'The Light: A Novel' by Robert Hammond

Book blurb:

“Have you seen the Light?” Abel Adams, a brilliant but troubled young misfit desperately seeks freedom, love, and spiritual enlightenment while battling drug addiction, dark forces, and strange temptations. He zigzags through a mysterious labyrinth of crime and the occult along his hazardous quest toward redemption and recovery. The Light is the mystical odyssey of a prodigal son whose spiritual journey tumbles like a rollercoaster through a wild mix of philosophical, psychological, and religious experiences amid the turbulent post-1960s counterculture.
 


Have you seen the Light? He closed his eyes so nobody could see him. The latest novel by bestselling author Robert Hammond, The Light (paperback, 978-0615796567)

follows Abel Adams, a brilliant but troubled young misfit desperately seeking freedom, love, and spiritual enlightenment while battling drug addiction, dark forces, and strange temptations. Abel zigzags through a mysterious labyrinth of crime and the occult along his hazardous search for identity and self-realization.

The Light is the mystical odyssey of a prodigal son whose spiritual journey tumbles like a rollercoaster through philosophical, psychological, and religious experiences amid the turbulent post-1960s counterculture. Imagine a literary blend of A Million Little Pieces and The Shack with a twist.

Donna Kennedy of the Riverside Press-Enterprise compares the story to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness when she says, “He entered the heart of darkness when his path branched into a labyrinth. Instead of ‘the howl and the dance’ of the African jungle that claimed Mr. Kurtz, [Abel Adams] was seduced by the world of hallucinogenic drugs. There is a new wisdom to author [Robert] Hammond’s quest for knowledge. Life is mystical.”

Hammond calls The Light “a surrealistic adventure tale about transformation, spiritual enlightenment, and second chances.” Facing rumors that the book’s protagonist is a thinly-veiled alter ego of himself, Hammond says, “Abel Adams is essentially an allegorical composite of all of us who have gone astray at some point in our lives,” says the author. “I believe that many people will discover they deeply identify with Abel’s desperate desire for deliverance.”

Buy links: Amazon \ New Way Press \ Barnes & Noble

 

About the author:

 

Hammond earned an MFA in Creative Writing and is an award-winning screenwriter, producer and author of over a dozen books, including Ready When You Are: Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments for Success and Blockbuster Resumes: Insider Secrets to Dazzle Your Audience and Blow Away the Competition. In addition to developing projects for film and television, Hammond teaches screenwriting and is a popular speaker and talk-show guest on personal achievement, creativity, and spirituality. He has provided consulting to thousands of individuals, private organizations, and governmental agencies and was instrumental in establishing Riverside County's (CA) alternative dispute resolution and welfare-to-work programs.

'Through the Valley Love Endures' by Eddie Santiago Book Tour Blast!

Through the Valley Love Endures

What if death came for you today? Would you be ready?

Forced to face his own mortality, Eddie Santiago fought to stay alive in a broken world. His incredible journey through heartbreak, abuse, and adversity left him with one truth: every life makes a difference.

This is the true and compelling story of his supernatural quest through the valley of death, doubt, and darkness. Eddie provides a passionate story that will capture the attention of even the toughest skeptics.

Angels, demons, heaven, hell, Jesus and the devil: are they fiction, or are they more real than anything else in the world?

Buy links: CreateSpace \ Kindle

About Eddie David Santiago

Eddie David Santiago has worked in the mental health/substance abuse field since he was 18 years old. He holds bachelor degrees in both psychology and religious studies and has provided counseling related services for multiple mental health, substance abuse and human service agencies. In addition, he earned his master’s degree in counseling along with certification in educational administration.

With over fifteen years of counseling related experience, Eddie founded the organization L.E.A.D. (Love Endures And Delivers) which offers interactive group trainings, seminar sessions, speaking opportunities for groups of all ages and crisis counseling sessions.

THROUGH THE VALLEY, LOVE ENDURES is based on Eddie’s early collection of writings, through which he found his voice. He seeks to inspire others to find their voice and share their own stories. Eddie resides in the Midwest with his beautiful wife Sarah and their three amazing children, Faith, Isaiah and Makaylah.

Fill out the form below to Enter!

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'Exodus Lost' by S.C. Compton

Are you fascinated by unsolved mysteries?

Check out this highly rated book that delves into antique cold cases, perfect for those who loves history, religion, and archaeology.

Blurb from Amazon:

Exodus Lost reopens cold cases from antiquity and tracks down their solutions using cutting-edge science, classical scholarship, and tenacity. The adventure begins with Aztec and Mayan chronicles of an epic voyage across the Atlantic Ocean by an influential band of ancestors. By mapping the details within these texts, the author locates their lost homeland and corroborates the local traditions of an ocean-crossing long before Columbus. This discovery leads to revolutionary insights into the origins of ancient Mexican and Western civilizations, the Bible (including the new archaeological evidence for two major biblical events), the alphabet, and much more. Enter a world of exploration and discovery, mystery and revelation. Whether your passion is archaeology or religion, history or simply a great adventure, Exodus Lost delivers.

Beautifully illustrated with 126 photos, maps, and engravings. 

This intriguing read has been highly rated by readers, including many academics. You can read some scholarly reviews by visiting the reviews page on the book's website here.

 On Amazon, it currently has 25 5-star reviews!

Download your copy today!

Or purchase in paperback.

Also available at Barnes & Noble.

About the author:

S. C. Compton has been fascinated with ancient civilizations since childhood adventures living in the rainforests of Peru with his grandparents and exploring Incan ruins in the nearby Andes. He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in the Humanities cum laude from Shimer College, a Master of Liberal Arts from the University of Chicago, a Master of Arts in Literature from Northwestern University, and studied at Oxford University and in Switzerland at L'Abri. Compton dedicated 14 years to the research and writing of Exodus Lost, including travels to archaeological sites in Egypt, Mexico, Greece, Israel, and Turkey and to relevant museum and library holdings across Mexico, Europe, and America. He currently edits history and literature journals for Oxford University Press.

Visit the website at www.ExodusLost.com

Review of 'The Legend of Mickey Tussler' by Frank Nappi

The Legend of Mickey Tussler

In the late 1940s, the minor league Milwaukee Brewers are foundering yet again and manager Arthur Murphy is desperate. When he sees seventeen-year old Mickey Tussler throwing apples into a barrel, he knows he has found the next pitching phenom. But not everyone is so hopeful. Mickey’s autism—a disorder still not truly understood even today—has alienated the boy from the world, and he is berated by other players and fans. Mickey faces immense trials in the harsh and competitive world of baseball while coping with the challenges inherent to his disorder. An honest and knowledgeable book about overcoming adversity, and the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes, Mickey’s powerful story shows that with support and determination anyone can be triumphant, even when the odds are stacked against him.  

**My thoughts**

I was drawn to this book for two reasons. First, I read one of Frank Nappi's other books, Nobody Has to Know a couple of months ago, and was blown away by his writing. Second, I have a strong heart for autism, as I encounter it regularly through my teaching job, in the community, and in my friends' children. 

Frank Nappi again masterfully handles what could be a delicate topic and situation in his character Mickey. Mickey is high functioning autistic. His talent is pitching baseballs that no one can hit. His obsessions are his pet pig and counting. When he is frustrated, he rocks back and forth and recites a poem he learned from his mother. Yes, a lot of this does sound a lot more like Rainman, about whom I did think a lot while reading this book. Rainman was a more rare example of autism, both as a character and in real life. Mickey just feels so much more familiar to me. 

Murphy is highly protective of Mickey. The other guys on the team make fun of him and even mistreat him, despite his prowess on the field. As time goes on, though, they learn to respect him and possibly even admire him a bit. This doesn't happen without an uphill battle, though, parts of which are horrifying, and it's an inspirational one.

Reading the book made me think of some of the good Stephen King stories, and possibly a John Grisham or two. The writing is strong. The characters are vivid. I felt comfortable reading them, like I knew them. I also thought he captured the voice of the time period.

I have the second book in the series, as well, and can't wait to read that one. I have heard that a third one is possibly in the works. Preview the second book below.  

Purchase The Legend of Mickey Tussler on Amazon.

 

Sophomore Campaign

It’s 1949 and eighteen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the rejuvenated minor league Brewers in the sequel to The Legend of Mickey Tussler (the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes). Despite Mickey’s proclamation that he will never play baseball again after last season’s violent conclusion, his manager—and now surrogate father—Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile, socially awkward boy with autism into giving it another shot. Mickey reluctantly returns to the field and must once again cope with the violence and hatred around him. When a young African American player joins the team, the entire team is subjected to racial threats and episodes of violence, one of which Mickey witnesses firsthand. Struggling to understand such ugliness and hatred, and fearful of reprisal should he tell anyone about what he has seen, the boy’s performance on the field suffers. Mickey now must deal with a side of human nature he scarcely comprehends.

Purchase Sophomore Campaign on Amazon.

 

About Author Frank Nappi

Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, Echoes From The Infantry, received national attention, including MWSA's silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, The Legend of Mickey Tussler, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story "A Mile in His Shoes" starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Frank continues to produce quality work, including Sophomore Campaign, the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story and the just released thriller, NOBODY HAS TO KNOW, which received an endorsement from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. Frank is presently at work on a third installment of his Mickey Tussler series and his next thriller. He lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony.  

Follow Frank Nappi Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Follow the Tour

The Author is having a contest for a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

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#AtoZChallenge Cedar Fort Books

Cedar Fort Books are actually responsible for the birth of this blog. I have another blog that usually houses my book reviews for adults, over at Andi's Book Reviews. That was my original book blog. Some of the books, though, can be somewhat racy. I don't mind a variety of books like that, but some readers and authors do. So, to be respectful to the authors I love over at Cedar Fort, and to readers who do not want the spicier selections, I created Uplifting Reads.

What I love about Cedar Fort books is the wide variety that are available. Yes, they are an LDS community, so many books are available on Christianity and Mormon beliefs. You'll also find books on parenting, chapter books for kids about history and fantasy, young adult books about good vs. evil, and historical romance. You'll even find some great cookbooks by Wendy Paul. I use her ice cream book in my classroom. I honestly haven't met a book that I didn't like.

Visit their website and take a look around. You'll also find guest posts by authors and interviews. Bloggers can sign up to join blog tours and get some great free reads in return.

Happy reading! 

The Mickey Tussler Series by Frank Nappi

The Legend of Mickey Tussler

In the late 1940s, the minor league Milwaukee Brewers are foundering yet again and manager Arthur Murphy is desperate. When he sees seventeen-year old Mickey Tussler throwing apples into a barrel, he knows he has found the next pitching phenom. But not everyone is so hopeful. Mickey’s autism—a disorder still not truly understood even today—has alienated the boy from the world, and he is berated by other players and fans. Mickey faces immense trials in the harsh and competitive world of baseball while coping with the challenges inherent to his disorder. An honest and knowledgeable book about overcoming adversity, and the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes, Mickey’s powerful story shows that with support and determination anyone can be triumphant, even when the odds are stacked against him.  

Purchase The Legend of Mickey Tussler on Amazon.

 

Sophomore Campaign

It’s 1949 and eighteen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the rejuvenated minor league Brewers in the sequel to The Legend of Mickey Tussler (the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes). Despite Mickey’s proclamation that he will never play baseball again after last season’s violent conclusion, his manager—and now surrogate father—Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile, socially awkward boy with autism into giving it another shot. Mickey reluctantly returns to the field and must once again cope with the violence and hatred around him. When a young African American player joins the team, the entire team is subjected to racial threats and episodes of violence, one of which Mickey witnesses firsthand. Struggling to understand such ugliness and hatred, and fearful of reprisal should he tell anyone about what he has seen, the boy’s performance on the field suffers. Mickey now must deal with a side of human nature he scarcely comprehends.

Purchase Sophomore Campaign on Amazon.

 

About Author Frank Nappi

Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, Echoes From The Infantry, received national attention, including MWSA's silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, The Legend of Mickey Tussler, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story "A Mile in His Shoes" starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Frank continues to produce quality work, including Sophomore Campaign, the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story and the just released thriller, NOBODY HAS TO KNOW, which received an endorsement from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. Frank is presently at work on a third installment of his Mickey Tussler series and his next thriller. He lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony.  

Follow Frank Nappi Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Follow the Tour

The Author is having a contest for a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Fill out the form below to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway

#AtoZChallenge Nonna Bannister

I was going to go in a different direction for today's B post, but then an intriguing book came across my feed from Inspiring Reads. That is the part of Pixel of Ink that shares Christian freebies and bargains every day. One particular book caught my eye. Lo and behold, the person's name begins with a B. Nonna Bannister kept diaries during the Holocaust, and shared them to demonstrate how her life was changed by the concentration camps. Yes, the Holocaust is depressing, but there are often many stories that have come out of it that can be inspirational and teach so much.

I love reading about it and hearing stories from this time. My brief tangent is how much I loved reading and rereading The Diary of Anne Frank from childhood on. I have even read other books about her, as well as expanded versions of the diary. I was lucky in college to meet and listen to a presentation by her childhood best friend Hannah. That experience has caused me to read others' stories, as well.

This book is FREE today (April 2nd) on Amazon. I don't know for how long it will stay free. I have it downloaded and will eventually get to it. What are some of your recommended Holocaust readings?

Book blurb from Amazon:

Nonna Bannister carried a secret almost to her Tennessee grave: the diaries she kept as a young girl experiencing the horrors of the Holocaust while learning compassion and love for her fellow human beings. Nonna's writings tell the remarkable tale of how a Russian girl, born into a family that had known wealth and privileges, was exposed to the concentration camps and learned the value of human life and the importance of forgiveness.

Download it here.

#AtoZChallenge: Amish fiction: 'Abram's Daughters' by Beverly Lewis

Uplifting Reads is a newer blog that wasn't around for last year's A to Z Challenge. I decided to try to enter it this year and see what I can do. Unlike some of my other book blogs, I don't really have a particular theme, beyond that of the blog, itself. I hope that together we can find some interesting inspirational reads together!

I decided to kick things off today with a shout out to Amish fiction, which is one of my favorite genres. I don't know why I like it so much, but I do. Perhaps it is because it is a refreshing change from all of the sex and craziness that exists in so many books today. I need a bit of variety in my reading world. 

There is so much innocence in the Amish books, but plenty of mystery and betrayal and naughtiness, as well. 

I am currently in the middle of reading the 'Abram's Daughters' series by Beverly Lewis. The first book in the series, The Covenant, was free for Kindle for a while. I liked some of her other books and figured I could give this one a try. Before I had a chance to read it, though, I came across the entire set at my favorite local used bookstore, for just $30. Plus, I had coupons. 

I have a mountain of other reading that I am doing for all of my reviews, so I sneak in a chapter here and there. I am almost halfway through the second book in the series. I am also hopelessly addicted to it. A) I enjoy holding a real book in my hand for a change. B) It is just that good.

So, click on a book cover to find out more about it. I have included the Amazon book blurb next to each cover, but you may also want to see what others have to say about it. 

Book 1 of Abram's Daughters series from bestselling author Beverly Lewis. Years of secrecy bind the tiny community of Gobbler's Knob together more than the present inhabitants know, and the Plain folk who farm the land rarely interact with the fancy locals. So when Sadie is beguiled by a dark-haired English boy, it is Sadie's younger sister, Leah, who suffers from her sister's shameful loss of innocence. And what of Leah's sweetheart, Jonas Mast, sent to Ohio under the Bishop's command? Drawn into an incomprehensible pact with her older sister, Leah finds her dreams spinning out of control, even as she clings desperately to the promises of God. The Covenant begins a powerful Lancaster portrait of the power of family and the miracle of hope. 

Book 2 of Abram's Daughters. Spanning three generations, the Abram's Daughters series paints a powerful family portrait of four Amish sisters growing up in Gobbler's Knob, Lancaster County. In Book One, The Covenant, when oldest sister Sadie is beguiled by a handsome, dark-haired "Englischer," it is younger sister Leah who suffers from her sister's shameful behavior. In Book Two, The Betrayal, Leah and her beloved Jonas are separated for half the year when he accepts a long-desired carpenter's apprenticeship in Ohio. They are confident that by letter and heart-felt promises, their love is strong enough to survive the temporary separation. But never could they have foreseen the bitter test facing them and their families.

Abram's Daughters book 3, the sequel to the bestselling The Betrayal. This powerful family saga features four Amish courting-age sisters growing up in Lancaster County Pennsylvania, beginning in the 1940s. Life in Gobbler's Knob was all Leah Ebersol ever wanted until her older sister Sadie abandoned faith and family, leaving Leah no choice but to believe the worst, that Sadie--and her own beloved Jonas--had betrayed her. Now, two years later, Leah still misses both Sadie and Jonas keenly. Because of her sister's shunning, she cannot contact either of them but hears through the grapevine that they are married. Loyal neighbor Gid is still biding his time, but on the verge of accepting his courting invitation, tragedy befalls the Ebersols and Leah must again choose between her own happiness and her family. Mary Ruth dreams of becoming a teacher, but it has gotten pushed to the back of her thinking when a nice young Amish boy comes courting. Twin Hannah yearns for her sister to attend baptismal classes with her, but Mary Ruth is not ready to take her & vows. How will this family in turmoil & peace?

In The Prodigal, Leah Ebersol knows all too well that the truth can be thorny, even heartbreaking. But when an alarming secret is brought to light, she must make another difficult choice, one that could be further complicated by a prodigal who few expected to return.

 In The Revelation, Jonas Mast has given Leah Ebersol reason to hope again. Yet events threaten that might force Leah and her sister Sadie to reveal their closely guarded secret--a secret with the power to split the Mast and Ebersol families even further apart, this time forever.







What are some of your favorite Amish reads? 

Thanks for stopping by!