Unspoken Words: A Story of the Holocaust by Shari J. Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's been a while since I've read a Shari Ryan book... my tastes for fiction led me down other paths. However, it was Shari's "Last Words" that led me to one of those paths: WWII/Holocaust Fiction. This one, the 'other side' of that aforementioned story, was just as heartbreaking and beautiful.

In "Unspoken Words" we get to hear Charlie's version of how he became part of one of the most hated groups of people in history, and how he struggled with that "forced" decision for his whole life. I don't want to give any spoilers. If you read "Last Words", you already know how the story ends, if you haven't- just read both; either order is fine.

Side note: There's a review for Last Words that points out all of the historical "inaccuracies". IMO, I think that when it comes to historical fiction, *some* artistic liberties should be allowed. If in fact, those inaccuracies ARE inaccurate, it still doesn't take away from the story itself. If you took the SAME story and placed it in any other world where love between a monstrous regime and an oppressed/persecuted people was forbidden, it would STILL work and be just as heartbreaking & beautiful.

AND, I know personally, from years of knowing Shari (a Jewish woman), first as an author and then as a friend, that this story (Unspoken Words) and Last Words, were INSPIRED by TRUE events & stories told to her from her own family members, etc. who lived through that time period/those events. These books have been a work of love AND healing for her. And for me, knowing that, makes me appreciate the bittersweetness of the whole experience. This felt very much fiction mixed with a sort of memoir because of that aspect, and any criticism to the contrary is an exercise in missing the underlying message of love and hope against the worst of odds.

4.5 stars and HIGHLY recommended for anyone that loves feeling the feels of sorrow, pity, love, and redemption... no matter how long the wait.

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No One's Home by D.M. Pulley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, in many ways, I feel like I should just point you in the direction of the reviews I've done for the other books written by this author; the accolades/praises are all the same, as far as how much I enjoyed this book. However, for some reason, I wasn't as blown away with this one as I was with the others? And I am a little annoyed with the fact that I can't figure out WHY that is.

Plot: The plot is good... in typical Pulley-style, a ghostly story is woven, back & forth, through time and through the 3rd person viewpoints of (in this book, several) the characters... into this well-thought-out tale of murder, ghosts, lies, lavish lifestyles, and history- loads of history. And, just like "The Dead Key" and "The Unclaimed Victim", this one ALSO was inspired by some true events.

Characters: I think THIS is where I ended up feeling not so enamored? So, the MAIN-main character is the teenage son, Hunter; and his parents (Margot & Myron) are these upper-middle-class, distracted, and all around- crappy parents. They're also not as fully fleshed out as I tend to prefer, considering they DO PLAY a pretty big role in the book. Maybe I was just having an off day when I read it? IDK. I just felt that his mom gets too much of a pass, without a fuller backstory to make her redemption arc make sense. Again, I'm not too sure why I felt a little less than thrilled with this newest release from one of my favorite authors... but that's my best guess as to why.

Overall: This was still an engrossing tale that once the pieces started coming together and we learned more and more about this *home*, I just couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting- as is usual with books from this author... and, as with the rest of her literary contributions, I highly recommend this one, as well.

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The Ephesus Scroll by Ben Chenoweth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I chose to read this book based on the reviews that praised the author for a nice way of positing how it all went down when the Book of Revelations was first written, back in the late first century, AD. As a former Christian/ turned Atheist, for many years now... what I got instead, was a head-shaking disappointment.

Up until the 60% mark, the plot & story structure, which alternates (mostly) between two time periods, is "okay". The story moves along and is at least understandable if nothing else. Like, the modern-day timeline is a bit of a stretch, but whatever- creative liberties & differences- I'll overlook it. But then- when we DO get to the 60-65% point ALL sensibility in telling a story in the present-day goes straight out the window. Basically, the storyline that follows the journey of the 'original' scroll penned by John of Patmos in the latter part of the first century, stays pretty consistent with the pace and the raising of the stakes, but to hell with the modern-day...

Instead of staying a "story" and mixing in details in an unforced narrative, the author chooses to have his "non-expert", priest-character, give pages and pages of expositional dialogue... at dinner parties, museums, and just- really anywhere he can butt in; with a short, compulsory apology at the end of each outburst, for "accidentally" taking over the convo... whoopsie.

AND to TOP IT ALL OFF... right when it looks like "they" figured it out: that it truly WAS a con and a tool to ensure loopholes for ages upon ages that would allow the church to rule by preaching salvation and redemption and enemy retribution in the form of smiting by the actual hand of GOD (my favorite), AFTER YOU DIE (of course, super convenient, IMO), the author ACTUALLY FEEDS into the hypocrisy and justifies THAT belief, by basically contradicting everything else he's laid out so plainly in all the preceding pages that a RATIONAL MIND would see???!

I haven't been this passionately displeased with a blatant near-end-of-book, sudden change of convictions, since "Man of Legends" by Kenneth Johnson.

"Clan of the Cave Bear", and to some extent, the second book in that series written by Jean Auel, called "Valley of the Horses" (I think), did an EXCELLENT job of working in plenty of (at the time) theoretical science into the story, to where it felt natural and imaginable that that's how everything happened. Likewise, the book "Sex, Time, and Power" by the late/great Leonard Shlain, put forth evolutionary theories AND included fictional short story hypotheses to illustrate HOW some of his theories might have played out... The author of "The Ephesus Scroll" would have done well to have read one or both, taken notes, and then copied either one of their formats; instead of creating this poorly executed conjecture.

His theory (Ben Chenoweth's) is good AND plausible. In fact, I'm so upset because the way (it) was presented fell short. If it would have been presented as a paper/thesis (OR), as a fictional book WITHOUT ALL of the EXPOSITINAL DIALOGUE... it would have been good. Great, even. I could've even overlooked the overlooking of the blatant con.

But, poor supposition presented in the forced 3rd person voice of an excited speculating cleric, is the WORST FORMAT POSSIBLE. I could've read this theory if Mr. Chenoweth was delivering it in the same voice, with the same cadence, as he gave to the priest, Zhenya. But, in a thesis format/ where I KNOW ahead of time that I'll be listening to a thesis... like, does that make sense?

*Also, side note... My Babushka's name was Zhenya (spelled differently, tho)... I never knew that to be a nickname for a man, but maybe that's a regional thing? IDK.

Obviously, this book irritated me. It interested me. It interested me so much so that I WANT to and more than likely WILL- read the other books in this series, because of the theories, alone. I've studied religion for over 30 years, and let me just tell you... I am a sucker for origin postulations...

And... just for the theory alone, this book deserves 5 stars... PLUS, it was able to get me fired up... and isn't that worth something? I'm uping my review to a 4, up from my original, salty, 3. Well done, Ben, well done.



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The Lies of Bryn van Doren by R.C. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one surprised me. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I've had a lot going on lately so I stretched it out, savoring it; but easily could've read it in one sitting. This is a solid 4.5-star novel, maybe even a five if I was still into romance novels... and I only have one "tiny" complaint with the formatting...

Plot: So, it's been a while since I've read a romance novel, and even longer since one grabbed my emotions, even if I wasn't initially into the premise... The PREMISE being one of the "Pretty Woman" trope. But don't get it twisted... our character isn't a street worker, at all. Circumstances just evolve- as they do, that turns this story into THAT trope. Is the plot believable? The real-life aspects and relatability- absolutely. The accidental romance? Eh- I mean, sure? But, isn't that what a romance novel is all about, anyway? The happy accidents that lead us to love? Anywho, major points for the execution of the story are deserved in this area.

Characters: The two main characters, IMO, were fleshed out well enough to be believable within the confines of this type of book. The supporting characters also had distinct voices and a side note... I kinda love the MC's BFF, Stefano.

The Writing: The story itself read well, in 3rd person POV, BUT... there's this thing the author does every few chapters where we go back in time/ see a memory, which is GREAT, BUT- the whole thing is italicized and it for me, is hard on my eyes. That's it. That's my gripe.

In Case You Wanted to Know & Overall: There IS sex in this book and it's descriptive... but let me tell you... here's an area I'm gonna heap some praises on... There is a sexual tension build-up; the MCs don't just start banging right off the bat and ALSO, this book doesn't automatically turn into pages on end of gratuitous sex scenes once they DO. There's actually a story in there, and I APPRECIATE that on so many levels. And that story? Yeah, it made me cry; a couple of times. I ended up getting invested and for that, this book goes in the "Highly Recommended" pile for anyone wanting a beautiful, modern tale of love, in a big city.

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An Uncollected Death by Meg Wolfe
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Have you ever read a book you just COULDN'T relate to? Yeah... I may be white, but I am not, nor have I ever been, that *special* kind of privileged white that knows the truly expensive name brands and can call 911 twice within ten minutes, as easy and carelessly as changing a takeout order...

I gave this book 5 chapters to grab my interest before heavy sighing and rolling my eyes into the back of my brain and calling it a "nope".

Here's what I can say, about a book whose premise sounded enticing...

If you like REALLY LooooONG lists, like pages and pages worth of lists describing a setting; or a closet full of clothes; or a crime scene- minus the crime details but instead, the antique designer furniture pieces and collectibles... this book is for you. If you like to hear about privileged white people out of touch with reality, whose kids go to college in France because of that one time their mom decided to lie-to-kick-it with the big shots; this book is for you. If you like chapters of lists with no story substance and forced romance implications early on; and you also enjoy talking with that one pretentious party guest whose yarning about how great their life is/was but somehow, *poor me* and you DON'T end up gouging your eyes out with the toothpick from an hors-d'oeuvre... then this is DEFINITELY YOUR BOOK.

I'm kinda over stories that are written with no basis in reality. I've personally and unfortunately, have had to call 911, a few times in my life... NEVER have I, nor has ANYONE I know, called 911 (TWICE within ten MINUTES) and then hung up (BOTH TIMES) so nonchalantly, like, "okay cool... See you in a bit," ESPECIALLY at a potential MURDER SCENE??? THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

I just... can't. I can't go further with this review, just like I couldn't go further with this book that I'M SURE is an excellent read. But hey, don't take my word for it.

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