The Secret of a Spicy Jalapeno

Author: Charlie Courtland

Publisher: Createspace

ISBN: 9781460977156

Reviewed by Michele Tater for the Couch Tater Review

Let us beware of saying that death is the opposite of life. The living being is only a species of the dead, and a very rare species. ~Friedrich Nietzsche

From the beginning pages of this book I was stunned. It starts with a concept so unreal that it gives the reader a shock to the system, in a good way. It proved that there are still story lines out there that have not been used yet. That being said, it is story set in a small town called Providence located in the Pacific Northwest. The sheriff in this seemingly quiet and safe town has seen a upturn in the a criminal element so he decides to do something about it in an environmental and social way. With the aide of his close friend Joe Parker, they decide to grow Jalapeno peppers in an organic way. This organic way of farming becomes the solution to the problem of truly evil people who happen to do wrong in Providence. Business starts to boom with no one in town the wiser of how can their peppers are hottest and the best tasting. Along comes Vera, a streetwise woman, with a shady and sad past. She is but in protective custody at the farm where Joe is in charge of the secret ingredient. Things change from then on with the operates of the business.

I don't want to let the body out of the bag or anything, so I will not say more about the plot. In my opinion it is a great read that has a horror story overtones and a unlike start of a love story as well. Characters are small town bred with simply ideals to life's big city problems. Must read for gardeners everywhere; caution, the secret ingredient mentioned in the book could get you in trouble to say it mildly.

Cosmo's Reason

Author: Julie Losoya-Harthi

Publisher: PublishAmerica Baltimore

ISBN: 9781456006006

Reviewed by Michele Tater for Review the Book

“To find someone who will love you for no reason, and to shower that person with reasons, that is the ultimate happiness.” ~Robert Brault

Witch meets good looking vampire and they live happily ever after. Not is this book they don't, which is a great thing for the reader. Reason Regan has had her share of relationships that ended in a sad, heartbreaking ways. She feels unlucky in love and that no one will love her being a plus sized witch. That all changes when Cosmo, a vampire, steps into the picture to be her protector against the evils that may do Reason harm. Their strong attraction is one that started a long time ago as their past lives have met. Oh and meanwhile there are rogue vampires wandering the small Ohio city of Findlay causing havoc. Just when the reader thinks that everything has gone to some sort of normalcy, more drama comes their way with more mysteries for them to solve. This book, in my opinion is a more “adult” version of a vampire love story. There are heated sex scenes that could make even a seasoned, sexual, experienced person blush. Characters are personable and engaging, which keeps the reader reading to find out what will happen to them next. Being a plus-sized, a one time divorced, animal loving gal, my favorite character is Reason. As the story goes on, she blossoms into a gutsy, fearless and ballsy broad, in the best of ways. What woman wouldn't want that kind of confidence! Cosmo, is the definition of a tall, dark and handsome man with the personality of a well-bred gentleman.

Since this a debut book from this author, there are some novice oversights, that take time to develop. I don't feel, however, that these errors are so outrageous that it interferes in the reader enjoying this book. I feel that the author has formed a great foundation for her continuation of this story-line into a fantastic series. She is currently working on book number two, which I am look forward to reading too.

Reading Calendar

https://www.google.com/calendar/render?hl=en&tab=cc Here is a tentative reading schedule...

Sands Fo Time

Book Title: Sands of Time

Author: Bruce A. Sarte

Publisher: Bucks County Publishing

ISBN: 9780982981634

The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us, and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone. ~George Eliot

After the death of his wife and two kids, Sam Shepard's cure for his depression is Mr. Daniels, as in Jack Daniels, the golden liquor of choice. He gets through his days in a drunken blur until he starts to experience scary and eerie happens. Having to face the fact the he is either hearing and seeing things because of the drinking or there is something going on that he needs to look into further. The book gives an heartbreaking account of a man walk down the path of destruction after tragic has struck. Although he has people around him that want to help him, he turns them down and choose to drown his sorrows in drink. With the slight of chance, that circumstances may change, Sam is given something that he never let go completely; a glimmer of hope.

Written in an unique style which may cause the reader to think that the book is full of mistakes in the placements of paragraphs. I found that maybe the author did this to break up the sentences in just a way to give them emphasizes and a slight psychological pause. Geared for both the male and female population, however for adults only, because of a certain description of a personal in nature event. Without any clues of what may happen next in the book, the reader is complied to read the book to the end. Well worth the putting the housework and/or the garage cleaning on hold to finish this read.

Handmade Memories

Author: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez

Publisher: Free Verse Media

Kindle Edition

Reviewed By Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

Written in an intellectual flow of poems and essays about the life of a truly gifted author, I found this book a remarkable piece of literature for the ages. He leads the reader on a guide tour of parts of his childhood and his adulthood through his words. The sights, smells and feeling come out of each poem like a direct IV from the authors soul. Often optioned and insightful in his thoughts; they will cause the reader to think of their own interpretations of things and their choices. The heroes and the people that have had an impact on his life are also described in savvy thoughtful way. Included in the ending of book, is quick bio of the author's life which helps the reader connect the dots even more.

Highly recommended read, which could be enjoyed by young and old who is curious about the life of a talent intellect poet and writer. Reading club could have the chance of deciphering the meanings and feelings of the author and the what reader experienced as reading it.

Nighmares and Daydreams

Author: Barbara Watkins

Publisher: Mythica Publishing Limited

ISBN: 9781907108044

Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

A haunting written collection of short stories and poems grace the pages of this book. The stories are not shockingly scarey in nature, but still can give the reader the feeling of chills and goosebumps. There are also tales of daydreams that can be serious and humorous in nature. The poems also describe the mystic environment of dreams, either being experienced in sleep or in an awaken state. I think everyone in their life time has had experiences with a nightmare or two, but few would think to write it down, and to ultimately write a book about them. This author has done just that and has added some beautifully written poems that express them in a different light altogether.

Written in a unsuspecting voice, that gives the reader little hint as to how the story line will eventually go. A book that can be read in a short time, but do you read it during the day or night? Only the reader can decide. Great for a beach side or pool side read. It could also be a good pick for a book club, with a possibility of sharing with the members' nightmares and/or dreams of their own during these meetings. Included too, in this book is a bonus of the first two chapters of the authors next book, which seems promising to say the least.

The Beautiful One Has Come

Book Title: The Beautiful One Has Come

Author: Suzanne Kamata

Publisher: Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing

ISBN: 978193363143809

Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

This exquisitely written book consists of twelve short stories, each focusing on how a woman handles living in another country or how to live in their own. Most of these stories take place in Japan, where the women have to learn to adjust into a culture that is considerably different then what they are used to or how their ideas differ from society. This book gives the reader a brief look into the world of the Japanese and how they live and love. With characters of different of various ages and stages of life, it gives a wide range of glimpse into an assortment of situations. Some are adjusting live in general and some are to motherhood. Each must look inward to resolve the areas of their life that have become problematic to them.

Especially with the awful events that have happen in Japan lately, this book gives the reader a look of this proud and everlasting country. It is a place filled with tradition and history. I think this book can be enjoyed by most age groups; young adult and adults. It is an easy reading book, which would be good on raining days, book clubs and anytime reading. I look forward to more books from this author, who I feel can only excel on what she has already written.