Book

Book Review: “Along Came A Gardener” by Diana Stevan

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Rating: 4 stars

Headline: Sowing the seeds of positivity, this book is guaranteed to leave you feeling uplifted

Review:

Along Came a Gardener by Diana Stevan is the newest publication from a well-seasoned author based in Vancouver Island. Having already published five novels, Along Came a Gardener is the author’s first foray into non-fiction, drawing extensively on her therapist background and her passion for gardening. Pulling both realms together creates something less common in the non-fiction genre, a title that is part memoir, part self-help guide.

Coming in at just over 250 pages, Along Came a Gardener charts Stevan’s high-level observations of the clients she has supported over the years. This includes changes in individual values and beliefs, noting some of the patterns that have emerged over time. Sometimes using case studies of real clients, the book moves into generalised comments that allow readers to reflect on their own situation. In this sense the book can feel like a attending a therapy session itself, as if Stevan is sat in the room, talking to you in a calming voice. Quoting the author from her introduction, Stevan states:

When I first started practicing family therapy, I didn’t realize how naïve I was…As a therapist, I came across many stories… {and} while helping many struggling with their problems, I also learned much to help myself, which is what I want to share with you.

While some chapters have titles that state the intended topic (e.g. “Anger Management”), others come with a gentler undertone (e.g. “Planting Beautiful Thoughts” and “Finding Balance”). Where appropriate, Stevan utilises gardening metaphors to give content a lighter tone of voice. A nice touch was the inclusion of a poem, penned by one of Stevan’s therapy clients. Titled “Seeds of Hope”, it is a touching addition to a delicately written self-help guide. This book is not intended to preach, more, show readers a way forward.

The book does jump around a little, moving from one chapter covering Stevan’s path of becoming a fully licenced family therapist to, shortly afterwards, a brief history of psychotherapy. Along Came a Gardener is also peppered with light-hearted anecdotes detailing the author’s love for gardening. The change of topics can feel a bit varied at first, but once readers get into the swing of the tone and pace the book becomes a much more relaxed read. Chapters are also accompanied by beautiful line drawings of plants which marry nicely with the pastels shades on the cover.

Along Came a Gardener is an engaging title from the very first sentence. A strong entry from a debut non-fiction author, I am quite sure this will not be the last we hear from Stevan in this theatre of writing. It is merely just the start.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Along Came A Gardener” by Diana Stevan

Purchase Link: “Along Came A Gardener” by Diana Stevan (Amazon)

Author Website: https://www.dianastevan.com/

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Book Review: “Rise After Silence: An ER Doctor and the Patients Who Healed Her” by Anne Aspler

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Rating: 4 stars

Headline: A beautiful memoir, be prepared for plenty of tears and fistfuls of anger

Review:

Rise After Silence is the debut memoir from Emergency Room (ER) professional, Anne Aspler. Coming in at just shy of 300 pages cover to cover, Rise After Silence is an eye-opening account of Aspler’s life in ER, the patients and colleagues that shape her working day, juxtaposed with the author’s life outside of the nine-to-five. Sometimes, it is hard to make out which makes the more challenging read. In her author’s note, Aspler informs readers that certain identifying details (such as names and timelines) have been changed, and the cover is designed by award-winning illustrator, Natàlia Pàmies.

Rise After Silence is a gripping read, carefully laid out into four distinct sections and covers in great depth childhood and adult assault (both experienced by the author and by her ER patients). A pivotal moment in the memoir is the author coming to terms with the abusive crimes of her father around the time of the #MeToo movement. At the same time as thousands (if not, millions) of woman around the world start speaking up, Aspler, too, has her eyes opened to suppressed memories from her childhood. Bearing in mind Asper’s own mother was, by this point, a diagnosed schizophrenic, then as a reader it feels like a wonder this high-flying, Harvard qualified, professional was able to pull through life at all during this point.

In slightly lighter moments in the book, we see the author navigating the complicated world of online dating and becoming a parent for the first time, but in truth these moments of light are limited and can be found left sparing amongst Aspler’s broader life story. Even her experiences during a residency in Rwanda and the moment when the author and her sister finally get hold of their foster records, they feel bittersweet in nature.

Rise After Silence certainly brings something to the table in the topics it tackles head-on. It is full of colourful characters and demonstrates a strong growth arc of the author, starting in a turbulent place, to ultimately land in a mental state which is moving in a positive direction. This also includes a decisive decision on her relationship with her convicted father. The darkness of this memoir might not be for everyone, and while this reviewer never expected Rise After Silence to be “happy-clappy”, sometimes the moments of good felt all to brief. If nothing else, this memoir serves to remind us how far we have yet to come with protecting women and children from harm.

A very well put together book, just be prepared for the tears and anger along the way.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Rise After Silence: An ER Doctor and the Patients Who Healed Her” by Anne Aspler

Purchase Link: “Rise After Silence: An ER Doctor and the Patients Who Healed Her” by Anne Aspler (Amazon)

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Coffee and Book Tuesday

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This week I’ve been chilling in a Caffè Nero with a cappuccino, reading the literary classic, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.

Believe it or not, I’ve never read this title before, which is probably why it is good to have a napkin within easy reach. It is a bit of a tearjerker at points!

Be still, my beating Sparks (rolls better off the tongue than Noah Calhoun…or Ryan Gosling.)

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Book Review: “Forsaken Flowers” by Theophany Juhn

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Rating: 5 stars

Headline: Full of clever storytelling, this is a fantasy novel that will leave you hankering for more

Review:

The debut novel from American, Michigan-based, author Theophany Juhn, Forsaken Flowers is a gripping fantasy read with plenty of high stakes action and colourful world building.

It tells the story of Aelyta Aurelianus, an Elemental who at her coronation ceremony is unexpectedly bestowed the Rite of Divinity by the High Priestess. This twist in tradition results in Aelyta having the right to become Queen of Ospheria over and above other figures who might have laid claim to the throne. With barely any time to react to the news, Aelyta finds herself that same evening at the hands of a would-be assassin, only to find her body rejecting the very dagger that is pierced through her chest, wound healing over instantaneously. In what should have been a day marked by the lore and tradition of her people, for Aelyta this day marks the start of even more dramatic events yet to come, involving love, loss, and a kingdom in peril. To defeat her foes, Aelyta must embrace the power of her inner magic, and the poison deep within.

Everything about Forsaken Flowers is pitched perfectly. From the beautiful cover design (and use of background design/imagery on each opening chapter page), through writing style and the flow of the story itself. It is hard to not become invested in Aelyta’s plight, just as much as it is hard to not come away from each chapter entrenched in all the characters that surround her (both good and evil). Every element of the plot is fully developed and the world building is as strong as any other fantasy novel this reviewer has seen in other published novels. And, coming in at just over 300 pages, Forsaken Flowers is a nice length within the fantasy genre, making it a lot more accessible to readers who can feel daunted at the prospect of taking on a competing 500+ page behemoth.

An enjoyable read, through and through, Forsaken Flowers is most definitely a book for any fantasy-loving reader, as much as it is someone wanting to dip their toe in the genre. It is also the perfect title for anyone looking to support independent publishing and authorship. A prime example of when self-publishing works, it really works. 5 stars.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Forsaken Flowers” by Theophany Juhn

Purchase Link: “Forsaken Flowers” by Theophany Juhn (Amazon)

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Book Review: “No Safe Harbor” by J. Dale Dillard

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Rating: 3 stars

Headline: No Safe Habor has signs of promise in this high-stakes crime thriller series

Review:

The debut crime thriller from author J. Dale Dillard, No Safe Habor is a book of high stakes action, which takes readers on plenty of twists and turns as the plot develops. It is also book one of the Nuevas Montañas Files series, suggesting many more novels to follow suit in this gripping genre of adult fiction. The book comes in at around 300 pages long, is set within a fictional region of America, named the Nuevas Montañas (“new mountains”) and features a striking cover design by graphic Danna Mathias Steele.

The story follows the main character, Deputy Sheriff Rick Hunter who, while driving late one night encounters a lone woman stumbling through the woods, heavily injured. Racing to the nearest hospital, Rick soon realises that this one action will change the course of his life forever. As things develop it becomes quickly apparent that this strange woman holds secrets of her own and, drawn into a complex web of crime, involving human trafficking and cyber warfare, this small-town Deputy is about to get more than he bargained for when he decided to cruise down Highway seven one September night.

The premise of this book is likeable enough, packed full of pacy action from the off. The story is driven a lot by the frequent time stamps dotted throughout the chapters and, while this works for large time jumps (e.g. months and years), when the time stamps are used at very short intervals (sometimes as brief as five minutes apart) then in No Safe Habor they become a plot crutch, rather than plot amplifier. A lot of the story takes place over a very short time period, but more could have been done with the scene-setting and character interactions to better display this.

Equally, the use of action and drama are great to see, however what this story lacks a little bit is the further development of characters beyond their interactions with others. Readers are thrown into action from the off, and get no time to really understand Rick as an individual. What is his motivation, likes/dislikes, his drivers in life? It is the same for place setting, where readers are often denied a fully-fleshed out description of locations where action takes place. No Safe Habor could have been so much more if it had more time dedicated to world and character building.

The best advice I would impact to this author (and any other author of this genre) would be to step back, take a pause, and give characters the space to breathe and showcase themselves. After all, characters are so much more than the weapons they carry (even the evil ones).

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “No Safe Harbor” by J. Dale Dillard

Purchase Link: “No Safe Harbor” by J. Dale Dillard (Amazon)

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Book Review: “Abuelita, I Am Your Grandson” by Julio Lucero

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Rating: 5 stars

Headline: “Abuelita, I am Your Grandson” breaks new ground with its warmth and vibrancy

Review:

Grab an apron and join Julio Lucero behind the counter to the best Latin restaurant this side of Mexico City, a place where the onions make you cry and the Tequila makes you speak Spanish (or, at least what you think is Spanish…). As darker nights approach, this is an unforgettable journey you won’t want to miss out on.

Abuelita, I am Your Grandson is the autobiographic memoir of Lucero’s life, growing up against the backdrop of a busy and often chaotic family-owned restaurant in Austin, Texas. From the picky clientele, to the competition of highly academic siblings, the author makes no slight about the “educación de restaurante” (or restaurant education) that shaped her CV as much as it did her personality.

Throughout this 192 page memoir, there are countless anecdotes and tales shared from the kitchen tiles, with plenty to keep readers turning every page right to the very end. A lot like the cover design, this is a book bursting with colour and flavour. The writing style is beautiful, a perfect balance of scene setting and informality, with a tone of voice that draws readers into the storytelling experience as if you had just pulled up a stool and glass of wine with the author herself. Tales of managing a business, navigating the cultural divides that come from having dual-national parents, the fascinating tale behind this book’s eye catching title, no conversational stone is left unturned when you enter Lucero’s domain. The formatting in this book is also elevated by use of mini illustrations at the head of each titled chapter, giving the whole production of Abuelita, I am Your Grandson a professional look and feel.

Memoirs are never an easy genre to crack, not when so many personal stories have been told in so many ways. But Abuelita, I am Your Grandson breaks new ground with its warmth and vibrancy by turning a family-owned restaurant into the beating heart of a beautifully crafted memoir. A five star book, through and through.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Abuelita, I Am Your Grandson” by Julio Lucero

Purchase Link: “Abuelita, I Am Your Grandson” by Julio Lucero (Amazon)

Author Website: https://juliolucero.com/

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Book Review: “Pitch Black: The best Black ads of the past 50+ years” by Mark Robinson

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Rating: 4 stars

Headline: Covering over 50 years of Black representation in advertising, “Pitch Black” showcases cultural shifts and challenges throughout the decades

Review:

(Taking my lead from the author, I will be using the term “Black” when describing American people of colour in my review.)

Shining a light on an area of pictorial history that far too often has gone overlooked, Pitch Black: The best Black ads of the past 50+ years is a 180 page reference book covering over half a century of Black-American influence in the marketing sphere.

Written by Mark S. Robinson, with notable contributions from CEOs, Chief Commercial Officers, and academic professors, Pitch Black is full of vibrant imagery, which demonstrates the progression of Black representation in advertising campaigns, as well as the obstacles and set-backs that have occurred along the way. Chapters are broadly arranged in themes, e.g. “Civil Rights Through Black Advertising”, “Black Beauty & Black Hair” and “The Golden Age and Beyond”, with Robinson using visual media as a springboard to draw the reader’s attention to cultural shifts which directly influenced big brands and marketing budgets (and vice versa).

This is a fascinating read and an education for anyone of any race, age or culture. Having a broad selection of marketing material in one place helps to see first hand the striking similarities and differences over a period of, sometimes, decades. Anyone living through that period may have struggled to see the subtle changes at play within, for example, food and drink marketing, and yet those too young or not living in America would never have had natural exposure to these changes either (this thirty-something reviewer living in the United Kingdom being one of those people). It is impossible to see how any reader would not come away from this book without learning something new, or had their eyes opened, even if just by a tiniest bit, to both the prejudices and improvements made to advertising aimed at Black communities in America.

It is worth mentioning that while this book is incredibly informative, it is incredibly informative. The sheer density of words and imagery might leave some readers feeling a little overwhelmed initially. There is a lot to unpack when it comes to this fifty year period. In that sense Pitch Black is more a reference guide for academia or something placed on a coffee table to stimulate discussion. It is less geared up for being a bedtime read, or a book you openly rave about in the office.

Pitch Black is, if nothing else, an eye-opener. It remains a powerful book that educates and highlights the perils of overlooking a strong consumer base when trying to establish brand and engagement. For what it seeks to achieve, Pitch Black remains a strong historical/reference book that stands up on its own merits.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Pitch Black: The best Black ads of the past 50+ years” by Mark Robinson

Purchase Link: “Pitch Black: The best Black ads of the past 50+ years” by Mark Robinson (Amazon)

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Book Review: “Your Dog Is The Doctor” by Dr. Daniel Guirguis

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Rating: 5 stars

Headline: An enjoyable read that helps strengthen the bond between dogs and their loving owners

Review:

Written by Canadian veterinarian Dr Daniel Guirguis, Your Dog Is The Doctor is a self-help guide made made for people, young and old, who want to strength the bond with their beloved dogs, whilst also improving mental and physical health along the way.

Coming in at around 180 pages (in PDF format), the book is split across ten chapters, including discussion on topics such as “Built to Move”, “The Anti-Anxiety Algorithm” and “The Play Principle”. Each chapter starts with a full page image featuring a professionally captured photo of a dog with their owner, and concludes with a summary box covering the key actions readers should takeaway from the chapter. Within the chapter itself, Guirguis goes into detail on how people can utilise their canine friends to better themselves, in some cases supported by medical research.

Your Dog Is The Doctor is a delightful self-help guide, packed full of case studies of owners with their dogs (and how each has benefitted the other) and upbeat and familiar language. The tone of voice is set perfectly for the audience it is trying to engage with, and the length of each chapter (between 10-20 pages) makes it a book that is easy to read, especially with the chapter takeaways which is perfect for any time-strapped dog owners wanting to get a hit of quick-wins.

The formatting of the book gives a very slick and professional feel, which, combined with the clever use of back and white photography of dogs and owners, sets the tone perfectly for the audience it is intended to reach. Designed by Ian Joviak, the cover is eye-catching, well put together and, in a sea of competing self-help titles, Your Dog Is The Doctor grabs attention in the very best way.

Your Dog Is The Doctor would be a great book to gift to any dog-lover in your life, or keep within easy reach on a coffee table or bookshelf. For what it sets out to do it is very hard to find fault with this book, it is an enjoyable read that helps strengthen the bond between dogs and their loving owners.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Your Dog Is The Doctor” by Daniel Guirguis

Purchase Link: “Your Dog Is The Doctor” by Daniel Guirguis (Amazon)

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Book Review: “Have At It: Why Truth Is the Most Practical Choice” by Steve Nicol

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Rating: 4 stars

Headline: This book will leave readers motivated and empowered to kick-start their own growth journey

Review:

Penned by Scottish writer Steve Nicol, Have At It: Why Truth Is the Most Practical Choice is a self-help guide tailored towards current or aspirational business leaders looking to level up and/or rediscover themselves and their motivators for driving success, both in the office and in life.

Coming in at just shy of 170 pages, Have At It is comprised of eighteen chapters, with headings including “Be Easy to Do Business With”, “Release the Handbrake”, and my personal favourite, “What Have You Got Against Dogs?” As these chapter titles suggest, readers should come into this book expecting an informal experience, as Nicol talks through his career to get him to where he is today. It does not prescribe to readers a silver bullet for success, in the same way it does not tell readers what to think and how to behave.

Have At It has a nice, professional cover which feeds through into the formatting inside, with chapters the perfect length to allow the book to be picked up and put down at any point. There is no doubt that this title would sit neatly on any bookshelf or coffee table. The tiny niggle for me is that several of the chapters on the contents page are not numbered. Given the unnumbered chapters still hold the prestige of starting on a new page, with their own enlarged titles, it feels that lack of chapter numbering is by mistake rather than by design.

The tone of voice for this book is also very approachable in nature. Nicol’s twenty years of experience in leadership coaching shines through in this book, to the point where Have At It feels more like a memoir, as opposed to a self-help guide. It reminds me somewhat of Stephen King’s On Writing, that is to say the book is a fascinating memoir but the reader must put a degree of effort in if they want to truly get the best from this self-help guide. In truth, it is probably the only thing that could be critiqued about this title. Nicol speaks like a true business coach, making the reader think for themselves, however people who are looking for a self-help guide to spoon feed them may be left a little wanting.

Have At It is a strong title in its own merits, and one that is perfect for those wanting to take the next step in their personal development. Nicol has a real knack for writing in a way that will have readers fascinated by the author’s own growth journey and from that, they too can learn a great deal. Have At It really does have it all.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Have At It: Why Truth Is the Most Practical Choice” by Steve Nicol

Purchase Link: “Have At It: Why Truth Is the Most Practical Choice” by Steve Nicol (Amazon)

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Book Review: “Birds Beyond Reach” by Dwayne Ulliac

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Rating: 5 stars

Headline: A deeply immersive read, exploring a troubled relationship and one man’s desperation to save it, whatever the cost

Review:

Written by Canadian author Dwayne Ulliac, Birds Beyond Reach is a contemporary fiction novel set in the Canadian cities of Thunder Bay and Ottawa. It follows themes of relationships and addiction, as explored through a turbulent relationship between two characters Peter (the protagonist) and Ruby.

The book starts with Peter consoling himself at a bar with his friends after yet another failed date. Aged 32, this is not where Peter thought he would be, not at this age. Meeting someone like Ruby was never on the cards. Ruby is bold, daring and exuberates energy in everything she does, making her the paper perfect match for Peter. However, as their relationship deepens, so too do the cracks begin to form. As time ticks on, it appears Ruby is not all she makes out to be at surface level and for Peter, his relationship with Ruby will soon either be the making or breaking of him, he just does not know it yet.

This is a brilliant book from all angles. Ulliac’s development of characters and grasp on scene-setting is excellent, with every element fully fleshed out to build a strong picture of the world Peter lives in. To this end, following Peter’s movements and actions in close third person is a great choice of point of view. The boy meets girl trope is a very well trodden path when it comes to literature, yet in choosing to see Ruby’s actions (and spiralling downfall) through the eyes of Peter gives a unique take on a story many readers will find believable. As a reader you just just as helpless and help-bound to Ruby as Peter is as the main character.

From start to finish, this book is a gripping read and very well written. When the writing quality is this good, it makes all the more impressive to discover that Birds Beyond Reach is Ulliac’s debut. Combined with a beautiful cover design, it is hard to argue that this book is anything but the full package.

Good contemporary fiction does not tell you a story, it immerses you in a whole new world. My biggest piece of advice for any reader is this, keep Dwayne Ulliac on your watchlist, because this is an author that is going to bring great things to publishing. You do not want to miss this train.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Birds Beyond Reach” by Dwayne Ulliac

Purchase Link: “Birds Beyond Reach” by Dwayne Ulliac (Amazon)

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