#BookReviews – Five #Stars for each one

Published on by balroop singh

It’s been a while since I shared the reviews of the books I’ve read. Here are some of my favorites, each one got glittering five stars from me.

Redemption: A fabulous blend of mystery, suspense and emotions

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Redemption is an action-packed story of a family that falls apart due to the secret activities of Eric who is murdered in his own home. His wife ends up in a hospital and their daughter Lisa, along with her brother Trace, tries to figure out the maze, which entangles them with each effort, as they try to solve the mystery of their father’s murder. In this fast-paced story, suspense plays a significant role, as it is difficult to decide who is trustworthy.

There is a divine touch that unfolds through the intuitive ability of Lisa. Plano has created a wonderful trio – Lisa, Trace and his friend Ryan. Together, they traverse the dangerous lanes of investigation and keep you at the edge of your chair. Many secrets tumble out of the closet that are shocking for Trace. The growth of characters is noteworthy. A fabulous blend of mystery, suspense and emotions, the way emotional upheavals are thrown in to give a realistic view of life in the midst of crisis, is remarkable.  If you like thrillers with a warm touch, you would like this book.

Return to Silverhills: Packed with action and adventure

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Return to Silverhills by Sandra Cox captures your heart the moment it starts and holds it till the last page. A fast-paced story of Lisa, a withdrawn girl who had suffered at the hands of Comancheros, is told with vivacity. She was rescued by Brandon and is wary of men but when she gets an opportunity to do her share, she offers to accompany Brandon’s brother Jeff to help the cook on a cattle drive.  

Challenges await in the form of blizzards, quicksand, gunshots, and many more adventures. Despite continuous action and perils lurking at each step, this is a heartwarming story of care, concern and love. The grandfatherly concern of Cookie for the group, the passion that goes into taking care of Lisa and the names like Arabella, Honey, Hope, Lucky give a sensitive touch to the narrative.  

Cox’s incisive style of writing, without any superfluous details or distractions makes her books so likable and this one is no exception. The way she handles Jeff’s feelings for Lisa is remarkable. If you like a western story with a touch of tenderness, you will love this book.

Lion Scream: A visual and poetic delight

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Lion Scream is a visual and poetic delight but more than that it holds a wealth of information about amazing creatures of southern Africa in a succinct manner. Cheadle shares her incredible personal experiences with the wild animals and her video footage links add another dimension to this book. Her love for wild life shines through her poems, most of which are written in the form of ‘Double Ennead.’ I appreciate her sensitive approach toward the fauna.

As the title of the book symbolizes –  human beings need to hear the scream because the impact of poaching, killing and encroaching upon the natural habitat of wild animals has produced disastrous consequences. The first poem ‘Lion Scream’ sums up the plight of wildlife – “there is no jungle, only acres of smooth stumps…”

‘Rhino Dilemma’ clearly demonstrates the savagery and greed of man.

The book has very aptly been dedicated to “everyone who relies on Earth for survival.” It concludes with an insightful short story ‘Nutcracker,’ emphasizing the effect of man’s apathetic attitude toward his environment.

Grow Damn it!: A perfect blend of emotions and humor

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 ‘Grow Damn it!’ is a brilliant potion, in which Oreglia blends snippets of her life – moments of joy and despondency, in equal measure. When she expresses emotions, she takes you into the depths of an ocean where breathing becomes an excruciating effort but when she talks about the lighter moments of life, she takes you beyond the clouds and you merge into their folds with perfect harmony, as if you were a part of the story being told. Such is the magic of her style of writing – informal yet effective. Warmth percolates from her words that reaches your heart effortlessly. Her bonding with the Magnolia tree, her relationship with her mother, sister and grandchildren speaks volumes about her magnanimous heart.  Her reflections exude wisdom and wit. I could relate to many of her experiences.

I thought ‘True Grit’ is my favorite chapter but then I read ‘Midlife, Nettles’ and found it hilarious. No! I told myself – ‘Middle-Aged Penance’ is better but wait, read ‘Can I Tell You…’ and then decide! Some of her expressions are classic! Just consider this one:

“The ants are staying for dinner. Buy some bait.” (You have to read this book to know the “ants.”)

“The wines are breathing much better than I am.”

“My gratitude bubbles over as if my soul were a flute of fine champagne.”

“There are things death cannot touch.” – how profound!

Oreglia also shares some beautiful pictures of her family.

I have not read a more meaningful memoir that could speak to me on an emotional level. Never have I been so drawn by a book! It beckoned me even when I was watching my favorite show. Highly recommended.

Thank you.

Balroop Singh.

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with  Hues Of Hope 

58 thoughts on “#BookReviews – Five #Stars for each one”

  1. What lovely reviews Balroop… And I think the Return to Silver Hills, would capture my attention…. I have a Western enthusiastic Hubby who loves books and Western films….to which I have been ‘Programmed’ over the years 🙂 LOL…. 😉

    Sending Hugs your way Balroop.. Have a lovely Easter.. ❤

    1. Sandra would be delighted to know that! She writes wonderful Westerns. Many thanks for coming over to share your thoughts Sue. Love and hugs back to you.

  2. Thank you, Balroop, for your lovely review and post today. I’m humbled by your comments and elated you enjoyed Redemption. My sincere congratulations to Sandra, Robbie, and Cheryl. Hugs to all… 🤗

  3. Excellent reviews, Balroop. I’ve only read (and really enjoyed) Gwen’s book, but I’m also very familiar with Sandra and Robbie, both of whom always impress. Cheryl is new to me, but I love the snippets you shared. My best to all of them. Thanks for sharing your impressions of their books.

    1. I finished Cheryl’s book yesterday and there were so many notes on my Kindle that the review was ready. I just had to organize the sentences. Such books are a treat! It was Diana’s review at her blog that acquainted me with Cheryl and I am delighted that I picked up this book. Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts Staci, much appreciated.

    2. I hope you take a chance on Grow Damn It Staci! I’d love to hear your thoughts and impressions! Balroop was so generous to add me to this fabulous list of authors. I’m completely humbled by her words. Okay, I’m floating around like a butterfly! Hugs, C

  6. You did it again Balroop. Fantastic reviews of books by excellent independent authors. I am going to put each of them in my Kindle and hope to get to them at some point sooner rather than later! Thank you thank you.

    1. Yes! And now you have some wonderful books to read this summer… or spring? We are all looking forward to that! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

  8. Fantastic reviews, Balroop. I’ve read and loved “Redemption.” I have two of the other waiting for me on my TBR list. Thank you so much for sharing and congratulations to these authors!

    1. Thanks for stopping by to support these fabulous authors. I am glad you’ve read and enjoyed Redemption. It is extremely well-written.

  9. I can’t thank you enough for your generous review of Grow Damn It Balroop, what a delightful surprise and much-needed reprieve from my itinerate fears. I wanted to say congratulations to all the authors you’ve reviewed. What an eclectic group. I’ve read several and enjoyed them all. Your words brought on the tears, big time. This is my debut novel, and like many writers, I was worried about how my work would be received by a larger audience. Okay, “worried” is a lie, I was petrified. You have put my insecurities to rest. At least for a day. Thank you, I’m going to carry this joy around as if a bouquet of yellow tulips. Much love and hugs, C

  11. Fantastic reviews, Balroop! I read Gwen’s book and found it thoroughly engrossing. Cheryl is new to me, but I’m familiar with Sandra and Robbie’s work from other books I’ve read by them. I just picked up Lion Scream from Amazon and look forward to reading it.
    Congratulations to all the authors on their wonderful reviews.

    1. Hi Mae, thank you for your support and lovely comment. I have these books on my TBR and I am reading as fast as I can. It is lovely to see you and I hope you have a most enjoyable Easter.

      1. Enjoy your Easter, too, Robbie. I’m looking forward to diving into your latest. I’ve missed a lot not being online as frequently!

    1. It is most challenging to write in verse form and that too syllabic poetry when we want to make a point! You have done a wonderful job Robbie. I admire your talent.

  15. Fabulous reviews, Balroop. I think the authors hit the jackpot over here today. And readers too. I’ve read all four of these and thought they were great. Congrats to Gwen, Sandra, Robbie, and Cheryl. ❤ ❤

    1. Infinite Living, love the name! I’m beyond thrilled to know you found Grow Damn It interesting. Balroop has a way with words. I hope you’re inspired enough to dive into the collection and see if it resonates! It’s a perfect read for the Spring. Hugs, C

      2. I have dragged this comment out of spam Cheryl. I am glad I looked at that box. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I agree with you! Infinite living is a beautiful name for a blog. 🤗

      3. That darn spam, it loves to sequester my comments! Glad you thought to look in there! You have such a wonderful community, I was honored to be included! Hugs, C

  20. Thank you for these great reviews Balroop – sounds like great reads. At least, I added some to my basket and hope to discover them soon.
    Have a lovely day and sweet weekend ahead!

    1. Nice to see you back Deb. Hope you enjoyed your break. Thanks for coming over to read the reviews of these awesome books. Hugs back to you.

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