'6.4 Squared'

There are only a handful of authors in the world who I would read every word they’ve ever written. John Walsh is one of those. With Irish wit and worldly knowledge, John has put together a wonderfully warm and humourous collection of reflective poems. Several of the poems from John's rich understanding and wisdom about life made me stop, think, reread and really absorb what he said. With a masterful command of verse and a bullish view of life, this book is both special and thought provoking. A true treasure to read and a book that you will pick up again and again and again and.....

'Places and Time'

Places and Times is a collection of poems by Arthur Turfa that are full of beautiful descriptions from America to Europe to Mexico. I loved the slow and steady pace of Turfa's verse, powerfully filled with lots of emotion. I thought the poems were all well presented in the best possible order, so that midway through you find yourself on a summit, seeing the drop ahead and the inevitable powerful halt at the end. This is a collection I will hang on to and read whenever I want to understand the ups and downs of life.

'Hell is Everyone But You'

Hell is Everyone But You by Scott Kinkade is a short story that was touching on many levels.  It tells of a chance meeting in a holiday resort of two people that just want to escape reality. Fiction writers would say that it's harder to write a short story than a long novel. The challenge is not to rush things or introduce characters that are not fleshed out. This is a challenge that I feel Scott handled really well. This story encourages as well as offers hope for us all. One other thing I took from this story was the sensory sensitivity that people with Asperger's feel.

'The Lady of the Sea'

This was a quick read full beautiful descriptions that make the scenes come alive. Author Branka Valcic tells the story of a girl named Mareta and her search for "The Lady of the Sea". Our heroine is just a normal girl who finds herself in extraordinary circumstances. With clever dialogue, this story has plenty of promise for more. I think the author made the correct move on the conclusion of the book. I look forward to more books from this author. 

'The Goblin Remedy'

Excellent short story. No spoilers here. The Goblin Remedy by Nathan Murrell is a si-fi fantasy that has lots of potential. The author's writing has the ability to draw you into the story and transport you to the places of which he is speaking. It may have been a novella, but it packed quite a punch. Please Nathan, give us 400 more pages.

'The Locket'

Though I'm not a fan of short stories, I really enjoyed 'The Locket' by Laurie W.J.N. because all the tales are connected. The author presents a wonderful collection of short stories that follow five generations of women in the same family. This novella is for anyone who wants that feeling you can only get from connecting with fundamental human emotions and becoming involved with people you never met. It reminds you that the word "connect" mean's a lot more than just a term for computer users.