Book Review: Loving the Missing Link – by Julia Asel Thomas Review By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

 Book Review: Loving the Missing Link – by Julia Asel Thomas

Review By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Loving the Missing Link by Julia Asel Thomas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Review: Loving the Missing Link – by Julia Asel Thomas
By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Julia Asel Thomas tackles several ‘big issues’ (acceptance, self-education, and self-understanding to name a few) in Loving the Missing Link. For Cheryl, things are a little more complicated than the ordinary low self-esteem of a lower class teenager girl in a small town and the ending was full of twists and turns that I hadn’t expected. The main character, Cheryl, struggles to find herself amidst the demands of her mother, expectations of her teachers, and the unconditional acceptance of her boyfriend, Jerry. Cheryl is very much a loner who has trouble expressing her thoughts and feelings to others; she finds a haven in her journal and what is so difficult to express in life is captured on those safe pages. Cheryl’s practice of journaling is where I, as a reader was able to really gain understanding of her as a character. We are different in so many ways where I am quite confident, she was shy and fearful and seemed content with being average. I found myself cheering her on as she began on the path to self-understanding.

I enjoy the style of Thomas’s writing and appreciate the honest thoughts from the characters.  Loving the Missing Link is told in such a way that I quickly became engrossed with the character development and enjoyed it right through to the end. It would be hard to say more without spoilers. When Cheryl finds herself lost as a housewife in a college town, she meets Sid of Sid’s Shelves and the two become friends. Cheryl was running away from a controlling well-meaning mother and found comfort in the non-judgmental Sid who was much more tactful than her mother yet still had a way of helping push Cheryl toward her full potential. Somehow Thomas manages to make each chapter meaningful in Cheryl’s coming of age. Based on the wide range of issues, this would be a good pick for book discussions.

The constant theme of music throughout Loving the Missing Link could appeal to those who enjoy music as well as those more familiar with the creation of music. Thomas has such a way with words as she takes an ordinary young woman from a small town and helps her find her voice (literally). I hope to read more from Thomas in the future; there is a rhythm and vibe to her writing that spoke to me. Even though Cheryl and I are two very different people, I know people who struggle with self-esteem and confidence and it the insight from Cheryl’s journal allowed me to see things from a different perspective. With just a few pages left to read, I set down Loving the Missing Link and was reluctant to pick it up again. By that time, I knew how things were going to end but I was not ready to say good bye to the characters I had been cheering for throughout the journey.

Loving the Missing Link is a first published works for Thomas but I do hope she writes more, and I would definitely be interested in a sequel if there is one in the future. Cheryl came so far in Loving the Missing Link and like all of us; she is a work in progress. I would like to be there to see where future paths will lead.

View all my reviews

Paperback:  190 Pages

Publisher:    CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (self-published)         Publishing (August 6, 2013)

ISBN-10:  ISBN10: 1480106240

Twitter hashtag: #LMLThomas

Loving the Missing Link is available as a print and e- book at Amazon. 

Julia Asel Thomas - Author of Loving the Missing Link

About the Author:

Julia Asel Thomas writes stories with vivid descriptions, authentic dialogue and revealing narration. Her debut book, Loving the Missing Link, presents the engrossing and moving story of a young, small town girl who grows up, lives and loves while trying to find a balance between despair and hope.

Like the protagonist in her debut book, Loving the Missing Link, Julia Asel Thomas knows small town life. However, Julia’s experiences were quite different than Cheryl’s. Julia is the middle child of seven children and the daughter of a church organist and a business manager. Growing up in the small town of Hamilton, Missouri, Julia’s family enjoyed a reputation as a bright and interesting family. Julia thrived on the quiet and carefree life she lived in that gentle place.

When Julia was in high school, she earned a scholarship for a trip to Cali, Colombia as a foreign exchange student. The experience, although it only lasted a few brief months, had a profound influence on the rest of her life. After her time abroad, Julia realized in a very real way that, although customs may differ from culture to culture, the substance of human emotions is constant. We all need love. We all need to feel secure. We all have happy moments and sad moments. Back from Colombia, Julia become ever more interested in capturing these human emotions through music and writing.

After high school, Julia took a break before going on to college. During this time, she married her husband, Will. Will joined the Air Force, and Julia accompanied him to bases around the country, taking college classes in each town where they resided. Their two children were born in Las Vegas, Nevada, while Will was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. Married in 1976, Julia and Will are thrilled to celebrate each new anniversary and look forward to staying together for life.

Julia began writing fiction at the age of ten, when her 5th grade teacher gave her the assignment to write about “My Worst Day.” Julia took the opportunity to concoct every possible disaster a young child could face during the course of a normal day. The teacher loved her work and asked her to read it to the class. From then on, Julia wanted nothing more than to be a writer.

In 2007, Julia began earning her living by writing articles, press releases and website content for a number of clients. As she settled into a routine of working every day on her writing, the old urge to write fiction resurfaced. In 2012, Julia started with a story she had written in 1985 and continued it to create the story in Loving the Missing Link.

Find out more about this author by visiting her online:

Facebook                            Twitter

Author Goodreads

Author Blog

Book Review: Wink – Thriller by Eric W. Trant

By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Wink   takes place in a rural Gulf Coast town. The main character, Marty Jameson, is an unusual young man with a disturbing home life. Marty’s mother is abusive to Marty as well as other substances provided to her by Marty’s father who is absent most days while wheeling and dealing drugs in neighboring towns. Marty seeks refuge in the attic of his home where he can avoid the hoarding and abusive tantrums of his mother and stay out of sight and smelling range of his older brother who is comatose and wasting away in his bedroom.

Marty is damaged, but somehow not defeated. Surrounded by unthinkable sadness and anger, he is able to escape to the attic to find his own refuge and peace. He is a determined young man who seems to find joy in the most unlikely places. He forgives his mother time and time again even though she is not willing to offer him the same unconditional love and emotional support. His optimism and resilience is incredible and seems to be the driving force behind any goodness in his life.

Right next door in a house very similar to Marty’s lives a family so different in many ways from the Jameson’s. Sadie Marsh’s life is anything but perfect; she is confined to a wheelchair and yet her home is filled with love and light where Marty seems to be surrounded by evil and darkness. Sadie feels for Marty and waits by her own window to see what is going on at the Jameson’s. Sadie’s mother has warned her about that family next door and yet Sadie is drawn to Marty and the goodness she knows lives within him. Sadie is convinced Marty is not the devil her mother makes him out to be, but those huge black-winged creatures she sees at his house have her wondering if her mother was right. When Sadie’s mother admits to seeing them too, they both know Marty is dealing with more darkness than they had imagined.

Marty is drawn to Sadie just as she is to him. He sees the goodness in her home and in his own way longs to experience the love within their walls instead of enduring the torture and hatred of his own family dynamic. Emotionally scarred Marty is torn but determined. The key to his triumph lies in the attic and the stories told to him by his one-eyed uncle. He’s pulled between the darkness and light as the winged creates threaten everything he has ever known.

Trant’s imagery and storytelling is incredibly. The story of Wink left my head spinning and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry or just hold my children tight. Trant’s brilliant writing places the reader in the middle of the chaos as the story unfolds. The tension builds and you find yourself unable to put the book down. This is a story of family and triumph but most definitely a ‘keep you at the edge of your seat’ thriller to say the least. 


Paperback: 275 pages

Publisher: WiDo Publishing (April 16, 2013)

ASIN: B00CE4OP1K

Twitter hashtag: #WINK

Wink is available as a print and e- book at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

About the Author:

Eric W. Trant is a published author of several short stories and the novels Out of the Great Black Nothing and Wink from WiDo Publishing, out now! See more of Eric's work on his blog: http://diggingwiththeworms.blogspot.com/, order directly from Amazon, or wherever books are sold.

Eric is an advocate for organ donation and lost his 18mo son in May of 2012. Eric and his wife courageously donated their son’s heart, kidneys, and liver. The couple went on to begin  a foundation to support organ donor families. Eric speaks openly about this emotional journey on his blog and the topic of organ donation is very close to his heart.

Find out more about the author by visiting him online:

Author website: www.EricTrant.com

Author blog: http://diggingwiththeworms.blogspot.com/

Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eric.trant.9

Book Review: Secrets, Lies and Apple Pies by Audry Fryer

5 Stars for the Page Turner: Secrets, Lies and Apple Pies by Audry Fryer  

Secrets, Lies, and Apple Pies was a real page turner. This was the book that I couldn't put down and I was heart broken when I reached the end. The characters really came to life for me. I paid just 99 cents for the book and honestly would have paid $19. The cover is delicious looking but as the story unfolds you can nearly smell the fresh baked apple pies and taste the flaky crusts.

I picked up Audry Fryer's book just as summer was beginning in our household and this was the perfect read for this time of year. I found myself sneaking in a few more pages while at the pool, while grabbing a drink in the middle of mowing the lawn, and toward the end I stayed up into the middle of the night because I couldn't stand the thought of not knowing what was happening to the characters that quickly became my friends.

I can't wait to read more from this author and I know that at least one person I recommended Secrets, Lies, and Apple Pies to said she pulled an all-nighter because she, (like me) couldn't put this book down. Kudos to Ms. Fryer for an expertly written book!!!

~~~~~~

and here she is ... drum roll please ... Ms. Audry Fryer herself. You can find her blogging at http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com/

Brief Book Review - Memoir Betty's Child by Donald Dempsey #BCDempsey

I recently had the opportunity to read Betty's Child and interview it's author - Donald Dempsey. I would highly recommend this book!

If you're interested in reading the review - you'll have to check out the following link on Monday, July 8th 2013: http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

My review:

I feel strongly that even someone with a difficult background can change their path. Often times it's difficult and takes the help of someone who cares, but I've just never bought into the victim mentality of "I was abused so I'm going to be an abuser when I grow up". Maybe that's what drew me to Donald Dempsey's memoir Betty's Child. I'm not going to lie; some parts were difficult to read. As a parent I hug my children tighter after reading Dempsey's story of a neglectful childhood with a cruel mother. I became so absorbed in his story that I would have crawled right into the book if I could have; I just wanted to hold that little boy and tell him that I loved him.

Dempsey's sense of humor really pushed me through the tough chapters. I'm sure that same sense of humor is what got him through those tough years. I would recommend this book to others because it really is a testament to where you can go in life if you put your mind to it and put a little laughter into things. Dempsey has a good family life and a successful career. Things could very easily have turned out much differently for him. It's great that he can share his story with others. Betty's Child is very inspirational and a book I will keep on my shelf to read again and share with others.

Paperback: 438 pages

Publisher: Dream of Things  (March 26, 2013)

ASIN: B00BOL69ZO

Twitter hashtag: #BCDempsey

Betty’s Child is available at Amazon. 

Book Review: Tin God by Stacy Green

Book Review: Tin God   by Stacy Green
By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Tin God begins with Jayme’s secret, but there are others with even darker secrets needing to be brought to light. It wasn’t going to be easy for Jayme and Nick to prove their case, especially since their prime target was the beloved minister who seemed to have more secrets than any one of the sheep of his congregation. Was he truly the man the community loved, or was he the devil Nick and Jayme believed him to be? Would they go too far to solve the mystery?
It’s hard to fit Tin God into a single reading category. Stacy Green does a fabulous job with this story and it could be labeled: murder mystery, suspense, romance, and family drama. Discovering the dead body of her employer is just the beginning for young Jayme Ballard. As her tale unfolds she is forced to face her past which allows Jayme to finally move forward. She learns who can and cannot be trusted and finds out that her judgment may not have always been what it should be.

Nick Samuels made his fair share of mistakes as a husband and promised he would find his wife’s killer no matter what the cost. It’s been four years since his wife, Lana was murdered and Nick doesn’t believe the murder in Roselea, Mississippi to a woman who looks just like his wife could be a simple coincidence. Armed with years of angst, a steady diet of coffee, and very little sleep, Nick heads for the neighboring town, the crime scene, and his wife’s family. He finds Jayme Ballard, Lana’s best friend, and also the one who found the recent dead body. It’s time for Jayme to tell Nick about her secret; he needs some answers if he’s going to solve these murders.

Green’s descriptions are as vivid as the gorgeous cover of Tin God as she brings to life the historic mansions, the deep characters, and the colorful landscape. Even the description of the trailer court is so well described that a picture will immediately form as you read Green’s eloquent words: “Ravenna Court was about as beautiful as a rattlesnake bite…Instead of cultivating colorful flowers, residents battled kudzu and stubborn cogon grass…”

As I finished reading Tin God I was hoping Stacy Green was writing another story. She brought out the characters so well I wanted more. This story kept me guessing and second guessing about motive, friendship, and who was involved in the murders. Fabulous book I would, without a doubt, recommend to others!

For those who enjoyed Tin God as much as I did, you’ll want to add to your reading list: book two in the Delta Crossroads Series Skeleton’s Key. This second book features Cage who had lusted over the unavailable Jayme. Cage is trying to move on, but discovers something in the cellar of an abandoned plantation that sends him on a collision course of secrets, lies, and love.

Here's the Amazon link for you too: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C7SKV1G/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20

Awesome Memoir - Replacement Child by Judy Mandel

Book Cover - Replacement Child

Book Review - Replacement Child 

Judy Mandel

Review by Crystal Casavant-Otto
Book by Judy Mandel
Link to Amazon: click here

Within the first few pages of Judy L. Mandel’s memoir, I scribbled the following notes in my journal:

·        Amazing depth, pulled me in right away!

·        Great self-awareness in seeking her own seeds of truth.

Whether you enjoy reading historical fiction, memoir, non-fiction, relationship, or self-help books, you’ll enjoy Replacement Child as Mandel guides you through the development of her family. The story unfolds like a play and Mandel herself admits “I was not a lead actor in this play”.

Replacement Child   jumps back and forth between Mandel’s current life and the tragic plane crash that happened years before she was born. This was a little hard to follow at first, but allows readers to understand how the past and the present are delicately woven together forming the reality of each character.  The events were depicted so honestly that I often found myself crying during the trials and cheering during the triumphs of many characters.

Replacement Child   may involve the plane crash that took the life of Mandel’s sister, but the story began much earlier than that. Mandel does a fantastic job digging into her parent’s courtship and the early years of their relationship to inspect their emotions and thoughts. She took the time to carefully examine and then develop each character without casting blame or judgment. The care and dedication to this work can only be described as a labor of love and a journey of self-discovery.

Mandel’s parents had a loving marriage, a modest home, two lovely daughters, and then tragedy strikes as an airplane crashed in their kitchen and her mother must choose which child to save first. Neither child was spared; one child perished and the other child was burned so badly she nearly died. Mandel’s parents hadn’t been able to salvage much of their home, and they were willing to do anything to salvage what they could of their relationship. This is where Mandel comes in, during Act II as she calls it, as the replacement child.

I love the honesty Mandel shows when she admits that telling the story of an entire family is really a high wire act. I’m a big fan of this book and appreciate the care Mandel took with collecting historical information to ensure as much accuracy as possible. Judy L. Mandel has done a great job with her memoir, Replacement Child   and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. As a mother, I would also recommend having a box of tissues handy.