Tag Archives: book reviews

Great review for Eva! “Eva gave me chills.”

 

Great review for “Eva!” a riveting romantic suspense with a supernatural twist.

So thrilled at one of the first reviews coming in for my romantic suspense novel, Eva! Many thanks to Cindy White.

“Connection isn’t that what we are all searching for? Connection to family, to a lover, to animals, to nature. I love to read. Reading is one of my passions but I don’t often read a book that gives me actual chills. Eva gave me chills. Eva’s connection to animals and nature is foremost in her psyche, she has always wanted to help animals by being a veterinarian. Eva is calmed and centered by her connection to the ocean. Her mother planned to become a marine biologist and instilled in her a love for nature and animals. Tragically, her mother was taken from Eva when she was very young, raised by her great aunt, she has protected herself emotionally by letting few people into her life.

The writer speaks eloquently of grief, the memory of the emotion of grief and how that emotion can lead to the feeling of not belonging anywhere. Eva’s work at an animal shelter leads to an amazing discovery about herself and her abilities. The love of a good man, friends, newly discovered family and her amazing ability to connect help her to find herself and new confidence in her future. A truly wonderful book!”

EVA: https://www.amazon.com/Eva-Diane-Solomon-ebook/dp/B0C8PGY1NS

Top 1% Reviewer on Goodreads give The Twain 5 stars!

Top 1% Goodreads reviewer gives a wonderful 5-star review of “The Ravenstone: The Twain,” (part 2 of our Ravenstone series).

REVIEW: “Younger readers, this one’s for you! (But don’t be surprised if the rest of the family wants to read it, too!)

Diane Solomon and Mark Carey have teamed up to pen another middlegrade fantasy that will rocket readers into the world of time travel, evil villains and a desperate attempt by twins Aidan and Nadia to keep their mother safe. Armed with a magical stone and their own special powers, these two young heroes must depend on each other through danger, adventure and slipping in and out of different eras, all while not changing the future a little too much, all while risking being trapped in the past with no way to get home.

THE RAVENSTONE: PART 2: THE TWAIN is written for younger readers to enjoy, understand and relate to, because, really, just how cool would it be to travel through time? Fuel for the imagination created in a rapid-fire pace without getting bogged down in too many details, positive role models, dilemmas to solve and even some socially conscious topics to wrestle with, delightful reading for the entire family to share and discuss!

I received a complimentary copy from Diane Solomon! This is my honest and voluntary review.”

Many thanks to lovely Dianne Bylo!

Dianne’s website/blog: https://tometender.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-ravenstone-part-2-twain-by-diane.html

Dianne’s Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/TomeTender

The Ravenstone: The Twain is available from Amazon, promotional price of 99c for the eBook!    AMAZON LINK

 

Great review from Books From Dusk Till Dawn!

Great review: Thank you Susan Hampson of Books From Dusk Till Dawn!

5 Stars! What a great review! “OMG this is just such an hilarious book. I know I shouldn’t find pleasure in someone else’s down falls, but at times I just had to stop reading because I couldn’t see any more, it was just so very funny.”   READ MORE

 

Great new review! “This book really gave me goose bumps..An awesome read!”

Raventsone cover

 

Many thanks to Susan Hampson of “Books From Dawn Till Dusk” for her great review!

 


REVIEW EXCERPT:

“Diane Solomon and Mark Carey have made a formidable team creating a very original story line that links together very well. The use of a mirror and twins is very clever but also do check out the twins names and see if you can find anything unusual about them.  It is this attention, the going that extra mile, that makes this book very special. The detail of what life would be like in the past is super, with  writing that is very appropriate for middle grade readers. There are times in the book that will give an adrenaline rush but won’t leave the young readers frightened. This book really gave me goose bumps  which I have got again just writing about it. An awesome read!”

READ ON!

Wonderful intelligent book review from Quills and Roses!

quills-roses-twitterMark and I received a Christmas present today: a wonderful review from Quills and Roses.

Please forgive me if I toot a horn or two:

“…for the middle-grade category, this novel is up there with the greats.”

“The world is really interesting and well thought-out, and every leaf and branch is there, on the page.”

“The world is described so well that the magic practically jumps off the page and feels real. It’s absolutely wonderful.”

Thank you Sally of Quills and Roses!

 

Book Review Excerpt

“This novel kind of reminds me of those Magic Tree House books I used to love (anyone remember those? Or am I too old?). Except, with more sophisticated plotting and writing.

“There was a lot of suspense and mystery. The bad guys were terrifyingly bad and the good guys were cute and smart and good. Older readers may find that a bit too simple, but for the middle-grade category, this novel is up there with the greats.

“Conclusion: If you’ve ever wanted to go on a magical time travelling adventure with a pair of smart, inquisitive twins (or are doing some Christmas shopping for young, avid readers) be sure to check The Ravenstone out!”

Read book review here:  Quills and Roses Review of The Ravenstone 

Book Review: “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah

The NightingaleThe Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Having read quite a few of Kristin Hannah’s books, I looked forward to “The Nightingale.” Although it held my attention, throughout the book I could not quite put my finger on why I wasn’t moved by the distressful events of this World War Two story.

Two sisters struggle to survive in Nazi-occupied France; one maintains her home and resists any idea of resistance. The other sister, impulsive and passionate, launches herself into the resistance movement, and becomes The Nightingale, leading British and American pilots through the mountains to Spain, to return them to their countries to fight another day.

The book delivers a potentially powerful story of suspense, courage, honor, love, and loyalty. My reservations are with regard to the level of exaggeration I felt was in play. And the tendency to cliche. Granted, these devastating events occurred, I just don’t believe they all happened to so few people. It is as if all the horror stories of the war were funneled into this one book, and it seemed a wee bit unrealistic and unbelievable to me.

As bizarre as this sounds, I became somewhat desensitized to the travesties. I am a sentimental, soft soul, and fully expected to be brought to tears by this tale. Especially having loved other books of Kristin Hannah’s. But I have come to the conclusion that this book, in its leaning toward melodrama, turned me off at some level, and I was left with a feeling of disappointment that truly surprised me.

So 3 stars for “The Nightingale,” which I hate to say is not one of Hannah’s best. I feel almost guilty saying this as I love so much of Hannah’s work.

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View all my reviews

 

The Ravenstone middle grade book coverCheck out Diane’s new middle-grade fantasy novel, written with her husband Mark Carey: 
The Ravenstone: The Secret of Ninham Mountain