About Peyman Pejman

Peyman Pejman is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with respected newspapers, news agencies and radio stations such as The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Cox Newspapers, The Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Pejman has extensive experience in the Middle East and the Arab world. His tenure in the Middle East has corresponded with important timelines in the region: the Iranian revolution, the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Gulf Wars and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In addition to his journalistic career, he has been a media and communications professor and a media consultant/advisor/trainer.

The Review

by Tom via Goodreads

Sade Zaviesaz was born in Tehran to a middle class family. She went to public school and won scholarships to college. She had only one goal and that was to change her country. She went to Dubai for further schooling and there she met Jamal Johnny Mohammed. His father had a lot of money and he went to school in Geneva. After 1 year at Sandhurst he returned to Dubai and his father opened a
PR firm for him. His sole client was the Emir of Dubai and that is who his father worked for.

Johnny met Sade in a mall and they hit it off very well. Sade met a man named Hajj Mohsen at Johnnys home. He was a high ranking member of the hawala who were money launderers. At this point they were just friends but soon he would need Sade and she would need someone to move money around.

After a few years in Dubai a fellow Sade went to school in Tehran, got into politics, and became president. The only problem was he wasn’t qualified and he knew it but he also knew Sade was so he called her to come work for him. Sade’s plan to help her country was now in full swing.

The next person in her plan was one Hashem Hashimoto His mother was Chinese and his father an Arab. Her brother was a Chinese General who she hadn’t seen for years. Sade arranged a vacation for them, she wanted to meet the General. He was in a position to get her all kinds of arms and plans for missiles.  She offered him 5,000,000.00 which he agreed to. They were smuggled into Iran for use against Israel and the US.

I thought that this book was worth reading to see how a girl from a country that has no womens rights was able to manipulate so many men.

4 Stars

About Age of Intolerance

Age of Intolerance is both an espionage thriller tackling a serious and newsworthy current affairs topic and heart-warming saga of a relationship between estranged brother and sister, each having pledged allegiance to a political master bent on defeating the other.

Charles Shahin is a American journalist of Iranian descent whom the Central Intelligence Agency convinces to become a spy, skirting a long-held tradition that spy agencies not recruit reporters. Pretending to be a reporter for a US-based Internet newsgathering site, Shahin settles in sleepy Cyprus, long the center of spies and money launderers dealing with or keeping an eye on the Middle East.

While in Cyprus, Shahin gets wind of an Iranian plan to destabilize the Persian Gulf and purchase Chinese military secrets to build nuclear technology capable of hitting the United States and Israel. The plot was hatched by none other than his long-lost sister, now a ranking official in Iran.

Despite repeated warning, CIA bosses fail to mount a coherent strategy. What occupies Washington’s mind more is a spate of domestic acts of terrorism. Careful examination reveals the existence of a fanatic religious group inside the United States, bred and funded by none other than Washington’s best ally in the Arab world: Saudi Arabia. The Saudi goal: to “export” its internal “troubles” and force America to pick a fight with a common enemy: Iran.

Convinced an Iranian attack is imminent, Shahin and his wife — a Saudi princess — try to stop it, knowing US government bureaucracy is fractured and reaching a consensus might take too long.

Help comes from an unlikely ally, which, no doubt, has its own political ambitions, and its card to play.

About Peyman Pejman

Peyman Pejman is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with respected newspapers, news agencies and radio stations such as The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Cox Newspapers, The Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Pejman has extensive experience in the Middle East and the Arab world. His tenure in the Middle East has corresponded with important timelines in the region: the Iranian revolution, the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Gulf Wars and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In addition to his journalistic career, he has been a media and communications professor and a media consultant/advisor/trainer.

The Review

by Mischelle via Goodreads

The Age of Intolerance is a work of fiction, set in 2025, dealing with an acute problem in 2010: how to deal with overt and covert forces of religious fundamentalism and suicidal political ambitions of a handful of states. Sitting on top of snow-capped mountains of the independent Republic of Kurdistan, once a part of Iraq, Charles Shahin wondered how the Middle East had changed in the past few decades, and how much he had to do with it. Once a journalist, Shahin agrees to become an undercover agent for the Central Intelligence Agency. Soon after being deployed in Cyprus, Shahin becomes aware of a two-pronged covert Iranian plan: destabilize the Persian Gulf, and purchase Chinese technology to build submarine-based MIRV missile systems, capable of carrying nuclear warheads to attack the eastern coast of the United States. Shahin also learns that Iran plans to attack Israel. Shahin tries to warn his CIA bosses in Langley and the White House but his warnings fall on deaf ears. He and his wife, daughter of a ranking member of the Saudi royal family, decide that the US government bureaucracy and inter-agency rivalry make it impossible to stop an impending attack on the US and Israel. With the help of a friend from the Israeli intelligence service Mossad, Shahin and his wife stop the attacks, but the United States attacks the submarine from which the Iranian leaders attempted to rain missiles on America. Shahin and his wife flee the United States and take refuge in their villa in southern France.

3.5 Stars

About Age of Intolerance

Age of Intolerance is both an espionage thriller tackling a serious and newsworthy current affairs topic and heart-warming saga of a relationship between estranged brother and sister, each having pledged allegiance to a political master bent on defeating the other.

Charles Shahin is a American journalist of Iranian descent whom the Central Intelligence Agency convinces to become a spy, skirting a long-held tradition that spy agencies not recruit reporters. Pretending to be a reporter for a US-based Internet newsgathering site, Shahin settles in sleepy Cyprus, long the center of spies and money launderers dealing with or keeping an eye on the Middle East.

While in Cyprus, Shahin gets wind of an Iranian plan to destabilize the Persian Gulf and purchase Chinese military secrets to build nuclear technology capable of hitting the United States and Israel. The plot was hatched by none other than his long-lost sister, now a ranking official in Iran.

Despite repeated warning, CIA bosses fail to mount a coherent strategy. What occupies Washington’s mind more is a spate of domestic acts of terrorism. Careful examination reveals the existence of a fanatic religious group inside the United States, bred and funded by none other than Washington’s best ally in the Arab world: Saudi Arabia. The Saudi goal: to “export” its internal “troubles” and force America to pick a fight with a common enemy: Iran.

Convinced an Iranian attack is imminent, Shahin and his wife — a Saudi princess — try to stop it, knowing US government bureaucracy is fractured and reaching a consensus might take too long.

Help comes from an unlikely ally, which, no doubt, has its own political ambitions, and its card to play.

About the Book

Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens–until the day its complacency is shattered by an act of violence. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state’s best witness, but she can’t remember what happened before her very own eyes–or can she? As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show–destroying the closest of friendships and families. Nineteen Minutes asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be.

My Review

I think we all have been mortified after hearing stories such as the Columbine shootings…I know being the mother of two school age children makes it hard to even think about. This book shows you the story from the eyes of the victim – the shooter. That’s right, I called the shooter the victim. After reading this book you will see what might have happened to some of the children who have acted out in such a violent way. Do I condone what Peter Houghton (the shooter) does in retaliation to the years of abuse and bullying that he was subjected to? Of course not. But it breaks my heart that on his first day of school some older student throw his lunchbox out the school bus window because it has Superman on it, telling him they wanted to see if it could fly and laughing. How terribly cruel, he was only 5! This type of cruelty to an innocent child continues and literally breaks Peter as the years go by.

I volunteer at my girls school and could totally relate to this book. I think it should be mandatory reading to all teachers and school personnel as I feel it truly sheds a light on what has happened and could happen again. Fabulous and highly recommended!

About the Book

In this emotionally charged and riveting novel from the author of One September Morning and In a Heartbeat, one woman is torn between loyalty to her family’s ways and to her most profound convictions. . .

The daughter of a career cop, Bernadette Sullivan grew up with blue uniforms hanging in the laundry room and cops laughing around the dinner table. Her brother joined New York’s finest, her sisters married cops, and Bernie is an assistant District Attorney. Collaring criminals, putting them away—it’s what they do. And though lately Bernie feels a growing desire for a family of her own, she’s never questioned her choices. Then a shooter targets a local coffee shop, and tragedy strikes the Sullivan family.

Anger follows grief—and Bernie realizes that her father’s idea of retribution is very different from her own. All her life, she’s inhabited a clear-cut world of right and wrong, of morality and corruption. As Bernie struggles to protect the people she loves, she must also decide what it means to see justice served. And in her darkest hour, she will find out just what it means to be her father’s daughter.

The Review

This book totally caught me by surprise! I had read the synopsis and thought I knew what I was going to be reading but the author has done such a wonderful job of incorporating so many different sides to portray a story that anyone can relate to.

This book follows the Sullivan family but focuses on Bernadette (Bernie) Sullivan. Growing up in a world surrounded by law enforcers (her dad was a cop and she felt like she was surrounded by the law her entire life) she decided to branch out and become a District Attorney. They believe in right and wrong and the lines certainly aren’t blurred. That is until tragedy strikes and they are forced to look at how they handle the aftermath and what they each think is the right way to solve the problem.

This is where I think the author shines. You really get a feel for how the different characters react and you start to question how you would handle yourself in the same way. This book will hit you in the heart and grab hold, I actually gasped aloud at one point because I was so shocked. Please do yourself a favor and immerse yourself into the world that Ms. Noonan has created. You will not be disappointed!

I was afraid to take on reviewing this book as I hadn’t read the rest of the series and knew that I would have to really buckle down to get 4 books read in the time I had.  I am happy to say it was a breeze!  This is one of the best series that I have read and I will try and get reviews posted for the other 3 books in the near future.  But for now, let me focus on “The Iron Knight”

This is truly the last book of the series.  While this may not always make me sad (i.e. Twilight which I read and regret wasting my time on – sorry for those who love it) this one breaks my heart.  I fell in love with each character and it is sad to see it all come to an end.

Even though he wasn’t supposed to be the star of the book, Puck was hands down my favorite character.  He is so vibrant and a little more light hearted than some of the other characters.  But, please don’t feel that the other characters don’t shine in their own right – they certainly do.

This book is Ash’s story.  He is the former prince of the Winter Court and promised Meghan he would find a way to join her in the Iron Kingdom.  This, unfortunately, is not the only promise he has made and both are starting to break down his strengths, and causes his darker Unseelie to slowly creep in and try and overtake him.  We learn more about what makes Ash Ash, and we also see some of the things that he has tried so hard to keep hidden.  He is not always an easier character to love but I am so thankful that the characters are written with so much depth, and deal with so much in these stories.  Not too much fluff here, that’s for sure.

This series (and book) are so well written, I can’t really say enough about any of them.  I think that Iron Knight may be my favorite but on any given day this answer could differ.  It could easily be my least favorite, but only because it brings an end  to a series I wish went on an on!

Head on over to Read In A Single Sitting and see what they have to say.

Thanks!

Excerpt:

“You will not use me as a weapon, nor will I work evil against those I consider allies or friends. This contract will involve no one else. Just me.”

“As you wish,” Grimalkin purred.

“Then you have a deal.” I felt a tingle in the air as the bargain was sealed, and clenched my fists. There was no backing out of it now, not that I had any intention to do so, but it seemed that I’d made more deals, accepted more contracts, in a single year then I had in my entire life as a prince of Winter.

I had the feeling I’d sacrifice more before the trip was over, but there was nothing for it now. I’d made my promise, and I would see it through.

“Then it is done.” Grimalkin nodded and leaped off the bucket, landing in a patch of weeds surrounded by mud. “Let us go. We waste time dallying here.”

Puck blinked. “What, just like that? You’re not going to tell the old chicken plucker you’re leaving?”

“She already knows,” Grimalkin said, picking his way across the yard.

Want to know more about Julie Kagawa? Read below:

Loved reading the story from Ash’s point of view. Was it difficult to switch from writing from Meghan’s perspective to Ash’s? Did you find yourself having to edit feelings writing as a female lead to a male lead?

I was much more cognizant of the fact that this was a male POV, not a female’s, as I was writing the book. Ash isn’t very touchy-feely and tends to be very pragmatic, looking at things with logic, not emotion. Someone mentioned that this was more of a “boy’s book,” and that Ash and Puck never sat down and had a heart-to-heart talk. But that wouldn’t fit with either of their characters; they’re more the type to punch each other in the shoulder and say “get over it.”

How much research do you do on legends of fairies before you write a book? Did you research Puck and the Big Bad Wolf before using them in the series?

The Big Bad Wolf needed no research; he was already a legend in his own right, and everyone knows the story of Little Red Riding Hood. I did watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream to get a feel for Puck, Oberon, and Titania. And some of the older folk tales I researched online, like the witch’s hut in the beginning of The Iron Knight. It comes from old Russian folklore, and props to you if you recognize it. =)

Which character gives you the hardest time? Which is the worst to write?

I wouldn’t say he was the worst to write, but Ash was definitely one of the hardest to write. He isn’t very chatty, and getting him to talk was a challenge sometimes. There was also another character in The Iron Knight that was hard to write about, just in the way he/she related to Ash, but I can’t say the name for fear of spoilers.

Does the Nevernever change as you write about it? Does it grow or is it already set in your mind?

Much like in the novel, it’s constantly changing and growing. The Nevernever is an entity in itself, and I don’t think anyone has truly seen it all. Which is a good thing, because it means there will always be something to explore, to discover, in future books.

Book Info
Title: Triangles
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Rating: PG
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Pages: 544 Pages
Source: ARC provided by Publisher
My Rating:
Purchase at:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books-a-Million
Powell’s

My Review

Ok, I have to admit.  I have never read the Crank series.  I own it, but it is sitting on my TBR pile crying out to be read.  Unfortunately, it is fighting with so many other books that it continues to sit.  But, when I was offered the opportunity to review Triangles I knew that it was time to bite the bullet and pick up a book by this author.  I am so sorry I waited!

This is the story of three friends going through different dilemmas in their lives.  Each stressful in their own right, the author has given the reader the opportunity to delve into their lives, and more than likely relate to one of the situations portrayed – or at least part of the situation.

Holly is a woman who most women would probably love to be.  About to turn forty she lives in a fancy home and is married to a successful attorney whose career has allowed her to stay home with her kids and live the life of luxury.  Doesn’t sound too bad, right?  This may sound like a dream life, but she isn’t happy.  She want to be more than just a wife and mom and when she begins running to lose weight she starts to notice the looks she is given by men – and it fuels her desire.  She loves the attention and decides to see what it is like to lose her inhibitions…and her morals.  She starts to drift farther and farther away from her family and her husband while exploring her new self.

Andrea is lonely.  She is a single mom caring for her daughter, and now is fighting her ex’s new girlfriend for being the “cool” one in her daughter’s life.  Add that to the fact that her daughter is crushing on her soon to be step-brother who is a little too old and you see the stress that goes along with it.  She doesn’t complain too much and tries to be happy.  But, she is really lonely.  While she doesn’t agree with how Holly handles her loneliness, she can’ help but notice that while Holly is out her wonderful husband is left home alone.  She wonders what Holly is thinking and starts to wonder what it might be like to live her life.   Will she really go through with seducing her husband?

The last friend is Marissa.  Marissa’s life is extremely sad.  Her life centers around the care of her young daughter who is terminally ill. She never expected to have a child with such a horrible diesease, but also never expected to have to care for her alone.  Her husband is absent most of the time and when he is around her is busy drinking to ease the pain he feels at his life.  Not only does she have a sick daughter, but her husband does not approve of their older son who is gay. When HIV comes into the mix (I won’t say how) their life takes one more hit.  They were struggling to get through before, is this enough to break them?

I wasn’t sure when I first picked up this book if I would like the writing style.  It turns out I love it!  It was really easy to read and even though each of the three women’s lives are explored as separate stories within the book, it wasn’t hard to follow at all.  I really enjoyed the way that the author wasn’t afraid to hit on so many hard topics, but yet did it in a new way. Do I think that women go through mid-life crisis’ like they claim some men do?  I suppose so.  Each one of these women had such a different life and take on what they were going through, I think we all could relate to one of them, or a combination of the three.

Now, off to find my Crank series – sadly I can’t read it right away but it needs to stay close so I know where it is!

Synopsis

THREE FEMALE FRIENDS FACE MIDLIFE CRISES IN A NO-HOLDS-BARRED EXPLORATION OF SEX, MARRIAGE, AND THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE.

Holly: Filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, she sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Will it bring the fulfillment she is searching for?

Andrea: A single mom and avowed celibate, she watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband?

Marissa: She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay, rebellious teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts.

As one woman’s marriage unravels, another’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s reconfigures into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.

Unflinchingly honest, emotionally powerful, surprisingly erotic, Triangles is the ultimate page-turner. Hopkins’s gorgeous, expertly honed poetic verse perfectly captures the inner lives of her characters. Sometimes it happens like that. Sometimes you just get lost.

Get lost in the world of Triangles, where the lives of three unforgettable women intersect, and where there are no easy answers.

About Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins is a poet, freelance writer, and the award-winning author of twenty nonfiction titles and five NY Times Bestselling novels-in-verse. She has published hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from aviation to child abuse to winegrowing. Ellen mentors other writers through her position as a regional adviser for the Nevada chapter of the Society of ChildrenÕs Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She is a regular speaker at schools, book festivals and writers conferences across the US, and now throughout the world.

About Emily Sue Harvey

Emily Sue Harvey, author and speaker, writes to make a difference. Dozens of her upbeat stories and articles appear in Chocolate for Women, Chicken Soup for the Soul, women’s magazines, websites, and other anthologies.

She is the author of the novel Song of Renewal and Homefires and the novella Flavors.  Her new novel, Space, will be followed by another novel (Unto these Hills) later in 2011.

To find out more about Emily visit www.renewalstories.com or www.emilysueharvey.com

My Review

Emily Sue Harvey’s books have been among some of my favorites for a few years now. I have had the pleasure of reading them and when asked to pick a favorite I previously struggled. The struggle is over. Space is the type of book you read and then have to sit back to digest.  It centers around a family broken by addiction.

Dan and Deede wanted to have it all, a good marriage and their own family.  After countless doctor visits and testing they are told that their dreams of having a child of their own are not going to come true.  Although devastated by the news, they know that their is always adoption.  But, miracles do happen, and shortly after the news they find out that Deede is pregnant.  Faith is all they dreamed of, a sweet daughter who brings them so much joy.  Unfortunately, their miracle is soon to become a nightmare.

Space is a story of devotion and love – how much would you really do for your child, even when the situation is so bleak?  With Faith being addicted to drugs and using her parents time and time again, it was an eyeopener to see how they handled the situations and how it effected their relationship with her, and their relationship with each other.  What a touching and thought provoking book.  I know many people probably think they wouldn’t do some of the things that Dan and Deede did to try and get their little girl back, but unless you are in that situation you will never know.  Hopefully I’ll never have to find out.

About Space

In Space, Emily Sue Harvey delivers us a deeply moving story of a family on the brink. Dan and Deede Stowe have worked for years, planning and saving for their idyllic retirement years. Just when they finally are about to realize their dream, their adult, recovering drug-addict daughter, Faith, moves back in with them and everything changes. Their “miracle child”, complete with druggie baggage, upsets the tranquil balance of the Stowe’s existence. Private romantic moments evaporate. Faith’s endless needs intrude hour by hour, devouring both their finances, their emotions, and most crucially, their space. In turn, Faith finds herself bereft of everything she cherished most, her health, her marriage, her child, her family, her reputation and, most of all, a space to call her own.

Amid chaotic challenges, all three battle to find peace with each other, a harmony that doggedly eludes them. For the sake of family solidarity, each is forced to sacrifice elemental components of self, until desperation turns them one against the other. Will love be enough to turn the tide? Is it strong enough to warm again hearts grown cold?

Space is a vivid, candid, and life-affirming story from a masterful storyteller of the heart.

About Joseph Garraty

Joseph Garraty is an author of dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He has worked as a construction worker, rocket test engineer, environmental consultant, technical writer, and deadbeat musician. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

His latest book is the horror novel, Voice.

You can visit his website at www.josephgarraty.com.

Connect with Joseph at Twitter at www.twitter.com/JosephGarraty.

My Review

When this book came up for review I jumped at the chance. I certainly don’t need Halloween to put me in the mood for a creepy read as this is my favorite genre.  I am glad to say that ‘Voice’ did not disappoint me.

This story centers around John Tsiboukas—aka Johnny Tango.  He is in the music biz and is a singer trying to make it with his band, Ragman.  Like most musicians, they have struggled to catch a break, until one day it seems as if Johnny can do no wrong.  His voice is perfect but when he does sing strange things happen.  Are these to be attributed to the mysterious stranger that he meets at the crossroads?  Yes, the crossroads you should all know well about – if you don’t do some research or watch the flick with Steve Vai and Ralph Macchio – it is a good representation of the good vs. evil aspect that the crossroads is supposed to bring to musicians.

Thanksfully, Garraty takes a new direction and give you a chilling tale that will leave you reading into the wee hours.  Was I scared?  No, but it does take quite a bit to scare me these days.  It was a fast paced thriller with enough diversity to make it stand out among many of the other books that are in the same genre.

If you are looking for a book that blends a solid backbone in what it takes to make a band, and some chilling aspects that add to the overall story, this is a good book for you.  Well written, this is certainly an author I would pick up again.

About Voice

Local rock band Ragman is finally taking off. Stephanie Case’s flamboyant performances and scorching guitar work have started attracting crowds, and singer John Tsiboukas—aka Johnny Tango—is delivering the best performances of his life. After months of playing to dead rooms, it looks like success is at hand.

The thing is, there’s something wrong with Johnny’s voice. Until just a few weeks ago, he couldn’t hit the right pitch if you painted a target on it and let him stand real close. Now he sounds amazing. . . and strange things happen every time he sings. Lights burn out. Whole rooms become cold and hushed. People get violent.

For Johnny and Case, Ragman is a ticket out of a life of meaningless, dead-end jobs and one lousy gig after another, but as the weirdness surrounding Johnny begins to turn into outright nightmare, they find that the price of stardom might be higher than either of them could ever have imagined.

About Emily Sue Harvey

Emily Sue Harvey, author and speaker, writes to make a difference. Dozens of her upbeat stories and articles appear in Chocolate for Women, Chicken Soup for the Soul, women’s magazines, websites, and other anthologies.

She is the author of the novel Song of Renewal and Homefires and the novella Flavors.  Her new novel, Space, will be followed by another novel (Unto these Hills) later in 2011.

To find out more about Emily visit www.renewalstories.com or www.emilysueharvey.com

Book Review

Emily Sue Harvey’s work touches readers in profound ways. Coffee Time Romance called Song of Renewal, “a must-read book for anyone doing a little soul searching.” Of Flavors, Black Diamond’s Book Reviews said, “I loved everything about this book! This is just an all around excellent book that is sure to bring memories back from times when life was a lot more simple.” And, in speaking of Homefires, The Book Tree said, “Emily Sue Harvey has now become a new favorite author for me after reading this book.”

Now, in Space, Emily Sue delivers us a deeply moving story of a family on the brink. Dan and Deede Stowe have worked for years, planning and saving for their idyllic retirement years. Just when they finally are about to realize their dream, their adult, recovering drug-addict daughter, Faith, moves back in with them and everything changes. Their “miracle child”, complete with druggie baggage, upsets the tranquil balance of the Stowe’s existence. Private romantic moments evaporate. Faith’s endless needs intrude hour by hour, devouring both their finances, their emotions, and most crucially, their space. In turn, Faith finds herself bereft of everything she cherished most, her health, her marriage, her child, her family, her reputation and, most of all, a space to call her own.

Amid chaotic challenges, all three battle to find peace with each other, a harmony that doggedly eludes them. For the sake of family solidarity, each is forced to sacrifice elemental components of self, until desperation turns them one against the other. Will love be enough to turn the tide? Is it strong enough to warm again hearts grown cold?

Space is a vivid, candid, and life-affirming story from a masterful storyteller of the heart.

About Space

In Space, Emily Sue Harvey delivers us a deeply moving story of a family on the brink. Dan and Deede Stowe have worked for years, planning and saving for their idyllic retirement years. Just when they finally are about to realize their dream, their adult, recovering drug-addict daughter, Faith, moves back in with them and everything changes. Their “miracle child”, complete with druggie baggage, upsets the tranquil balance of the Stowe’s existence. Private romantic moments evaporate. Faith’s endless needs intrude hour by hour, devouring both their finances, their emotions, and most crucially, their space. In turn, Faith finds herself bereft of everything she cherished most, her health, her marriage, her child, her family, her reputation and, most of all, a space to call her own.

Amid chaotic challenges, all three battle to find peace with each other, a harmony that doggedly eludes them. For the sake of family solidarity, each is forced to sacrifice elemental components of self, until desperation turns them one against the other. Will love be enough to turn the tide? Is it strong enough to warm again hearts grown cold?

Space is a vivid, candid, and life-affirming story from a masterful storyteller of the heart.

About NeonSeon

Creating Shouty Mack as a comic strip for a high school newspaper in 1991, NeonSeon—-some 20 years later—-decided to develop Life of Shouty, a book series focused on life issues for ages 8 & up.

You can visit his website at www.shouty.com.

The Review

Being the mom of 6 and 7 year old girls, I was really excited to receive a book that would help them see what effects making good choices/having good habits can have on their lives.  And this book did just that.  Shouty has made many poor choices in his life and it shows.  He is extremely lazy and his bad choices show in all he does.  Throughout the book you see him struggle with his life and the choices that he has made.  But, by trying to change you see that Shouty can have the life he should.

I felt that this book was a little over the head of my girls as they couldn’t really relate to some of the things he was procrastinating about, but once I explained it to them they understood.  I would say the books target is at least 8 or older.

About Life of Shouty: Good Habits

If change is the one thing we can count on, why is it so difficult for most of us to change our bad habits? In Life of Shouty: Good Habits, Shouty attempts to do just that. As he tries to change his ways, comfort zones and negative self-talk threaten to keep him from his goal. Will his bad habits prevail? Or can Shouty pull through and make better choices?

Life of Shouty: Good Habits is a universal story that explores themes of hope and persistence in the face of adversity. Readers can relate to Shouty’s struggles: procrastination, stagnancy, and habitual ways of thinking that pose obstacles to achievement and personal growth. This relatable book helps children see that their bad habits can follow them into adulthood, like they did for Shouty. The poetic style and illustrations help to create a reading journey that speaks to the heart of those who want to be their best selves.

Changing habits is not easy, but you will be motivated to—or at least have hope that you can—after reading this book. Whether you’re an adult or child, Life of Shouty: Good Habits offers a refreshing view of life’s common challenges.