSLY INSPIRING. RELIGION WAS HANDLED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO NOT TURN OFF BUT YET IMPRESSIVE. I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD WE COULD LIVE IN IF WE COULD ALL BE AS GIVING AS SOME OF THE CHARACTERS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE SIDNEY HAS WRITTEN OTHER THAN 'THE VENGEANCE SQUAD' WHICH I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED TOO BUT I SHALL BE LOOKING FOR HIS NAME FOR OTHER BOOKS. I USE U/C BECAUSE I CAN READ IT BETTER FOR SOME WHO MIGHT CARE TO 'CORRECT' ME.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars love that won't quit, November 27, 2012

I read 4 to 5 books a week. This is one of those refreshing books that will always stay with you. The characters are believable and down to earth. You can't help but feel that you are with them. I would hope that you won't pass this up.