Tag: Book review

Harbor Point Series Book Three and Four

The books I review in this blog are typically Leonberger books but sometimes I review other kinds of books that I love and want to promote. In this post I will review the third and fourth book of an incredible series of books called the Harbor Point series. To see my reviews for book one and two click here.

The Destination

The Destination comes in a paperback edition, and a Kindle edition and I read the kindle edition.

  • Paperback – October 31, 2023, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8865687214, 74 pages, Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.6 ounces, dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.17 x 8 inches, it is currently $5.99 on Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com. 
  • Kindle – October 31, 2023‏ : ‎ B0CCQB7X1S, 64 pages. It is currently $2.99 on Amazon.com (free with kindle unlimited). Click here to order it from Amazon.com. 
The front cover the book The Destination by D. L. Finn. It features a large cliff by the sea with a lighthouse with the book title in large purple letters.
The Destination by D. L. Finn

This is Amazon’s description of the book.

The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.

It’s 1967, and best friends Lacey and Sandy are enjoying a beach vacation, completely unaware of the danger that is lying in wait outside their door. Their room is quaint, with an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and an old lighthouse, but a killer is stalking their next victim. Powerless, Annie the ghost watches, knowing there’s nothing she can do to help—not even her parents, the innkeepers. Who will survive their stay at the Harbor Pointe Inn, where the edge of evil lurks within the shadows?

This is my five-star Amazon Review of The Destination

A Sinister Presence Threatens Vacationers

Two best friends Sandy and Lacey are on vacation, and they are staying at Harbor Pointe Inn, a hotel next to a lighthouse by the California coast. There is a serial killer on the lose and there is also a ghost who is trying to be helpful. The setting is depicted skillfully so that you really feel as if you are present at the ocean side, the beach, the cliffs, the cave, the old hotel and lighthouse, and the old friendly couple at the Inn, etc. The story is entertaining and imaginative but foreboding and it builds tension. It features an ominous presence which is hinted at throughout the story until we find out about it at the end. To me this is a new take on the serial killer genre and seeing the situation develop through the eyes of unsuspecting people as well as through the eyes of an innocent ghost who knows the truth but has limited powers is quite intriguing.

The characters are well developed and believable, the dialogue is engaging, and the story is compelling and unique. You need to keep reading because you want to find out what is going on and what will happen. The ending was unique and emotional. I highly recommend this short story.

About the Author

D.L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to the Sierra foothills in Nevada City, CA. She immersed herself in reading all types of books, but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy.

She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, being surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations vary from children’s books, young adult fantasy, and adult paranormal romance to an autobiography with poetry. She continues on her adventures with an open invitation for her readers to join her.

Discover more about D.L. Finn on her website and blog at https://dlfinnauthor.com/.

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The Seas of Time

The fourth book The Seas of Time also comes in a paperback edition, and a Kindle edition and in this case, I read the paperback.

  • Paperback – November 13, 2023, 2023, ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CMLMDC87, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8865687214, 151 pages, Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces, dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.35 x 8 inches, it is currently $7.50 on Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com. 
  • Kindle – November 14, 2023, 2023‏ : ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CCQGRXH9, 145 pages. It is currently $2.99 on Amazon.com (free with kindle unlimited). Click here to order it from Amazon.com. 
The front cover of The Seas of Time. It shows a large cliff with a lighthouse located by the sea. The book title is in large blue font.
The front cover of The Seas of Time (scan)

This is Amazon’s description of the book.

The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.

In 1858, a ship carrying ice from Alaska wrecked off the coast of California, and little does Taliah Keldan realize how that tragedy will impact her life in 1972.

When Tali decides to quit college and become a civil rights activist, her disappointed parents encourage her to think it over. What better spot for contemplation than at her aunt and uncle’s Harbor Pointe Inn, a charming seaside getaway with its own lighthouse? The place is under renovation and empty of guests. All she’ll have to deal with is the construction crew.

But the inn is far from peaceful.

Tali discovers an old Bible hidden in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage. Strange prayers angle down the margins, all but one ruined by the sea. When she deciphers the crude writing, a dark portal gapes open to a pre-civil war night when an escaped slave in a foundering ship prayed to his voodoo God. A winged creature emerges from the watery void, and her stay transforms into a nightmare.

With the aid of the construction foreman, Tali is determined to send the beast back through time, a choice that will risk their lives, test her convictions, and change her future.

The back cover of The Seas of Time feature a description of the book, over clouds and birds
The back of The Seas of Time (scan)

This is my five-star Amazon Review of The Seas of Time

Voodoo, Imagination, Action, a Great Story Originating with Slavery

This is a somewhat scary paranormal fantasy story with some comical passages, but above all, it is a good story. It is part of a series of books centered on a lighthouse at Harbor Point on the northern California coast. The story begins in 1858 on a ship traveling from Alaska to California. Onboard is an African American escaped slave whom the crew is planning to sell back into slavery. To save himself he uses voodoo. Next, we move forward to 1972 where we meet Tali, a young and determined African American woman who comes to Harbor Point for a temporary job as a caretaker. She accidentally summons the supernatural and so begins a wild adventure.

It is a unique story filled with horror, mystery, and fast paced action. The story is very imaginative with lots of fantastic imagery including some wormhole-like time travel, as well as some comedy. The character development is amazing, and you’ll find yourself caring for several of the characters. The characters grow and mature in ways that are both plausible and inspiring. I imagined Tali as being an older version of Abra Stone from Stephen King’s Dr. Sleep. It is a very good story, and I was very entertained the entire time as I read the book. I highly recommend it.

About the Author

A long-time reader, best-selling author D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life when years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books. She was instantly hooked.

In addition to fantasy books, Peach’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of the arts in her local community, organizing and publishing annual anthologies of Oregon prose, poetry, and photography.

Peach lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.

For book descriptions, excerpts, maps, and behind the scenes info, please visit http://dwallacepeachbooks.com.

For her blog on all things writing, please visit http://mythsofthemirror.com.

Ready for an adventure?

The Ferryman and the Sea Witch

The Sorcerer’s Garden

Sunwielder

The Bone Wall

The Melding of Aeris

Unraveling the Veil Series:

Liars and Thieves

Allies and Spies

Lords of Chaos

The Shattered Sea Duology:

Soul Swallowers, Book I

Legacy of Souls, Book II

The Rose Shield Tetralogy:

Catling’s Bane, Book I

Oathbreakers’ Guild, Book II

Farlanders’ Law, Book III

Kari’s Reckoning, Book IV

The Dragon Soul Saga:

Myths of the Mirror, Book I

Eye of Fire, Book II

Eye of Blind, Book III

Eye of Fire, Book IV

Grumpy Ana and the Grouchy Monsters: A Children’s Space Tale

Harbor Point Series The First Two Books

The books I review in this blog are typically Leonberger books but sometimes I review other kinds of books that I love and want to promote. I’ve come across a very good series of 8 books called the Harbor Point Series. There are a couple of them I haven’t read yet, but I am certain they will be great as well. I decided to review two Harbor Point books at a time starting with the first two:

The Price of Atonement

The Price of Atonement comes in one format, Kindle – September 26, 2023, ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CCW59D94, 117 pages. It is currently $2.99 on Amazon.com (free with kindle unlimited). Click here to order it from Amazon.com.

Front cover of the book the Gift by Gwn M. Plano. It is grey, foggy, and a large cliff with a lighthouse.
The Price of Atonement by Mae Clair

This is Amazon’s description of the book.

The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.

Some hauntings come from within.

Leviticus Sinclair has been a broken man since the murders of his wife and brother. Burdened by personal failures the night they were killed, he occupies himself by crossing the country, searching out departed spirits unwilling to move from this world to the next. His dead brother’s Bible and a pocket watch—forever frozen at the precise moment of his wife’s death—serve as grim reminders of a past he cannot exorcise.

Accompanied by Wyatt Resnick, a paid employee who fills the role of researcher and hired muscle, Leviticus arrives at the Harbor Pointe Inn amid rumors of a vengeful ghost. A phantom who may be the single spirit he has long sought, one capable of freeing him from his torment.

Set in the remote Pacific Northwest of 1887, The Price of Atonement is a story of jealousy, guilt, and one man’s relentless quest for absolution.

This is my five-star Amazon Review of The Price of Atonement

An Angry Ghost and A Mysterious Ghost Hunter

The Price of Atonement is the first book in the Harbor Point series, a series of eight spooky books centered around the Harbor Point lighthouse and the Harbor Point Inn, the adjacent hotel or Inn. At the beginning of this book, we learn that the Harbor Point lighthouse was constructed in 1870 and was built by Isaac Hawthorne. This story takes place in 1887. The Harbor Point books can be read independently but I recommend that you read this one so that you know the background.

Leviticus Sinclair arrives at Harbor Point Inn with his assistant Wyatt Resnik. Harbor Point is haunted by an angry and powerful ghost, which has not been good for business. The current owner is August Hawthorne, the son of Isaac Hawthorne, and his wife Etta. One source of the haunting is believed to be the sinking of the June Pearl in 1876, in which 2/3 of crew died. Leviticus has powerful paranormal abilities due to his unusual situation, but he is also acting like a detective. Leviticus and his assistant Wyatt has to figure out what is going on, which is not easy since not everyone is willing to share what they know. They reminded me a bit of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. All I will divulge is that we are in for some big surprises and interesting revelations.

This is a scary ghost story that should satisfy any fan of paranormal horror. It is also an intriguing mystery and a detective story. Above all it is a good story that is very spooky and fun and full of surprises. A haunted lighthouse may seem like a typical ghost story, but it is not. It is a very unique story. The characters are well developed and believable and you empathize with them. It is very well written. I highly recommend The Price of Atonement.

About the Author

A member of the International Thriller Writers, Mae Clair is also a founding member and contributor to the award-winning writing blog, Story Empire. She has achieved bestseller status on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with several of her novels chosen as book club selections.

Mae writes primarily in the mystery/suspense genre, flavoring her plots with elements of urban legend and folklore. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail, and cats.

Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at MaeClair.com.

The Gift

The second book, The Gift also comes in one format, Kindle – October 17, 2023, ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CD15LV2Z, 85 pages. It is currently $2.99 on Amazon.com (free with kindle unlimited). Click here to order it from Amazon.com.

Front cover of the book the Gift by Gwn M. Plano. It is grey, foggy, and a large cliff with a lighthouse.
The Gift by Gwen M. Plano

This is Amazon’s description of the book.

The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.

In an innocent 1958 American suburb, Shelly doesn’t know the power of a kiss. Or how it will change her entire life.

At sixteen years old, she falls in love with a young man. One night—just one night—they go too far. Months later, pregnant and shamed, Shelly’s parents banish her.

Alone and heavily pregnant, circumstances force Shelly to cross the country in an old pickup.

A mistaken turn leaves her lost in a forest amidst a severe snow storm and in labor.

In the dark of night. Shelly must get help for her new-born baby before they both perish. A light in the distance gives her the slimmest glimmer of hope.

After Shelly wraps the infant in her father’s old jacket, she trudges through the snow to a lighthouse keeper’s cottage. Snow half buries the squat stone building.

Will Shelly find shelter, or is it the beginning of the end?

This is my five-star Amazon Review of The Gift

A Christmas Miracle by the Lighthouse

This book is a little different from the others in the Harbor Point series in the sense that it is not a horror story or a spooky story. It features some mysteries, but it is more of a feel-good love story centered on the Harbor Point Lighthouse and the Harbor Point Inn. At the beginning of the story a 17-year-old pregnant girl named Shelly is sent away by her parents. They want nothing to do with her. Her father gives her his old truck and some money and off she goes. Bad things happen and her future looks grim but then things turn around. You could call it a Christmas miracle by the lighthouse.

It is a beautiful Christmas story, which I admit was not what I expected. It was pure coincidence that I read it on Christmas Day. I am writing this review on Christmas Day as well. Life is full of unexpected events, some of which may seem like miracles, and this story is about a Christmas miracle. A miracle, yes, but it is entirely believable. The author did a great job in making the reader feel good and the story was captivating, and the characters were believable and relatable. If you want to read a good story that makes you feel happier, read this story. I highly recommend it.

About the Author

Gwen M. Plano, aka Gwendolyn M. Plano, grew up in Southern California and spent most of her professional life in higher education. She taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. Gwen’s academic background is in theology and counseling. Recently retired, she now lives in the high desert of Arizona, where she writes, gardens, and travels with her husband.

Gwen’s first book is an acclaimed memoir, Letting Go into Perfect Love. Her second book, The Contract between heaven and earth, is a thriller fiction novel, co-authored by John W. Howell. It has received multiple awards and is an Amazon Best Seller. The Choice, the unexpected heroes is the sequel to The Contract. It is also a thriller, involving the attempt of an unfriendly nation to take over the world. The third book in the series, The Culmination, a new beginning is an action-packed military thriller that spans the globe and involves multiple Heads of State and the threat of World War III. Only love can change the fate of humanity.

When Gwen is not writing, she’s often in the beautiful Red Rocks of Sedona, where she finds inspiration.

Fascinating and Beautiful Overview Of Four Provinces in Romania

This is a Leonberger blog and most books that I review are Leonberger books but sometimes I present and review other kinds of books that I love and that I want to promote. Today I would like to present a great book on Romania called Dreamland: Banat, Crisana, Maramures, Transylvania, 100-WORD STORIES, Folklore and History, written by Patricia Furstenberg. I found this book to be very interesting and fascinating. It comes in a paperback edition, hardcover, and a Kindle edition and I read the paperback edition.

  • Paperback – June 10, 2022, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8835263172, 214 pages, Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces, dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.51 x 9 inches, it is currently $27.00 on Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
  • Hardcover – June 25, 2022, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8838116918, 215 pages, Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces, dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.68 x 9 inches, it is currently $15.24 on Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
  • Kindle – June 9, 2022, ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B3QXD6GQ, 241 pages. It is currently $2.99 on Amazon.com (free with kindle unlimited). Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
Front cover of the paperback version of the book Dreamland. It shows a forest in the dark with text Dreamland in white and the author's name: Patricia Furstenberg.
This is my scan of the front cover of the paperback version of the book Dreamland. Click on the photo to go to the Amazon location for the paperback version of the book.

This is a truly fascinating book on four of the of the ten provinces of Romania, Banat, Crisana, Maramures and Transylvania. It features 117 100-word stories drawn from legends, folklore and history. I visited Transylvania in 2008 and this book reminded me of the many magical experiences we had there. Some of the photos in the book reminded me of the places we visited, including a photo of Dracula’s birthplace encompassing a little hotel where we stayed. When I saw the photo, I was reminded that I sat on one of the chairs in the picture and I shared my food with a stray dog. You can read about my travel story here.

This is Amazon’s description of the book.

For her books on Romania and her blog promoting Romania, Patricia Furstenberg was included in Top 100 Romanians from Everywhere Category Art 2023, Top 100 Români de Pretutindeni, by Repatriot, as featured in Newsweek Romania.

Discover the untold tales that shaped history and folklore in DREAMLAND through well-crafted 100-word stories: A Captivating Read, Delightful and Fascinating, A Magical Tour Through Romania’s History and Folklore.

Journey into the aftermath of a giant’s forbidden love, the chilling fate of a maiden turned to stone, the mystery surrounding the lost Dacian treasure, or the true reasons behind the terror inspired by Vlad the Impaler. Uncover hidden truths and well-guarded secrets behind these legendary stories of “happily ever after,” chilling origins, elusive warriors, and the enigmatic figures that have shaped Transylvania for millennia.

Dreamland reveals the epic narratives and whimsical photography behind the legends we thought we knew, inviting you to dive deeper into a world where history meets myth.

My Amazon Five Star Review of Dreamland: Banat, Crisana, Maramures, Transylvania, 100-WORD STORIES, Folklore and History

A Magical Historical Tour of Four Romanian Provinces

This is a truly fascinating and beautifully written book on four of the of the ten provinces of Romania, Banat, Crisana, Maramures and Transylvania. I would say that about half of the book is about Transylvania and half on the other three smaller provinces.

The book features 117 100-word long lyrical stories and poems. The 100-word stories are concise and written in a rich and expressive manner. These stories are based on legends and folklore about dragons, witches, giants, mythical creatures, kings, as well as local culture and historical events. Following each 100-word story were explanations of the historical context as well as nearly 90 gorgeous color photographs. Out of curiosity I counted the words in a few of them because I was curious as to whether they really were exactly 100 words, and the ones I counted were. I don’t think it is important that they are 100 words. However, the fact that the author was able to do it is kind of impressive.

The historical events depicted include the building of fortresses, fortified churches and cities, invasions, Roman and Ottoman invasions, the taking of slaves, kings, warlords and heroes and of course Vlad Tepes III or Vlad Draculea (Dracula). In the back there is a map showing the geographic location of each entry.

In 2008 I visited Transylvania with my son and his water polo team. The coach, Mihai, was from Transylvania and he took us on an incredible Dracula themed guided tour of Transylvania and some other parts of Romania (I was one of two chaperons). Therefore, I recognized many of the places described including Sighisoara, Brasov, Sibiu, Prejmer, Balea Lac, Rasnov, the Fagaras mountains, the Transfagarasan road, Biertan, Bran castle, and the Black Church in Brasov. It was an amazing feeling to read about these places and see the photos, which were much better than mine. It brought back many good memories. Romania is a fascinating country with a very rich history.

This book is very well written, the 100-word stories are interesting and impressive, the accompanying explanations informative, and the book is well organized. It is a true gem and I highly recommend it to anyone planning to visit Romania and to anyone interested in Romania.

This is a photo of the back cover of the book Dreamland. It features a description of the book and the author and includes a photo of the author.
This is a photo of the back cover of the book Dreamland. Click on the photo to go to the Amazon location for the kindle version of the book.

About the Author

Amazon Bestseller and Award Winning writer Patricia Furstenberg is the author of JOYFUL TROUBLE, SILENT HEROES: When Love and Values Are Worth Fighting for (chosen One in Five Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime), and new releases DREAMLAND and TRANSYLVANIA’S HISTORY A to Z. With a medical degree behind her, Patricia writes about unconditional love and war, while her keen interest for history and dogs brought her writing, through a perfect loop, to her native Romania, Patricia being the creator of #Im4Ro hashtag, sharing positive stories.

Her latest books, “Dreamland” and “Transylvania’s History A to Z” are “a wonderful combination of stories, photos, history, and legends”, “a novel idea and a captivating read”.

Leonberger Book Reviews Maybe

On Amazon my Leonberger book has 13 ratings including 11 reviews and on Goodreads I have four reviews and on Bookbub and Barnes & Noble none. All the reviews are wonderful and supportive five-star reviews. I am extremely grateful for this .💖

However, with this post I would like to shamelessly request additional reviews. The vast majority of readers do not write reviews. I know, I am the same way. It is hardly something you expect. But if anyone out there who has read my book and has not written a review somewhere, is willing to do just that, I would be very grateful. I would like to stress that the review certainly doesn’t have to be a four-star, or five-star review and they don’t need to be elaborate or wonderful or long. Short honest reviews between one-star and five-star would all be very helpful to me.

If you go to the Amazon page for my book and you scroll down until you see “Customer Reviews” on the left-hand side, there is a white button below “Customer Reviews” bars that says, “Write a customer review”. You can also get here by clicking on the small blue text near the top that says, “13 ratings”. Once you click on the “Write a customer review” button you will see four fields “Overall rating”, “Add a headline”, “Add a photo or video”, and “Add a written review”. “Add a photo or video” is optional, and I admit I have never used it. You can either type something in the “Add a written review” box or copy from, for example, Microsoft Word. Note that Amazon takes a few days to publish a review after it has been submitted.

It works similarly on Barnes & Noble but here you have a blue button towards the bottom on the left. On Bookbub there is a red button towards the bottom left and on Goodreads there is a black “write a review” button in the middle halfway down.

By clicking on any of the pictures below you can visit my book on Bookbub and Goodreads.

he image shows the Leonberger lying in the green grass. Click on the image to go to the Bookbub location for the book.
This is a photo of our late Leonberger Bronco lying in the grass in the front yard soon after a toe surgery. Click on the image to go to the Bookbub location for the book.
The image shows two photos. On the left is Leonberger puppy wearing scarf. On the right is an old Leonberger lying in the frass. Click on the image to go to the Goodreads location for the book.
This is a photo of our Leonberger Bronco at 3 months old (left) and at almost 13 years old (right). Click on the image to go to the Goodreads location for the book.

Tina Lost in a Crowd by Miriam Hurdle

This is a Leonberger blog but sometimes I post about books that I want to promote. This post is a review and a promotion of a very good children’s book called Tina Lost in a Crowd Paperback – April 15, 2021 by Miriam Hurdle and illustrated by Victoria Skakandi.

I bought this book for friends of ours who have young children, but I read it first. I found it to be a very good and useful book, which is why I mailed it to them. Your child getting lost is one of the many nightmares’ parents must suffer. Yet it is such a common occurrence that your nightmare is bound to come true at some point. Would your children know what to do?

Front cover of the book Tina Lost in a Crowd Paperback. It features a child looking lost. It is colorful.
Front cover of the Tina Lost in a Crowd Paperback. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the paperback.

The paperback version of the Tina Lost in a Crowd, which is what I bought, is 46 pages, ISBN 978-1974340019, item weight 5.4 ounces, dimensions 8 x 0.11 x 10 inches. You can buy Tina Lost in a Crowd from Amazon, as a paperback or e-Book. The paperback version is currently $8.99 on Amazon. The Kindle version is $2.99 or free if you are part of Kindle Unlimited.

My Review of Tina Lost in a Crowd Click here to see it on Amazon

Entertaining Preparation for Events Featuring Crowds

I bought this book for friends of ours who have young children. Before I mailed it, I checked out the book to make sure it was good, and I ended up reading the whole book. It is a good story! Fun for children and entertaining for adults too. Tina’s parents are taking Tina and her friend Erica to a concert. Unfortunately, the parents make a quite common mistake, a classic as far as losing your children goes, and the girls end up finding themselves lost. Luckily the girls do what Tina’s mom told them to do in case they get lost and all ends well.

I think most of us parents at some point make a mistake that will render our children lost. No matter how much precaution you take, at some point someone will make a mistake. However, it is good to know about a few typical ways this happens, and more importantly it is great if the children know what to do when it happens. Therefore, this book is quite helpful to both adults and children. The author is a brilliant writer who was able to tell the story in an entertaining way that is easy to understand. I believe the story is based on a real-life event, at least it seemed so. The illustrations were very colorful and very well done. They covered the entire page throughout the book with the text inside white blurbs. I highly recommend this children’s book.

Back cover of the book Tina Lost in a Crowd. It's a mountainous landscape with a night sky with a moon crescent.
Back cover of the Tina Lost in a Crowd.

About the Author

Miriam Hurdle is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She published four children’s books at twenty-six years old. Her poetry collection received the Solo “Medalist Winner” for the New Apple Summer eBook Award and achieved bestseller status on Amazon. She has a Doctorate of Education from the University of La Verne in California.

Click here to visit is her website

Click here to visit is her Goodreads

Click here to visit is her Twitter account

These are her published books on Amazon

Cover Reveal for Reunion A Story

Sometimes I make posts not directly related to Leonberger dogs, especially if I want to promote a good book. Today I am making a cover reveal post for one of the books written by a talented author and an on-line friend by the name Alex Diaz-Granados.

New front cover for Reunion: A Story. Photo of school lockers, one is open with a hand sticking into one of the lockers. Click on the image to go to the Amazon.com page for the book.
New front cover for Reunion: A Story. Click on the image to go to the Amazon.com page for the book.
This is the cover for the e-Book version of Reunion: A Story. The image consist of green grassy or bush like weeds. Click on the image to go to the Amazon.com E-Book version of the book.
This is the cover for the e-Book version of Reunion: A Story. Click on the image to go to the Amazon.com E-Book version of the book.

About the Author

Alex Diaz-Granados (1963-) began writing movie reviews as a staff writer and Entertainment Editor for his high school newspaper in the early 1980s and was the Diversions editor for Catalyst, Miami-Dade Community College, South Campus’ student newspaper for one semester.

Using his experiences in those publications, Alex has been raving and ranting about the movies online since 2003 at various websites, including Amazon, ciao and Epinions. In 2012, Alex published his first book, Save Me the Aisle Seat: The Good, the Bad and the Really Bad Movies: Selected by an Online Film Reviewer through CreateSpace.

Reunion: A Story, is Alex’s first work of fiction. In addition to writing reviews, Alex has collaborated with actor-director Juan Carlos Hernandez on several short films, including A Simple Ad (2019), Clown 345 (2019), and Ronnie and the Pursuit of the Elusive Bliss. You can find his reviews and essays on his blog, A Certain Point of View, Too.

About the Book

It is June 1983. Jim Garraty is a senior at South Miami Senior High. He’s a staff writer for the school paper, a college-bound scholar who plans to become a historian and author of books on military history. He’s well-liked by his peers and teachers, and his future looks bright. But as commencement draws near for the Class of 1983, Jim must deal with unfinished business. The girl he loves from afar is also graduating, and rumor has it that she is going away for the summer before starting college in the fall. Worse still, Marty doesn’t know how deeply Jim’s feelings for her are – unless he tells her. But when an opportunity arises on the last day of classes at South Miami High, Jim hesitates…and the window of opportunity closes. Now, 15 years later, James Garraty is an up-and-coming history professor whose literary career is on the rise. Respected by his fellow faculty professors and recipient of popular and critical acclaim, Jim seems to have it all. Except for one thing. True love.

Reunion: A Story Paperback – July 2, 2018, by Alex Diaz-Granados can be purchased from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. The paperback version is currently $6.99 on both Amazon or Barnes & Noble. It is 51 pages, ISBN 978-1722120474, item weight 3.2 ounces, dimensions 6 x 0.13 x 9 inches. The e-Book version, ASIN B07F4SL6NQ, is $3.99 on Amazon, or free if you have Kindle unlimited.

A brief review

This book is about a “what if” scenario, about regret, and what could have been. Once you start reading the book you simply must find out what will happen, which is why I could not put it down and therefore I read it in one sitting. It is a sad but timeless love story that is very engaging. It is about life, friendship, and love. I think the story highlights how differently a teenager and an adult view life and what the consequences can be. The author describes the feelings and the thoughts of the characters in a manner that is realistic and easy to relate to. It was emotional but not too sentimental. The book has a message, especially for young people. It is an easy and quick reading, and it is one of the best short stories I’ve ever read. I highly recommend it.

The Dog Father Leonberger

This blog is primarily about Leonbergers and our late Leonberger Bronco as well as the book I wrote about him and his dog friends. However, sometimes I review other Leonberger books. This time I am reviewing The Dogfather: Dog wisdom & Life lessons: Leonberger book ~ Leonberger gifts Paperback – May 12, 2020 by Alex Luther. This paperback is 285 pages, black and white, ISBN‏‎ 979-8645268923, item weight 13.4 ounces, dimensions 6.34 x 0.65 x 6.34 inches, so fairly small. You can buy it from Amazon but exist only in paperback format. It is currently $18.99 on Amazon.

Photo of the book The Dogfather Leonberger book by Alex Luther. Dog wisdom & Life lessons.
The Dogfather Leonberger book by Alex Luther.

We’ve owned many dogs, all wonderful dogs, but our Leonberger was the most amazing creature I’ve come across. He passed away one year ago. Originally bred to be large companion dogs they are in tune with your feelings, and for the same reason they make great therapy dogs. They are double coated and have webbed large paws, making them excellent swimmers, they are sometimes used for water rescue. They are smart, very strong, they have an excellent sense of smell, they are big, about the same size as a St. Bernhard, and they are excellent guard dogs as well. Our Leonberger became the protector of our smaller dogs. He saved our pug’s life once. He also found and brought back our hamsters when they escaped their cage. He noticed (smelled) that our Labrador, who had diabetes, was about to have an insulin shock and alerted us to it. One time he chased away an intruder that frequently trespassed on our property and threatened us as well as our neighbors. No, he didn’t try to eat him. He probably just wanted to say hello, but the intruder didn’t know that. After that the intruder never came back. Above all he was very loving, very sociable, and sensitive to our feelings.

I thought the book looked interesting and might be worth reading at the same time as I expected a lot of sayings I’ve heard before and maybe silly jokes, but as I read on, I found the book to be better than I had expected. It is a very touching collection of sayings that were all new to me and the poetic wisdom words captured the personality of a Leonberger very well. Initially this made me believe that the author must own or had owned and loved a Leonberger like us. A few examples: “I think Leonbergers are the most amazing creature; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.” “One reason a Gentle Lion can be such a comfort when you’re feeling blue is that he doesn’t try to find out why.” “The reason a Gentle Lion has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue” and my favorite “Sometimes I think I like Leonbergers more than I like humans. The only time a Gentle Lion has ever betrayed me…was by dying.” However, upon rereading the book I realized that it is possible that the sayings could apply to any kind of dog breed. Furthermore, I also realized that the author has written 160 nearly identical books called “The Dogfather <insert dog breed> or “The Dogmother <insert dog breed>”. So, I had just fooled myself. Most likely the author has never seen a Leonberger.

However, the sayings in the book are touching and the word Leonberger is used throughout the book. Not as good as I thought, but close. In the middle of the book there are two pages of advertisement and a web link for buying stuff. So, this book is partially advertising. That’s OK. The book is mostly for a younger audience but also sentimental adults. I gave the book four stars on Amazon.

Reunion A Story

This is my fourth book review on my Leonberger blog. However, this time I am reviewing a novella written by an epinions friend of mine, just because I want to spread the word about his great book. It is not a Leonberger book. Epinions was an on-line review site that paid reviewers. It covered all kinds of products, books, films, software, electronics, travel, you name it. Contrary to what one might think, paying reviewers led to more honest and fair reviews because the reviewers wrote reviews without strong feelings, either way, or to promote something. Anyway, writers started talking to each other and got to know each other on-line, even though they may never have met. That’s the case with Alex Diaz-Granados and me. Unfortunately, epinions shut down.

The name of Alex’ book is Reunion: A Story. It is 40 pages, 2.56 ounces, 5.98 x 0.1 x 9.02 inches, ISBN 978-1662913679. It is currently $6.99 on Amazon, it’s $2.99 on Kindle, and it is free for subscribers of Kindle Unlimited. It is $6.99 on Barnes and Noble.

Photo of front cover of Reunion: A Story, by Alex Diaz-Granados.
Front cover of Reunion: A Story, by Alex Diaz-Granados. Click on the photo to go to the Amazon page for the book.

First a very brief synopsis for the novella. 33-year-old Jim Garraty is a respected history professor and bestselling author who lives in New York City. But when he gets a cryptic email from his best friend from high school, Jim is forced to relive his past – and a trip to his hometown of Miami reopens old wounds he thought had healed long ago. Based on what I know about Alex, there seems to be a lot of similarities between Alex and Jim Garraty.

Typically, I like to read a little bit a few times a day. I hardly ever read a book in one sitting. I am not that way. This book was an exception. Once I started reading it, I had to finish it. It was simply so well written and gripping that I could not put it down. The story is fresh, novel and engaging. I think the story underscore how differently a teenager and an adult views life and themselves, leading to the many “what if” scenarios in life. It is a sad love story about regret and loss as well as friendship. It is a unique story yet timeless. The author describes the feelings and the thoughts of the characters in a manner that is realistic and easy to relate to. It was emotional but not too sentimental. The story has something to tell us, especially young people. It is an easy and quick reading, and it is one of the best short stories I’ve ever read. I highly recommend it.

Photo of back cover of Reunion: A Story, by Alex Diaz-Granados.
Back cover of Reunion: A Story, by Alex Diaz-Granados. Click on the photo to go to the Barnes & Noble page for the book.