Book Title: The Games We Play
Author: Sean Hayden
Publisher: Untold Press
ASIN: B007B5X7BG
Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

“Games lubricate the body and the mind.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Ever though this a rather short short story, it is filled with steamy and racy context. It is about two seeming strangers meet in a bar. One wants to play a game of cat and mouse. The other has no choice but to play.

I didn’t find it too predictable--I did not see the end coming, I was pleasantly surprised. A quick read with a lot of heat.

I love the dedication page--very heartfelt!

Book Title: Curb Chek
Author: Zach Fortier
Publisher: Self Published
ISBN: 9781466231979
Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

“The police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.” ~Robert Peel

Life as cop--that is what the author wanted to write about, and I think he was successful. A cop’s job is not glamorous, and the crimes are not easily solved. Police sometimes have to stoop as low as the criminals they are trying to find to bring them to justice. Each chapter of this book is an on  job situation that any cop could face and shows how that cop would react to that event. In some instances the good guys may have to take the law in their own hands and do things that are not “by the book.” They treat the criminal as the scum they appear to be to the officer. Sometimes this life shapes a person into something he never thought he would ever become--it’s the risk of the job. When you live and work with the dirt and filth of the world, some of that soil stays on someone, no matter how often they try to get clean.

This book is a gritty and to the point, look into this career few know about and even few want to know about. The author doesn’t mince words when given a detailed description of what he experienced. Everything is exposed and left to the reader to came to grips with. Reading it is like a car or train wreck, our morbid curiosity keeps us looking and wondering what happen. Not everyone will appreciate what this author has written, but I am glad he had the stuff to do just that.

Book Title: Portland Short Stories
Author: Raud Kennedy
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781463521738

“A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?” ~Albert Einstein

I had to think for awhile how I was going describe this book. Well here is what I came up with...It is like looking into the strange and weirdness of ordinary people, who are far from ordinary behind closed doors. So, it is almost like reality TV in book form. These are the stories of the dark side of people lives, that they may or may not want exposed. I really hope this is a book of fiction, just saying. The opening story is about a woman that is getting her toilet fixed, and mentions that her husband had died on it. She saves something from that faithful day. I am not telling, you will have to read it, I had too, it is only fair. Let’s just say that it is disturbing to say the least. Now you can only imagine what other interesting and entertaining tales this author has up his sleeves, or in this book. He puts a witty and humorous spin on the secret lives of people with the taste for the oddities of live.

The author compares this book to chocolate, you can’t eat just one piece. Not saying I don’t love me some chocolate, but I would like to compare it to a favorite flavor of chips, salty and very addictive.

Book Title: Every Goose Thinks His Wife is a Duck
Author: Robert Sullivan
Publisher: The Irish Letter
ISBN: 9781466493131

“Walls for the wind,
And a roof for the rain,
And drinks beside the fire --
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire!"     Irish Blessing

I am a quote junky. Anyone who has ever read my other book reviews know this. I start each review I write with, what I feel, a related quote. That being said, when I was given the opportunity to review this green gem of a book, I was ecstatic to say the lest. This book is filled with quotes, proverbs, adages, and sayings written by the Irish or other persons who wish they were. Who knew so many Irish were so humorous and witty even during of the worst times they could have experienced in Ireland. It is like a history lesson in the highs and lows of Irish living and how resilient a people were and still are. I was pleasantly surprised with some of the quotes from and/or about the musicians, authors and actors from Ireland. The author took painstaking time and energy to compile such a wonderful array that you do not have to be Irish to enjoy. From Irish Philosophy to Writer’s Block and so many other topics in between. Though it is a thin book, it is filled with great lore to be read over and over again.

I know I will be reading this book off and on again through the rest of my years, and I hope it will be handed down to the next generation to enjoy the awesomeness of being Irish.

Book Title: The Dream Walker
Author: Shannan Sinclair
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN: 9781468152739

    “Row, row, row your boat,
    Gently down the stream.
    Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
    Life is but a dream.” Author Unknown

Aislen Walkers life was as ordinary as it could possibility be. She was living at home with her mom while working and going to school to become a nurse was her whole life. Not much excitement, but it is how she liked things. It all changes after a dream that was the most vivid of all of Aislen’s dreams she had ever had. So realistic and disturbing, however it was just a dream and it did not play out in real life, or did it? Aislen’s dream has pulled into a realm she knows nothing about. What does her estranged father have to do with these events? How does her last name relate to the abilities she many possess?What really constitutes realness and dreaminess/ video game or reality? There is a fine line between the heroes and villains, so who can Aislen trust? One easy way to find the answers: read the book.

When I first starting reading this book, I actually had to stop after a few chapters simply because it was, I found, a confusing beginning. I returned to the book days later and read it at a slower pace, and I was able to comprehend what was happening better. It is a whirlwind of a story line with little lull time. The author’s humorous and wittiness show through in a pleasing matter to make story be more fluid and believable.

Unlike some readers, I had no misgivings that the book was the first in a sequel. I actually like the idea of having characters that you become familiar with and can follow them through the exciting events of their continuing lives. I look forward to more books from this author, even if she may find another “world” she wishes to share with us.

Book Title: The Spirit Sherpa
Author: Marc Littman
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781470056902

“Every spirit makes its house, and we can give a shrewd guess from the house to the inhabitant."
              ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

A case of road rage has ended the life an self-centered man who is filled with hatred and intolerance, killed by, of all vehicles, an ice cream truck. The accident is not the end though, it is just the beginning of the real journey: the afterlife, as seen by Marc Littman.

The dead man is Manus, a Elvis loving, loves his car more than his family type of person. Will death change him, well if it did there would be no book to show how it didn’t change him one bit. You see he is a stubborn opinionated sort of annoying. Things change when he travels through his own “rabbit hole”, where things are not what they seem. It takes a really vast  imagination to “see” this world. It reminded me of Clive Barker without the gore.

Anyways, Manus must prove himself worthy to continue this trip to the next chapter of his life, by visiting the past lives he has had and the choices he had made during them. Sometimes these flashbacks and forward flashes seem confusing, but they are necessary for him to fully understand the direction Manus must take to find his way. (I actually had to put the book down, because I was like “What did I just read?” And would have to reread the passage.) Love the humor and the aha moments, also the painful realizations that he must accept and learn from. Like in The Wizard of Oz, he is helped along by some unlikely characters that in there old life were quite infamous for different things. Each living in their definition of heaven with a outlook on life that is seemly changed after their deaths. Will Manus’s outlook also change? Or will he remain as he is forever? Read the book and find out.

An interesting look at how our past judgments may influence our future. Karma comes to mind while reading this book, many times. In the end, the book does make you think---What really does happen after we leave here???

 

Book Title: As Above~So Below: A Channeled, Assisted, Unfolding Story
Author: Jeffrey M. Borowski
Publisher: lulu.com
ISBN: 9781105597770
Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

“Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conductive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings--that doctrine believe and cling on to, and take it as your guide.” ~The Buddha

After living in dry and hot Phoenix, Arizona for sometime, Jeff and Brenda find themselves living in Upstate New York. Its an older house than what they are used to, but they love it just the same. Even with the occasional visit from their “ghost” friend who wants to bestow on to them the knowledge and wisdom he has learned and is still learning. Jeff takes a instant liking to this mysterious friend and listens intently to his telling words.

I would describe with book as having a big helping of self-help adages, with a dash kind-of a memoir feeling, with a sprinkle of the supernatural. Although there is no real plot, there is a story that is told. It is filled with gifts of wisdom from a 50+ gentleman, who urges the reader to question everything open minded and not to except things as they. He shows how to take life that is around us in--seasons, weather, people, etc. Also that our experiences do mold us into who we are and who we are to be. I found that the book had a very laid back way of helping someone, maybe, finding his/her way.

I could relate with a lot of the book’s descriptions about the wonderful weather we have in upstate New York, how we have the “best” football team ever until the season starts and how gravy with French fries is a normal main or side dish.