Book Brouhaha

Summary: The Canadian wilderness can do strange things to a man. But there are stranger things out there, under the snow and ice, than anyone could ever think of. For one poor trapper trying to survive, his discovery just might be the way out. Or the way to Hell... Review: In this piece, Nantus dresses up a story that has been told and retold for thousands of years: the discovery of a mysterious, magical object that requires horrific sacrifices in exchange for fabulous wealth. As happens in most such stories, the discoverer is ultimately consumed by the object’s power. I, personally, enjoy this type of story and believe the theme endures because of its versatility: it can be set in any place at any time and still work. In this case, the author certainly makes it work. The author’s decision to set the story in the wilds of Canadian trapping territory is both fun and original, proving, as Robert W. Service wrote, that there are indeed strange things ...

Summary: Jeff McAllister's wife, Jessie, loved her quilts and her computer. But now she's gone, and Jeff has to figure out how to survive without her and how to deal with her online legacy. With the companionship of his faithful Golden Retriever, he begins the toughest project of his life, still grieving over his loss. Review: This story follows a widower’s quest for closure after his wife’s death. The author avoids the dark side of death, choosing instead to focus on the characters’ love for the deceased and their desire to help her legacy live on. While the story is necessarily somber, it is ultimately a celebration of life. The author’s simple, smooth writing style makes this an easy read while the twist at the end keeps the story from being overly predictable. Overall, the story reminded this reviewer of a Chicken Soup for the Soul type piece. For those romantic souls who enjoy love stories and don’t mind getting a little choked up, this makes fo...