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I’m Bored

Title:  I’m Bored
Author:  Kenneth J. Sousa
Publisher:  Brilliant Books Literary
ISBN:  978-1-64133-779-3
Pages: 30
Genre:  Young Reading / Creative Writing
Reviewed by:  Beth Adams
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

In the shadow of Ferris Buehler’s Day Off, having an unexpected day of freedom, and with a twist of Look Who’s Talking with the voice of Bruce Willis in a baby’s body, I’m Bored is of a personified talking dog in this fanciful story,

The Capstone Saga

Title: The Capstone Saga:  The First Shall Be the Last and the Last Shall Be the First
Author: Walter Efe Tete
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 9781426971426
Pages: 213
Genre: Adventure & Drama
Reviewed by: Gabriella Harrison
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Walter Efe Tete’s adventurous and drama-filled novel, The Capstone Saga, narrates the rags-to-riches story of Scotty Stone. Scotty is born into the polygamous home of Chief Eyikemi in Erho village. Unfortunately, his mother dies when he is just a little boy, leaving him

Ebena Hidden Magic

Title: Ebena Hidden Magic
Author: Patricia E. Sandoval
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: ‎ 978-1300446187
Pages: 272
Genre: YA Fiction/ Fantasy
Reviewed By: Margie Przybylski
 
 
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Ebena Hidden Magic by Patricia E. Sandoval is a magical and captivating novel that takes the reader on a journey through an enchanted land filled with magical creatures and powerful rulers. The story begins with the powerful and magical Queen Persia ruling over the Sunflower Kingdom. However, when a rumor spreads throughout the kingdom about excessive usage of

Over the Rhine

Title: Over the Rhine: An American Story
Author: Jean Romano
Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
ISBN: ‎ 1647533961
Pages: 332
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Dan MacIntosh
 
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Author Jean Romano’s book, Over the Rhine: An American Story, is truly a story about what it means to become an American. Set during the 19th Century, it tells the tale of one family begun by German immigrants. For this family,

A Pain in the Gut

Title:  A Pain in the Gut
Author: Joseph C. Way
Publisher: Word Wright International
ISBN: 0-9700615-1-X
Genre: Self-Help
Pages: 89
Reviewed by:  Allison Walker
 
 
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

A Pain the Gut is about the ways everyone, universally, engages in addictive and unhealthy behaviors; not about colonoscopies, as you might have been thinking. Author Joseph C. Way maintains we all sometimes have a pain in our gut which we are seeking to ease. We may choose to ease this gut feeling with alcoholism, or

Dad in a Cheer Bow

Title: Dad in a Cheer Bow
Author: Patrick Riccards
Publisher:  Amazon Pro Hub
ISBN:  978-1956406986
Genre: Biography
Pages: 221
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares

 

 

Hollywood Book Reviews

There are many reasons to write a book. Some people want to tell a story, while others want the fame and glory of creating a piece of literary art. Some people use books as a time capsule to capture a moment in history which may not be big enough for the main stage. Dad in

Peppered: Bullies Beware

Title: Peppered: Bullies Beware
Author:  Jody Isaackson
Publisher:  Jody Isaackson
ISBN: 978-1638717027
Pages: 70
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Parenthood
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Peppered: Bullies Beware by Jody Isaackson is an engaging story and blistering resource that aims to reveal a proactive approach to the bullying and harassment practice in schools, a recalcitrant vice which has been rising notably with millions of children experiencing blustery while in or around a school environment.

Isaackson begins by introducing a former

Awakened by My Angels

Title:  Awakened by My Angels (Learning to Heal)
Author:  Maxine Allen Rifenburgh
Publisher:  BalboaPress
ISBN:  978-1504371292
Pages:  125
Genre:  Poetry
Reviewed by:  Lisa Brown-Gilbert
 

 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

A heartfelt work which offers cathartic relief, author Maxine Allen Rifenburgh’s, Awakened by My Angels presents a collection of her poetic works which traces her emotion rending journey through surviving an abusive marriage.

Abuse originating from a loved one, whether it be a parent, spouse, partner, mate, friend, etc. is never an easy road to travel. Overall,

Smell the Raindrops

Title:  Smell the Raindrops
Author:  B.A. Austin
Publisher: ‎ Crescendo Press; 1st edition
ASIN: ‎ B015HQE0SY
Pages: ‎ 200
Genre: Memoir
Reviewed by:  David Allen

 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Author Bethany Ann Austin is a classic Southern belle, growing up in the lap of luxury in Memphis, Tennessee, who goes to the best schools, thanks to her hard-driving dad’s very successful auto dealerships. Bethany can never do enough to please him.

She has two brothers; one is a surrogate father figure; the other is more

Finding Joy In the Midst of Grief

Title:  Finding Joy In the Midst of Grief
Subtitle:  Continuing in God’s Loving Grip Through Loss of a Loved One
Author:  Kay Thomson
Publisher:  Xulon Press
ISBN:  978-1609579135
Pages:  114
Genre:  Christian Grief
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott

Hollywood Book Reviews

Writer Kay Thomson offers her personal experiences and accumulated wisdom for those who, like her, must walk alone after the loss of a loved one – but never truly alone, as the author reminds readers – because God is always present.

Her book begins as

Marathon Wheeler

Title: Marathon Wheeler: Living with Physical Disability
Author: Heather S. Coombes
Publisher:  Mulberry Books
ISBN: 978-1951742317
Pages: 324
Genre: Christian, Memoir
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Marathon Wheeler: Living with Physical Disability is a memoir which offers a heart-rending presentation of author Heather S. Coombes, a unique individual who has defied inveterate drawbacks to become a notable personality and influencer to innumerable persons, families, and organizations which are allied to physically challenged

So Shall It Forever Be: The Making of Satan (The Eternal Destiny Series Book 1)

Title: So Shall It Forever Be: The Making of Satan (The Eternal Destiny Series Book 1)
Author: Chris Pagano
Publisher: WordHouse Book Publishing
ISBN: 978-1685471262
Pages: 108
Genre: Christian
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda

Hollywood Book Reviews

So Shall It Forever Be: The Making of Satan (The Eternal Destiny Series Book 1) by Chris Pagano rousts the puzzling and perplexing story of Lucifer, whose prideful nature has been opined to cause his ousting from heaven after a failed coup, which was to see him

Prophecy of a Planet: Ambushed-Clan Veloian

Title: Prophecy of a Planet: Ambushed-Clan Veloian – Part 1
Author: Anthony B. Smellie
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN: 978-1090461117
Pages: 209
Genre: Folklore / Action & Adventure Fiction
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

One of the best ways we as people have found to represent our need to be the heroes of our own stories is to lose ourselves in the heroics of fictional works. Whether those came from the ancient tales

Prophecy of a Planet: The Meeting

Title: Prophecy of a Planet: The Meeting
Author: Anthony B. Smellie
Publisher: Sydoney D. McLeod
ISBN: 978-1956663044
Pages: 86
Genre: Folklore / Action & Adventure Fiction
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers
 
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Throughout all human cultures and throughout all of human history, in one form or another, there has always been a recurring theme in life and literature of “making a deal with the devil.” While many think of people selling their

Oh No, Where Did He Go?

Title:  Oh No, Where Did He Go?
Author:  Kay E. Thomson
Publisher:  Xulon Press Elite
ISBN:  978-1-6628-2672-7
Pages:  23
Genre:  Children’s Spiritual Education / Christianity
Reviewed by:  Beth Adams
 
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

When a hermit crab outgrows its shell, it abandons the small shell and moves on to find a larger shell to inhabit.  That is the superficial storyline behind Oh No, Where Did He Go? by author Kay E. Thomson.

The crab analogy presented is not the real theme of the story, although

Doomsday Warriors

Title: Doomsday Warriors: Dawn of the Guardian
Author: D.C. Corrigan
Publisher: Writers Branding
ISBN:  978-1639455249
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 655
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

There is a reason fantasy continues to be one of the most popular book genres, and that is because there is no limit to the imaginative stories writers can come up with when they create their own worlds. D.C. Corrigan is not lacking in the imagination category, as this story is packed with elements from all over

The Royal Order of the Last Coin

Title: The Royal Order of the Last Coin (The Coin)
Author: Joyce Crawford
Publisher: Joyce Crawford
ISBN: 978-1733897792
Pages: 216
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Christina Avina
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Throughout history, the line between faith and service to one’s country or homeland has been very thin. Whether it was the ancient Greeks and their service to the gods of Olympus or the clash of faiths when the Romans invaded ancient Britannia and the many Germanic tribes of Europe, faith has always had

The Exasperated Clock

Title:  The Exasperated Clock
Author:  Debbie Hickman
Illustrator:  Adam Taylor
Publisher:  AuthorsPress
ISBN:  978-1-64314-431-3
Pages:  38
Genre:  Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewed by:  Beth Adams
 
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

The combination of witty words by author Debbie Hickman along with the fanciful artwork by Adam Taylor brings The Exasperated Clock into the “Starred” category within the educational and fun-filled illustrated children’s book genre.

Such a cleverly creative concept; having a wall clock dealing with unruly numbers frolicking around

The Johnson Place

Title: The Johnson Place: A Rappahannock County Story
Author: J. Stewart Willis
Publisher: Author’s Tranquility Press
ISBN: 978-1-958179-97-0
Pages: 425
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Candace L. Barr

 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

The Johnson Place gives us a rundown of the (mostly true) history of a sprawling property in the Virginia countryside that eventually became a ski resort. The main event is Part I, which takes up more than ¾ of the book. It tells of a particular Johnson James, one of nine children

Patches & Pieces

Title: Patches & Pieces: Becoming the Legacy of Our Family Quilt
Author: Lana Mourning
Publisher:  Xulon Press
ISBN: 978-1662819124
Pages: 230
Genre: Memoirs / Christian
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Patches & Pieces: Becoming the Legacy of Our Family Quilt is a period-piece Christian read chronicling author Lana Mourning’s life and family, and whose expressive recapitulation will have you glued from the first to the last page. The author deftly and profoundly shares intimate details regarding her marriage to her husband of

Through the Dark Looking Glass

Title: Through the Dark Looking Glass
Author: Garret Godwin
ISBN: 9781609110437
Publisher: Authors Tranquillity Press
Pages: 280
Genre: Literary Fiction
Reviewed by: Manik Chaturmutha
 
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Garret Godwin’s Through the Dark Looking Glass is an excellent book that follows the life of Ira Ellingsworth, a recently divorced man who has lost everything he had – his dream life, dream house, and wife. He had to move from an affluent neighbourhood to a poor one and could

Soulmates with Paws

Title: Soulmates with Paws: A Collection of Tales & Tails
Author: Cal Orey
Publisher:  AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-6655-7857-8
Pages: 238
Genre: Non-Fiction / Fiction / Pets
Reviewed by: Ephantus M.
 

 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Soulmates with Paws: A Collection of Tales & Tails offers a touching view of the human-animal relationship, as revealed through the bright lens of Cal Orey, an author whose love for pets flows naturally from the soul, and whose knowledge of pet nutrition,

Vasquez Private Eye

Title: Vasquez Private Eye
Author: Edward Bardes
Publisher: Pen Culture Solutions
ISBN: 978-1638123613
Pages: 170
Genre: Mystery / Thriller & Suspense
Reviewed by: Christina Avina
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

One of the hardest things a person can do is move on and let go of the past. Whether the past is holding a person back from moving forward in a relationship with someone, or the past is a painful loss or experience which keeps a traumatic

The Chambermaid

Title: The Chambermaid
Author: Marcus Aurelio
Publisher: Authors Tranquility Press
ISBN:  978-58179272
Pages: 212
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Jennifer Bailey
 

 

 

Hollywood Book Reviews

 

Martin is like any young man; he likes rock and roll and pretty girls.  The only difference is that he is sent away to a mental asylum after he attacks someone on the street.  While on the ward he learns to live with himself and others, even goes as far as makes new

Footsteps in the Dark

Title: Footsteps in the Dark
Subtitle: Stories of the Bizarre and Unusual
Author: Carlo Armenise
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
ISBN: 1478786736
Pages: 138
Genre: Supernatural / Horror Fiction
Reviewed by: Manik Chaturmutha
 
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Footsteps in the Dark: Stories of the Bizarre and Unusual is a collection of eight short stories, ranging from supernatural to thrillers. These eight stories are based on human flaws.

In today’s world, many people are driven by greed and materialism, making them do anything to get what they want. Author Carlo Armenise portrays this in every story. In