Submissions

All submissions in these formats please: .pdf , Kindle, or print copy. If in print copy, I would appreciate it if the book was autographed by the author. I am not doing books that have a deadline at this time, unless the author wants to use my review to appear on the book itself. Please send all requests to: norachipleybarteau@att.net . If sending through snail mail, email me for my home address. Thank you!

February 17, 2011

Darkroom
by
Poppet

I am not going to review this book in the same manner I have others. With others, I choose my words carefully with poise and precision. With Darkroom, I am just going to write down the way it made me feel while reading it, the different emotions that went through me. I feel this is the only way I can do justice to this work by Poppet. I am not going to give a lot away about the contents of the book because I want the reader to go on the roller coaster ride I took from the very beginning.

Darkroom is not for the weak hearted and is one hundred percent for adults. It is a very dark read with a villain I have never encountered in any other book I have read. While the character Victor is a vicious sadist, that 'does the will and work of God', and is called Vengeance, that results in torture and certain death for his female victims, until he comes across an 'angel' named Shauna. He becomes a nightmare in her life, popping up whenever he feels she needs to be 'disciplined' to the point of insanity. And in order to make her love him, so he can have her completely in her real life, he has to find a way to be Victor, her savor that rescues her from Vengeance.

This book only took me two days to read. I could not put it down. It stirred up a lot of different emotions in me. On one hand I wanted to hate Victor so much, and I did for the pain he inflicted on Shauna as Vengeance, but yet after the torture was over, he was Victor who nursed her back to health. I feel he truly came to love Shauna and I felt good that they were a couple.

Poppet has shown great brilliance in Darkroom. She knows how to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. She knows how to put the reader into the story, allowing him/her to feel what the characters are feeling and experiencing. She knows how to bring out the worst fears and nightmares the reader could ever have. This book is not for the squeamish because it is very violent, graphic, sexual, and just plain DARK. I feel Poppet has done what she has set out to do and that is to scare the crap out of whomever dares to pick it up to read. So, reader beware! For me, I loved it! My genre is usually paranormal/fantasy but i totally enjoyed it! It also takes the reader on a adrenaline rush, not knowing what the next page or paragraph holds. You think the story is going in one direction, and predictable, when !wham! you get smacked in the face with a turn you never seen coming. I actually found myself talking to myself while reading this book. And when I can do that, then it is a fantastic piece of work! I also feel she is giving the reader lead way to interpret what Victor/Vengeance is and why he is the way he is. And I will not reveal anything close to the end. Let it be a surprise, a disappointment, a tragedy, justice, whatever you see it to be.

Poppet, you have outdone yourself, and I look forward to more of your work. Thank you for giving  me the opportunity to read and review this book. I recommend it one hundred percent and I can say with assurance, anyone who picks it up to read it, will not regret it!

I give Darkroom Five Stars *****

Reviewed
By

Nora Barteau
http://norachipleybarteau.blogspot.com/

February 14, 2011

Karma and Melodies
by
Katie Salidas

The music from the band brought back waves of memories from days gone by for Kendra. Days when she could enjoy the sunshine on her face and nights when she shared her poetry at the Egnima while listening to the beautiful voice of the leader of the band. The same voice making it's way to her ears through the crowd, ten years later, or what seemed like a lifetime ago. What should have been joy to wash over Kendra, was instead replaced with sorrow and regret. There he stood, Marcus, looking just as beautiful as he had ten years ago, like a Greek God. Close enough to touch, to smell, but sadly not close enough to have for her very own. Because Kendra had a secret that in reality was a curse that had been given to her ten years ago. A curse that has put her on the run from the master that made her, but to the true love that has had her heart always.

I am a tremendous vampire/paranormal genre fan and with so many authors turning to this type of writing, you would think sooner or later you would come across a story that was like the one before. I have been with Katie Salidas since the beginning and I have read all of her work and have given a review of each read. I am always so curious how she will manage to make this next work of hers different that any of the ones before. I have yet to be disappointed.

Karma and Melodies is a wonderful love story with just a touch of eroticism. It shows just how far a person will go for the one he or she loves. Follow the love story of Kendra and Marcus, one a vampire the other a musician. Learn the throes of being a vampire in love with someone she had to give just enough blood to save, but never enough to turn him. Even with that, there is a blood bond and everything that goes with that. I know you will enjoy Katie's newest work, Karma and Melodies and I give it Five Stars *****

Reviewed by

Nora Barteau
http://norachipleybarteau.blogspot.com/

February 2, 2011

The Price 
by Leon Newton

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this play. I feel it is a great piece of work and I think everyone should read it, if not just for a refresher course. As a christian, I know it is not going to be that civilized in hell but it drives a good lesson home. We see and understand that people in all walks of life have a destination at the end of their life, and it can only be one of two places, heaven or hell. No matter how much money a person has, it cannot prolong your life if it is your time to go, nor can it allow a person to put in a 'reservation' to heaven. I enjoyed the people who shared their story in hell, from all walks of life. There was the millionaire at one end of the spectrum, to athletics, entertainers, regular people and even a deacon in the church. In just a short time, it gives the reader an inside view at the various people and their tales of why they are in hell and have 'paid the price' to be there. I feel the writer gave Satan a civilized personality in order for people to understand the character in this play. Because we know by reading the Bible and the teachings in the Sunday school classes, that Satan is an evil being with no compassion for human life or their souls and definitely would not give God and Jesus credit or recognition of any kind. The Price is an easy read and can be understood by the old and the young.

I recommend this play or book and give it five stars.
*****
Reviewed by
Nora Barteau
http://norachipleybarteau.blogspot.com/