Smith By: Sam B. Miller II

Smith

By: Sam B. Miller II

The cover of this book is truly eye catching. It made me think of the art work with the two angels whose finger tips touch. I have heard of that called the prophecy, but I don’t know if it is true or not. I know what I’m talking about, however I am most likely out of my gourd. But honestly, that is what the cover reminds me of, the creation. Just remember, it is my opinion. 

Now let us get started with the review of the book by Mr. Miller, shall we?

Rob Goddard was an Archeologist and a father of six children and Jake was one of them. Currently Mr. Goddard is trying to complete a dig in King Solomon’s temple in Israel. The people of Israel do not want these American’s here destroying and removing evidence from their land. They consider the land sacred and feel it should be left as it is, undisturbed.

This is what the cover reminds me of. Signed, Deneale

Jake has come along with his father, to hopefully learn from him, and maybe even have a little fun.

Eighteen-year old’s are sometimes bored and looking for things to do, something out of the ordinary. Apparently, this may have been the case. Because, this time, Jake and his friend find a map on his father desk, and decide to do a little exploring, to see where the map will lead. 

While following the directions of the map, they travel and discover a dark and deserted tunnel. While there, they decide to do a little looking around, and low and behold, Jake finds the treasure of King Solomon’s Power ring. Excitingly, and unbeknownst to him of the fact that anything could or would happen, he decides to put it onto his own finger. 

Go ahead, roll your eyes in disbelief. We all know how the stories go with the Egyptians, and old things, and curses and things, right? You know you’re thinking it too, don’t even lie.

Jake passes the ring off as a replica, but the thing is, he is starting to hear things. Someone is telling him that the ring has powers and explaining to him how to go about using them. Curiosity gets the best of Jake, and he wants to learn all he can about the ring. 

The ring has him convinced that the person talking to him is: ‘Smith’ thus the title of the book. And it has plans for the wearer of the ring. However, as you are reading, you are trying to determine, is this ‘Smith’ ring character thing, good or bad?

Smith wants Jake to sharpen his fighting skills and join the Army. This is where you tend to wonder and worry. Because learning skills is all fine and good, but does Smith want Jake to be a hero or the enemy?

And then, low and behold someone else wants the ring. But who knows about it? Or is it in Jakes head, I started to wonder….

This book just kept my mind going, and I was extremely impressed with the astounding way it was written, and the logic behind everything. I couldn’t put it down, because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. And I am the weirdo that feels if you put the book down, the characters lie there in wait, waiting on you, so I have to finish it. And I was just too involved and curious myself. 

This is a definite five-star read, I promise you this. I have always been drawn to archaeology style books, and this one is truly entertaining to say the least. It has the mystery, the style, and the uniqueness that it needs to keep the reader reading and wanting more! I loved every minute of this book, and I think you will too!

Now, here are my question for Sam:

1. What made you write this book and how long did it take you?
I wanted to move my focus away from Science Fiction to broaden my reader base. I decided upon Paranormal with a touch of romance. The story itself took 4 months, but I spent an extra 3 months for editing and providing a few small details about my lead character’s background.


2. Do you have photos &/or descriptions of the characters?
I made the decision to let the reader decide how the characters appear. My first series of books described characters in detail even down to nail polish color with pics. Smith goes a completely different way. The reader knows who is male or female or inhuman, but how the character appears is completely up to the reader.

3. What education have you had?
I have a BS in real estate and finance and an MBA in finance.

4. Did you plan on being a writer when you grew up?
No. All my time was taken up with education, work and raising a family. I was an avid reader but never considered writing until later years.

5. What do you think of Amazon’s latest scheme of deleting reviews of books?
Amazon has all the balls in its court. It is the judge, jury and executioner. If it decides to take away reviews, it just does. It may have a reason in its own corporate mind or not. When its policies appear random, people become confused and angry. Good, honest book review sites like your site suffer from policies that can only be justified by the fact that Amazon can do anything it decides to do.

6. What are your opinions on one star reviews?
I have mixed feelings, and they all boil down to the honesty of the reviewer. For example, I have gone to movies that critics rave are wonderful, and I hated. I kept watching in the hope the movies would get better but they never did. If there was a rating system allowing ½ a star instead of one, I would go there. On the other side of the coin is a person who posts a one star review simply because of the author or some other unnamed personal or political reason. So I go back to the old saying, “If you don’t have something nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all.”

7. What are you working on now?
I have started two more stories and am trying to decide which one I like best. I keep changing my mind.


8. What are your hobbies?
Writing and house/yard maintenance-beautification. It never ends.

9. Where do your book ideas come from?
My own twisted imagination. Sometime in early life, I must have been dropped on my head.

10. What motivates you to write?
Once I get a story line firmly in my head, the story itself motivates me.


11. Have you ever met any other writers?

Yes. One thing I find is they are all gifted with creating pictures in your mind with words.

12. What is your favorite book of all time?

There are more than one. The ‘Fifth Column’ by Heinlein and ‘Mutineers Moon’ by David Weber are just two of my favorites.

13. Please share with us your book and social media links:
Smith link on Amazon is: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B078R95SYJ/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithintheRing

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SamBMillerII

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37832924-smith

My Author's page on Amazon is: https://www.amazon.com/author/sambmillerii

14. Anything to add:
Thank you for taking a look at my stories. I always look forward to your social media. Keep up the good work!

Smith by Sam B. Miller II
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The cover of this book is truly eye catching. It made me think of the art work with the two angels whose finger tips touch. I have heard of that called the prophecy, but I don’t know if it is true or not. I know what I’m talking about, however I am most likely out of my gourd. But honestly, that is what the cover reminds me of, the creation. Just remember, it is my opinion.

Now let us get started with the review of the book by Mr. Miller, shall we?

Rob Goddard was an Archeologist and a father of six children and Jake was one of them. Currently Mr. Goddard is trying to complete a dig in King Solomon’s temple in Israel. The people of Israel do not want these American’s here destroying and removing evidence from their land. They consider the land sacred and feel it should be left as it is, undisturbed.

Jake has come along with his father, to hopefully learn from him, and maybe even have a little fun.

Eighteen-year old’s are sometimes bored and looking for things to do, something out of the ordinary. Apparently, this may have been the case. Because, this time, Jake and his friend find a map on his father desk, and decide to do a little exploring, to see where the map will lead.

While following the directions of the map, they travel and discover a dark and deserted tunnel. While there, they decide to do a little looking around, and low and behold, Jake finds the treasure of King Solomon’s Power ring. Excitingly, and unbeknownst to him of the fact that anything could or would happen, he decides to put it onto his own finger.

Go ahead, roll your eyes in disbelief. We all know how the stories go with the Egyptians, and old things, and curses and things, right? You know you’re thinking it too, don’t even lie.

Jake passes the ring off as a replica, but the thing is, he is starting to hear things. Someone is telling him that the ring has powers and explaining to him how to go about using them. Curiosity gets the best of Jake, and he wants to learn all he can about the ring.

The ring has him convinced that the person talking to him is: ‘Smith’ thus the title of the book. And it has plans for the wearer of the ring. However, as you are reading, you are trying to determine, is this ‘Smith’ ring character thing, good or bad?

Smith wants Jake to sharpen his fighting skills and join the Army. This is where you tend to wonder and worry. Because learning skills is all fine and good, but does Smith want Jake to be a hero or the enemy?

And then, low and behold someone else wants the ring. But who knows about it? Or is it in Jakes head, I started to wonder….

This book just kept my mind going, and I was extremely impressed with the astounding way it was written, and the logic behind everything. I couldn’t put it down, because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. And I am the weirdo that feels if you put the book down, the characters lie there in wait, waiting on you, so I have to finish it. And I was just too involved and curious myself.

This is a definite five-star read, I promise you this. I have always been drawn to archaeology style books, and this one is truly entertaining to say the least. It has the mystery, the style, and the uniqueness that it needs to keep the reader reading and wanting more! I loved every minute of this book, and I think you will too!



View all my reviews

 

Come Back for Me By: Sharon Hart-Green

Come Back for Me

By: Sharon Hart-Green

Within this book, you are going to see and feel things, that you may have heard told through stories, and seen on the TV screen by others. Here we will follow Artur Mandelkorn a young Hungarian holocaust survivor who is trying desperately to find his sister. 

Artur remains sternly focused on this endeavor, and it leads him into the post war of Israel. 

Suzy Kohn is a teen from Toronto, whose usual routine has been ruined by Israel’s war, causing her to lose her Uncle, and tearing her family apart. 

After Israel’s six-day long war, Suzy and Artur’s paths cross, and the two are compelled to share their stories with one another.

Artur continues his search for his sister, now with Suzy by his side. Together, Artur and Suzy share their losses, and stories, and feelings, and eventually find that they have more in common than they thought.

Artur and Suzy start building on a friendship that unexpectedly turns into romance. The two share their loss, traumatic experiences, memories, and even Jewish ties, and realize that above all, it is family that weaves everything together. 

I found this book to be truly exciting and even eye opening. I have never read a book that was anything like this. It was a new experience for me, to read something with a Jewish insight, and I truly found it enlightening, to say the least. I give this book five beautiful stars, and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future!

Here are my questions for Sharon:

1.What made you write this book and how long did it take you?

I started writing my novel Come Back for Me about 10 years ago. However, the manuscript went through many revisions and structural changes over the years, so it is a very different book now than it was when I wrote my first draft.

Many people have asked me what inspired me to write this novel. There is no easy answer to that question, as I have found that novel-writing, at least for me, is mostly intuitive, drawing as much on unconscious forces and influences as it does on my everyday experiences. 

So, what drew me to write a novel about the aftermath of war and its lingering effect on two generation of Jewish families? To some extent, writing Come Back for Me can be traced back to my own childhood experiences. Despite growing up in a serene Toronto neighbourhood, it seemed that I was always bumping up against stories of war and loss, many of which emerged in whispered rumours about particular Jewish people who lived on my street. Such as: discovering the chilling fact that my best friend’s father not only lost most of his family in Poland, but that he was born and raised in the town of Oswiecim (Auschwitz); hearing that the Dutch Jewish neighbour at the end of the street had been hidden for most of the war in a closet; and discovering that the woman next door who hung out Christmas lights every year was actually Jewish--but didn’t dare reveal it to anybody. Of course as a child, I knew that these people were different. And as I grew older, I wanted to ask them (though I could never bring myself to do it): after all you have lost, how can you still embrace life? How can you marry, have children, build families and homes? How did you recover the ability to laugh?

2. Do you have any photos or descriptions of your characters?

       One of the central characters in the novel is a young girl named Manya. Her brother Artur describes her as follows:

I told him everything about Manya, describing her as painstakingly as possible so there could be no mistake about her identity.  I began with her appearance—her light brown hair that shone gold in the sun; her straight nose that turned neither up nor down; her eyes, brown and velvety, with long black lashes that half-covered them, giving her a wistful, dreamy look; her small mouth and her habit of sucking in her bottom lip when she was tense or afraid. But the most striking thing about Manya was her character. She had an air of gentle refinement that you didn’t often see in young people. Our elderly neighbour used to call her an eydl kind, Yiddish for “a precious child,” though it implied much more—a quality of inner nobility or sweetness of soul that fit my sister to a T.

3. What inspired you to become a writer?

 I had been teaching literature at the University of Toronto for many years. Although I loved teaching students how to interpret a literary work and extract its deeper meaning, a part of me was dissatisfied. I finally realized that this dissatisfaction derived from an inner need to tell my own stories: to be the writer and not just the interpreter.

4. What are you working on now?

I am working on a new novel about a young man with mystical inclinations who is searching for love.

5. Have you ever had writers block and if so what have you done for it? If you haven't or even have- what do you suggest for others who struggle with it?

When I get stuck, I make a deal with myself: sit down and write one line. Usually, I find that the one line leads to two or three or even a whole page of writing!

6. What are your hobbies?

Reading (of course!), long walks, bicycle riding; travel.

7. What is your favorite book of all time?

  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

8. Where is your favorite place to write?

I have an office in the basement of my house where I hide myself away from the world and write.

9. Do you ever put yourself into your characters?

I always try to dig deep in order to envision what my characters are feeling and thinking. In the process, I sometimes learn something new about myself!

10. Please include your social media and book links:

Website: https://www.sharonhartgreen.com/

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Come-Back-Me-Sharon-Hart-Green/dp/1988326060/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/Come-Back-Me-Sharon-Hart-Green/dp/1988326060

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14344474.Sharon_Hart_Green

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharon.hartgreen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/agnonia

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-green-764924a/

11. Anything to add:

I am happy to hear from readers, so please feel free to message me via Goodreads or other social media. Also, I am now taking bookings to appear at bookclubs, community events, and festivals. Please contact my agent Amaryah Orenstein at Go-Literary: info@go-lit.com

Come Back for Me by Sharon Hart-Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Within this book, you are going to see and feel things, that you may have heard told through stories, and seen on the TV screen by others. Here we will follow Artur Mandelkorn a young Hungarian holocaust survivor who is trying desperately to find his sister.

Artur remains sternly focused on this endeavor, and it leads him into the post war of Israel.

Suzy Kohn is a teen from Toronto, whose usual routine has been ruined by Israel’s war, causing her to lose her Uncle, and tearing her family apart.

After Israel’s six-day long war, Suzy and Artur’s paths cross, and the two are compelled to share their stories with one another.

Artur continues his search for his sister, now with Suzy by his side. Together, Artur and Suzy share their losses, and stories, and feelings, and eventually find that they have more in common than they thought.

Artur and Suzy start building on a friendship that unexpectedly turns into romance. The two share their loss, traumatic experiences, memories, and even Jewish ties, and realize that above all, it is family that weaves everything together.

I found this book to be truly exciting and even eye opening. I have never read a book that was anything like this. It was a new experience for me, to read something with a Jewish insight, and I truly found it enlightening, to say the least. I give this book five beautiful stars, and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future!

View all my reviews