Finally Out--Letting Go of Living Straight by Loren A. Olson, M.D.

 

From the Publisher

Dr. Loren A. Olson has frequently been asked two questions: How could you not know that you were gay until the age of forty? Wasn't your marriage just a sham to protect yourself at your wife's expense? In Finally Out, Dr. Olson vigorously answers both questions by telling the inspiring story of his evolving sexuality, into which he intelligently weaves psychological concepts and gay history. This book is a powerful exploration of human sexuality, particularly the sexuality of mature men who, like Dr. Olson, lived a large part of their lives as straight men - sometimes long after becoming aware of their same-sex attractions.

My Take

When I saw Finally Out—Letting Go of Living Straight on the LibraryThing list, the subject matter intrigued me. I have an uncle as well as friends who are gay so I thought I could learn something from the book.  

Dr. Olson is very informative and provided a ton of data and statistics on a multitude of topics. Much of the information is taken from past studies, medical literature, interviews and the like. The book is basically a compilation of all this information and presented in one consolidated location.  Almost like a textbook or reference book.  Finally Out is a great “self help” type book for those people questioning their sexual orientation later in life—both the individual with those questions and the spouse of that individual. Beware, however, if you are more on the conservative side. There is explicit language and activities mentioned in there.

All that said, I was prepared for a totally different of book. I was looking forward to a more personalized story.  There were some blurbs about Dr. Olson’s personal journey but I was expecting much more of his story.  All the data provided could be found on the internet if someone were inclined to do some research. I wanted to hear more about his thoughts, emotions and feelings—what he went through during that time in his life.

I guess if I were in the situation of needing a book to let me know I’m not alone, this is the book I’d want. On the flip side, if I was looking for more of a touchy-feely book (no pun intended), I don’t think this is the book I’m looking for.  Based on those thoughts, I’m giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. It’s well written and full of information, just not the book I was expecting.

About the Author

Loren A. Olson, M.D. is a gay psychiatrist who came out at forty. A father and grandfather, he is also a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a recipient of the "Exemplary Psychiatrist Award" from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He has presented findings from his research on mature gay men at the World Congress of Psychiatry in Prague. In 2009, Dr. Olson legally married Doug Mortimer, his partner of twenty-four years. They live on a farm in Iowa where they produce grass-fed beef from their herd of Belted Galloway cattle.

I received this book free from the publisher through the LibraryThing book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR by RK Avery

Intriguing……captivating…...lifelike

From the publisher

Bunting Valley, North Dakota—a scenic and picturesque town where nothing dreadful ever happens—is a place where people feel safe leaving their front doors unlocked and their cars running in the driveways. So when beautiful, blue-eyed, three-year-old Maggie Taylor mysteriously vanishes, the Bunting Valley Police Department begins a kidnapping investigation that uncovers unthinkable crimes spanning many years—not only in Bunting Valley, but also in surrounding states and jurisdictions.

Bea Miller is a penniless widow, living a meager existence among the town’s residents with her four young, rambunctious boys. Her entire life she wished and dreamed of having a little girl of her own. When everything she did to have one of her own failed, Bea takes matters into her own hands and lives by the chilling words of her estranged father, “If you want something, take it.”  She and the boys visit a local beach and find the little girl of her dreams. She snatches the girl and they disappear in seconds, only to leave the parents bewildered and devastated.

Through the handwritten journals of Bea Miller, she takes you on a journey into the deranged mind of an individual who believes you can make your own wishes come true—at any expense; and sadly, also at the expense of others.

My take

What kind of person plans to take a child? Involving her other children in abduction so she can have the daughter she always wanted? Once she has the girl, why is Bea so callous as to let the girl suffocate just so she doesn’t get caught? 

Bea Miller is an intriguing piece of work. The first portion of the book tells the reader WHAT she has done while the last portion tells us WHY. It’s so hard to imagine the life Bea had growing up. Coming from a very loving family, I can’t fathom living the hell that she lived through.  As hard as it is to understand, the author keeps us captivated throughout the entire book. It’s one of those books you can’t put down even though the subject matter is challenging. 

Once the journals are found and we read about Bea’s past, it’s hard to decide if they should “lock her up & throw away the key” and “get her some help”.  Should she pay for her crime or just get assistance for her mental condition?  

Be Careful What You Wish For is not a book where the reader can just lose themselves in a fictional world.  No, the reader gets totally immersed in the actual words spinning around them. Bea almost becomes real—you go through so many emotions and you want to take sides on the outcome.

I have no problem giving this book 5 stars.  Ms Avery tells the story as if it were her own—lifelike descriptions and sensations.  Great job, Ms Avery!

Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy

 

Rip-roaring belly laughs!

From the Publisher

Guided by principles from the ancient Belle Doctrine, the host of radio and television's All Things Southern offers down-home advice on everything from health and fitness-managing thy caloric calculations without going Straight Running Crazy and surviving the Raging Inferno Syndrome (aka hot flashes)-to the Southern art of handling your man (Bubba Whispering). Whether giving business tips or debunking the Big Boned Theory, making political observations or celebrating the inevitable resurgence of big hair, Shellie is an adviser women can relate to and laugh with regardless of their age or which side of the Mason-Dixon they call home.

My Take

When I requested this book, I wasn’t expecting a “self help” AND cookbook that was going to be so stinkin’ funny!!! Beginning with the first chapter, I was laughing out loud and realizing she was talking about ME! Okay, not me but all women at this mid-life stage living the same “syndromes”. I especially loved the Raging Inferno Syndrome….hot flashes….that I experienced while I was reading about it! It’s an entertaining book that definitely “helps” the “self” with humor and truthful view of women. This is a great chic-lit book to give as a gift to a girlfriend who could use a rip-roaring belly laugh.

Each chapter ends with some fabulous tips & dee-lish-us recipes. The tips from “Thus Saith the Belle Doctrine…..” (rules governing a Southern Belle’s life) are hilarious while incorporating each chapter in the tip. Add in the “Guide to Speaking All Things Southern” in each chapter and you get even more chuckles.  About halfway through the book, though, I’d kind of had enough but I trudged on to the end. It’s one of those books to keep in the car for waiting in a doctor’s office, or (& I hate to say it!) in the bathroom to pass the time, or by the chaise lounge while taking a break from everyday.

On the other hand, there are some great looking recipes in the book that I can’t wait to try!  Jessica Ann’s Chicken and Dumplings, Chocolately Chip Pound Cake, and Shellie’s Stacked Tortillas to name a few (I’m all about easy cooking!).  Quick, simple recipes for the busy woman on the go.

Overall, it’s a fun read but more appropriate for short spurts of reading—not a cover to cover, all in one sitting read.  I’d give it a 3 out of 5 stars, but it’s still a great gift for a for a menopausal friend!

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To celebrate the Sue Ellen’s release, Shellie is having a Facebook Party!  

Join Shellie and the gang on June 2^nd at 5:00 PM PST (6 MST, 7 CST, 8 EST) for a Southern style shin-dig! She'll be dishing on Bubba Whispering, debunking the Big Boned Theory, and how to manage going Straight Running Crazy. If you don't know what any of that is, then be sure to pick up a copy of the book (Not necessary to join the fun! Who knows - you might win a copy!) and join us at 5:00 pm on June 2nd at Shellie's Facebook page. And tell your friends - she's giving away copies of her books and some great gift certificates.

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About the author:

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson and her husband Phil live and farm in the Louisiana Delta. Shellie is the author of Lessons Learned on Bull Run Road, Twas the Night Before the Very First Christmas, Southern Comfort with Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and the Penguin Group USA release, Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On, voted Nonfiction Finalist of 2009 by SIBA Independent Booksellers Alliance.

Tomlinson is owner and publisher of All Things Southern and the host of the weekly radio show All Things Southern as well as a weekly video segment by the same name. Listeners also hear Shellie in her All Things Southern radio segments aired across the South. Shellie writes a weekly inspirational feature in Newsstar and a monthly print and online column for Lousiana Road Trips.

When Shellie isn't writing, speaking, taping her show, answering email or writing content for the next deadline, you can find her playing tennis with Dixie Belle, (the chocolate lab who thinks she is in charge of running Shellie's life). 

I received this book free from Lifuse as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

A Killer Among Us by Lynette Eason

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!

From the Publisher

What happens when the hunter . . . becomes the hunted?

Kit Kenyon is a first-rate hostage negotiator. Noah Lambert is a good detective with excellent instincts. These new partners have hardly had time to get used to each other when they are thrown into a grisly murder case. As evidence mounts up and more victims are found, Kit and Noah realize they are on the hunt for a serial killer. The problem is, he may be hunting one of them too.

With nail-biting suspense, clever plot twists, and a hint of romance, A Killer Among Us is the latest thriller from Lynette Eason.

My Take

This is the third book in a series, called the Women of Justice series.  But you don’t have to read the first two to enjoy this one. I find I’m totally enjoying the series, though, and the author, Lynette Eason. The way she works around the plot and the unexpected twists really keep my interest. Then there’s the family drama of the main character dealing with the new knowledge of being adopted. Her new family is heavily involved in the story and we get to learn the emotional side of a life-changing event.

 

Writing a killer suspense novel (no pun intended!) with enough detail without getting gorey while adding that touch of romance as well as a Christian theme is a very fine line. Ms. Eason covers all that while still keeping the reader wanting more. It’s really hard to put this one down!

 

I hope Ms. Eason is planning on a fourth book in the series—the characters are now cemented in my mind and I can’t wait to see what comes next both professionally and personally for them. I would give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating for readability, cohesion, suspenseful plot, and developing sub-plots.

About the author:

Lynette Eason is the author of Too Close to Home, Don't Look Back, and three other romantic suspense novels. She is a member of American Fiction Christian Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a master's degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina.


Available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I received this book free from Revell as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

 

 

 

UNSINKABLE by Abby Sunderland

 WATERLOGGED!!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
 A stirring narrative of Unsinkable tells sixteen-year-old Abby Sunderland's remarkable true story of attempting to become the youngest person ever to sail solo around the world. 

More people have flown into outer space than have sailed solo around the globe. It is a challenge so immense that many have died trying, and all have been pushed beyond every physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual limit. In Unsinkable, readers follow Abby Sunderland into those depths. This biography delivers a gripping and evocative firsthand account that starts prior to her departure, travels through her daring (and sometimes near-death) encounters on the open sea, to her dramatic rescue in the remotest corner of the Indian Ocean, and the media explosion that happened upon her safe return to dry land.

Along the way, readers discover what it means to boldly face any challenge, to strive after something great, and to plumb the depths of faith, fear, and desperation only to emerge changed, renewed, and emboldened. In this day and age, when the most productive thing a teenager may do is play videogames, Abby's ambition and tenacity is a real-life parable of what can happen when we choose to exceed our own limits, embrace faith, and strive after what all the naysayers say is impossible.

MY TAKE:
Unsinkable is the autobiography of Abby Sunderland—a 16-year-old young woman whose dream of sailing around the world by herself finally comes true. Normally, I don’t read autobiographies---they just don’t keep my interest. But when I read the overview of Unsinkable, I was surprised at how interested I was to read this book. I love to read about mature, courageous young people who have a clear goal and purpose in life. Many teenagers don’t have these traits and expect the people around them to hand them everything they need without truly working for it.

I enjoyed how the book was laid out—from three different points of view. The narrator helped by filling in the technical information and also giving background on media involvement, family history, and technical sailing information. Abby’s point of view is more detail oriented about how she felt during the preparation of the trip and the day-by-day experiences she endured. After the  grueling premature conclusion of her trip, there is also the point of view of view of those who helped save her. This is a unique way of putting the book together and it was just right for telling Abby’s story.

Abby is a lucky girl to have such a supportive family for her lifelong dream. There aren’t many parents who would let their child go into a feat such as this. Can you imagine sending your teenager out—alone—to navigate one of the most powerful elements on earth? The sea is unpredictable and volatile and there’s no control over its erratic behavior. I’m sure Abby was completely prepared for most contingencies, but let’s face it, you don’t know if you are until the situation arises. 

On the flip side, I’m sure her father was very protective and concerned about her trip. However, I got the impression that he subconsciously pushed her decision for the fame and notoriety that comes with such an attempt. He’d felt it before when his son made the same trip and it’s almost like an aphrodisiac—he wanted that feeling again. You could feel his ego creeping in to almost every decision.

I found the book mostly interesting but it was a very difficult read for me. I have no knowledge of sailing and even though the authors spell out many terms and technical points, parts of the book were like reading a manual. I’d start getting into a section of the book when the authors would throw in paragraphs to pages of detail and I would just zone out. 

You could tell Abby’s point of view was told by a typical teenager with the jargon & lingo inherent in a 16-year-old. I would have liked to have seen more in-depth, maybe spiritual (since they professed to have much faith) insights during her journey. Yes, the experience made her see she was strong and courageous, but what made that happen?

I’m going to give this book 3 out of 5 stars. The overall story was pretty good if you could get through the technical portions and the father’s desire for recognition. However, if you enjoy sailing or more technical reading, I think your rating might be higher.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

ONE GOOD MAN by Virginia Foster

SURPRISING PLOT TWIST!! THOUGHT PROVOKING!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Dr. Diane Redfield seems to have it all: beauty, brains, good friends, and a thriving psychology practice. She is dedicated to her patients and spends her free time enjoying the California weather with her loyal dog, Paul. But despite her full life, she has yet to find success in love--until she meets Dr. Bob Callahan, a highly respected psychiatrist and widowed father. The two begin a passionate affair.

As the relationship progresses, Diane struggles with her own fears as well as her professional ethics. Then she begins to realize something very sinister is going on. The more she learns, the deeper she falls into danger.

One Good Man is a page-turner full of romance and suspense. Join Dr. Diane as she struggles to survive the darkest places of the human mind--and to keep her faith in the possibility of love.

MY TAKE:

Don’t tell anyone, but I love a good romance novel now and again! So when I saw One Good Man offered at Dorrance Publishing, I knew it was the one for me. 

A very interesting plot evolved for the couple. Both psychologists, the story utilized their profession all the way from their meeting to their involvement in shared cases, to the unusual twist in the plot (that I won’t give away!). It is a topic that is rarely written about in a romance novel much less contemporary novels. I found it out of the ordinary and thought-provoking for a subject I didn’t know much about.

Ms Foster has a very good writing style—easy to read and follow with attention to filling in all the “gaps” involved in such a story line. I would definitely pick up another of her books in the future.

I’m going to give this a 4-star rating for it’s lovely tale of new love, intriguing story line, and the way the book flowed.

I received a complimentary copy of One Good Man by Virginia Foster as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

QUITE UNEXPECTED!!!!

From the Publisher:

What if you had the power to amend choices you made in the past? Would you do it even if it changed everything?

Mercy Land has made some unexpected choices for a young woman in the 1930s. The sheltered daughter of a traveling preacher, she chooses to leave her rural community to move to nearby Bay City on the warm, gulf-waters of southern Alabama. There she finds a job at the local paper and spends seven years making herself indispensible to old Doc Philips, the publisher and editor. Then she gets a frantic call at dawn—it’s the biggest news story of her life, and she can’t print a word of it.
           
Doc has come into possession of a curious book that maps the lives of everyone in Bay City—decisions they’ve made in the past, and how those choices affect the future. Mercy and Doc are consumed by the mystery locked between the pages—Doc because he hopes to right a very old wrong, and Mercy because she wants to fulfill the book’s strange purpose. But when a mystery from Mercy’s past arrives by train, she begins to understand that she will have to make choices that will deeply affect everyone she loves—forever.

My Take:

Quite Unexpected!!

Reading the synopsis of this book, my expectations were high. I was looking forward to a scintillating story line and an investigation into the mystery. That’s exactly what I got but in a totally different path. The story started out very good but then the introduction of the “curious book” was nothing like I had imagined. It was more of a fantasy book rather than a mystery or thriller. Personally, that’s not really my favorite genre. But since I had started it, I wanted to finish it. 

The book is written from three different viewpoints—Mercy, Doc, and the invited stranger John Quincy. There is sometimes overlap and repetition  from each of them on a particular segment. That was a little difficult  to follow on occasion. The further the storyline progressed, the more unrealistic it seemed to me---the reason I say it’s a fantasy. 

But parts of it did intrigue me to continue reading. The parts of Mercy’s life back in Bittersweet were interesting and Doc’s past was heart-warming. However, it just wasn’t enough for me to give it a high rating. Unfortunately, I have to give this book a 3-star and that’s only because of those small interesting portions and the phenomenal cover art.

I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books program in return for my review. My opinions are honest and unbiased.