Monday, 10 February 2025

Pogue One - edited by Spearman Burke - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 44

Pogue One
Edited by Spearman Burke
Illustrated by Cedar Sanderson
Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 44
ISBN 9798306378824
ASIN B0DSLW39X3

Pogue One - edited by Spearman Burke - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 44

I enjoy reading anthologies for many reasons. First, short form fiction is a very different art form than the novel. The writing needs to be tighter. The intent more purposeful, and the skill and craft needed is very different, at least for good short stories. Second, I read a few anthologies a year to get introduced to new authors. In this case I was only familiar with one author prior to picking up the volume. I also love seeing short works by authors who series I have already read. I have picked up several of the anthologies from Raconteur Press, but have to date only read two of them. Once I found out that Christopher R. DiNote had a story in this volume. I immediately read it first and again as I read the book from beginning to end. 

I was intrigued by the collection title and purpose, I always love me a good space military story. And there are some great ones in this volume. The description of this book states:

“The purpose of this anthology is not to denigrate pogues. On the contrary, we felt their representation in fiction (military SF or otherwise) a bit lacking. What about the kid with the thirty-pound brain locked away in the vault, like in Gene Rowley's tale of a lance corporal in the Cyber Corps? The medical ninjas who're willing to move heaven and earth to save one more life feature prominently in K. Anders's story. Chris DiNote shows us there are worse things lurking within the depths of the military machine than mere pogues. In "The Troll," Jim Curtis reminds us that the hardest working folks in the military just may be the apes whose job is to keep aircraft in the sky. Wrapping up our ensemble of storytelling is Liska McCabe, who reminds us that no matter the MOS, we all endure check-out in the end.”

The contributors are:
K. Anders
S. J. Fazekas
Christopher DiNote
E.G. Rowley
J. Kenton Pierce
William Meinert
M. Plummer
Josh Hill
J.L. Curtis
Liska McCabe

The stories are:
1. A Dzar Wars Story 
2. To the Letter 
3. F$%'n Guard Guys! 
4. Unsung Heroes of Cyber Corps 
5. Big Mama 
6. Forge of Hephaestus 
7. Bits and Parts 
8. Chow Hall 
9. The Troll 
10. Moto-morphosis 

In the introduction we are informed:

“Pogue; we won't argue about the spelling. If you were in the military in the 20th Century, you spelled it "pogue." “Pogey bait” was a term used to describe the sweets and candy troops could buy off gut trucks and roach coaches or the PX. I noticed the spelling changed to "pog" sometime in the early 2000s, along with the AAFES pog game of the same spelling. So, for the record, if you spell it pog, you're a boot.

In my Marine Corps infantry days, we used pogue to derisively describe anyone whose military occupational specialty was anything other than grunt. Pogues were the ones who told their wives they were spending the week "in the field." Then, they set up big GP tents in the grass outside the headquarters building and worked there all week. Silly pogue, there is a difference between being in the field and in a field.

But the purpose of this anthology is not to denigrate pogues. On the contrary, we felt their representation in fiction (military SF or otherwise) a bit lacking. What about the kid with the thirty-pound brain locked away in the vault, like in Gene Rowley's tale of a lance corporal in the Cyber Corps? The medical ninjas who're willing to move heaven and earth to save one more life feature prominently in K. Anders's story. Chris DiNote shows us there are worse things lurking within the depths of the military machine than mere pogues. In "The Troll," Jim Curtis reminds us that the hardest working folks in the military just may be the apes whose job is to keep aircraft in the sky. Wrapping up our ensemble of storytelling is Liska McCabe, who reminds us that no matter the MOS, we all endure check-out in the end.

It is my sincere hope you enjoy this collection of stories featuring our non-infantry brethren and sistren. Consider it a hat tip from an old grunt who longed to see the log train convoy visit his dusty outpost in Iraq.”

I have loved reading Military Science Fiction since the mid 1980’s when in high school, from my first reading of Starship Troopers by Heinlein to my eagerly awaiting each new volume in Pier’s Anthony’s Bio of a Space Tyrant’s series. So reading a collection like this was like going back to the early days of overcoming my dual form of dyslexia and reading anything I could get my hands on. There are several authors I encountered in this collection I plan on tracking down more and reading. And I should get around to reading the nearly dozen Raconteur Press Anthologies I have already picked up. My first reaction was, Wow want an epic anthology. My Second was lost time on not reading others in the collection. 

Often when you read an anthology there are a few stand out stories, a few that are just meh and the others are good stories. That was not the case with this collection. I loved every story in the volume. If I had to pick a story to say was my favourite it would be ‘Bits and Parts by M. Plummer, followed by ‘F$%'n Guard Guys!’ by Christopher DiNote and third would be; ‘The Troll’ by J.L. Curtis. But I loved the humour in ‘To the Letter’ by S. J. Fazekas and ‘Moto-morphosis’ by Liska McCabe. Another standout story is ‘Chow Hall’ by Josh Hill, it is  one I keep thinking about after finishing the book. 

There are also several excellent full page illustrations between each story and a few extras, they by the amazing Cedar Sanderson, the only thing that would have made it better is if she had contributed a story as well. 

The stories are in a wide range of interpretations on the theme of military science fiction adventures. I enjoyed each story, and can easily recommend the anthology. It was an excellent collection to read. And I am looking to track down other works from a couple of the contributors. This is a collection that is guaranteed to entertain.

Raconteur Press Anthologies Series:
Knights of Malta
Saints of Malta
Space Cowboys
Space Cowboys 2: Electric Rodeo
Space Marines
Falcons of Malta
Pinup Noir
Space Marines 2
Moggies In Space
Your Honor, I Can Explain
Space Cowboys 3: Return of the Bookaroo
Or All Will Burn
Moggies Back in Space
PinUp Noir 2
You See, What Happened Was...
Space Cowboys 404: Cow Not Found
He Was Dead When I Got There
Or All Will Burn: Fierce Love
Full Steam Ahead!
Giant! Freakin'! Robots!
Space Marines III
Moggies in Space: A Galaxy Fur. Fur Away
What! You Again?: The Spurgle Chronicles
Wyrd West
Space Cowboys 5: Cattle Drive
Goblin Market
Hooves, Tracks and Sabers!: Tales of Alternate History
Alien Family Values
Moggie Noir
Or All Will Burn: At All Costs
Coffee Adventures: Quests for the Perfect Cuppa Joe
The Super Generation
Steam Rising: Tales of Steampunk and Wondrous Inventions
The Big Ones
Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi
Road Trippin'
Cursed Canyon: Wyrd West
Giant Stompin' Robots
Coffee Capers: 10 Tales of Coffee and Adventure
Fission Chips: Space Cowboys 6
Goblin Bazaar

Raconteur Press Postcard Stories:
Postcards From Mars
Steam-Powered Postcards
Fanta-Fly Postcards
Postcards from Foolz
Single Servings of Liberty 
Imagine THAT! 
Last Call

Raconteur Press Anthologies 1-23

Raconteur Press Postcards Series 1-7


Sunday, 9 February 2025

Thérèse Teacher of Prayer - Brother Craig Driscoll - CTS Spirituality

Thérèse Teacher of Prayer 
CTS Spirituality
Brother Craig Driscoll 
ISBN 9781860824807
eISBN 9781784694845
ASIN B075P2671D
CTS Booklet D693

Thérèse Teacher of Prayer - Brother Craig Driscoll - CTS Spirituality

Over the last several years I have read over 400 volumes from the Catholic Truth Society. This was the third volume from the pen of Brother Craig Driscoll that I have read. And one of many I have read about Saint Thérèse. I enjoyed that volume so much I picked up a few others from Brother Craig. This book was a good little read. He appears to have two others available from the CTS, and two from other publishers. This booklet was published by the CTS in 2008 and the eBook edition released in 2017. The description of this volume is:

“St Thérèse of Lisieux has much to teach us about prayer. This delightfully simple booklet will help all who wish to follow the young Carmelite’s way of praying with the heart.

St Thérèse of Lisieux has much to teach us about prayer. This delightfully simple booklet will help all who wish to follow the young Carmelite's way of praying with the heart. The author, Brother Craig, takes us through some of the richest traditions: Eucharistic adoration, devotion to Our Lady and veneration of the saints and angels. Prayers to and by Thérèse are included.”

The chapters in the work are:

Learning from example
Prayer in the life of St Thérèse before she became a Carmelite
Prayer in the life of St Thérèse as a Carmelite
St Thérèse’s Act of Oblation
Particular devotions of St Thérèse
St Thérèse, apostle of prayer
Praying with St Thérèse

I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume. Some of them are:

“Some years ago when I told a renowned theologian that I was writing about St Thérèse as a Teacher of Prayer the response was that, “she did not write anything on prayer.” But she did. What she wrote is perhaps over-shadowed by her doctrine of the Little Way and that the “other Teresa”-of Avila-wrote so much and so profoundly on prayer. It is true that not all we learn about prayer from St Thérèse come from her writing. 1 Much has comes from writings about her. That is, the lessons we learn about prayer by her example.”

“Regarding Prayer, she learned that prayer saved souls. So she prayed much for them.”

“St Thérèse prayed for a logical reason (and this would help her when the devout feels no longer existed during her Dark Night of the Soul) 2 because she was a pragmatist. She prayed because it worked: it brought about results.”

“Today, when one visits Les Buissonnets (the name of the Saint’s home in Lisieux) one can almost see the life that went on there-a life of prayer, work, study and recreation, all at their ordered times, a well-to-do, scheduled life completely free from worldliness.”

“Years later the Saint told the Bishop of Bayeux that she had wished to give herself to God from the time she was three. Even more amazing is that she could say that from the age three she had never refused God anything!”

“In Carmel Thérèse had much to suffer. Without complaining she accepted poor food, poverty, work and most painful of all, the cold. Some nights she never slept, she simply shivered the entire night.”

“To this she added many hidden acts of self-denial that completely conquered her self-will and allowed God’s will to reign in her, so much so, that during her last illness she could say that she had never done her own will.”

“It is necessary to understand that her prayer was coupled with a solid foundation of penance and mortification. Her prayer was one of a faithful soul, willing to carry her cross. Her prayer was the prayer of one who first accepted suffering, then desired it, then found peace and joy in suffering until she became a victim for reparation and the salvation of souls.”

“Throughout her life she lived in a state of recollection. As the other French Carmelite nun, Blessed Elizabeth of the Blessed Trinity, lived adoring the Blessed Trinity within her, her “sister,” St Thérèse, lived with an awareness of being a child carried by God.”

“One can learn a great deal about prayer from the example of the prayer of Thérèse during her last illness.”

“The person who has been transformed lives only to do God’s Will. The person, therefore, completely forgets himself or herself.”

“Thérèse was, throughout her entire life, a child of Mary. Let us consider now the special character of her devotion to Our Blessed Mother. She was especially devoted to Our Lady as the Mother of Jesus during His hidden years at Nazareth.”

“She looks at the statue of Our Blessed Mother and says the Holy Name of Jesus. In remembering Our Lady she does not forget Jesus and in remembering Jesus she does not forget Our Lady. For Thérèse it is simply Jesus and Mary.”

“Along with St Joseph, Thérèse had special devotion to a to a number of saints. She often prayed to the saints. She, of course, was devoted to St Teresa of Avila, her namesake and to St John of the Cross, her teacher of the spiritual life. She was also especially devoted to the martyrs. Since she was a child when she and Céline would read and talk about the brave martyrs, she had a special love and devotion to them. She had a special friendship with St Cecilia and St Agnes.”

I really enjoyed working through this little volume. The more I read about Saint Thérèse the more I appreciate her insights, her life and her example. I have read numerous volumes from the CTS about her and with each one I have a greater appreciation. This is an excellent little volume. It is listed as 80 pages but it is packed full of information. The prayers in the final section of the book are:

Litany to St Thérèse
Litany to Saint Thérèse
To obtain graces through the intercession of St Thérèse
Prayer to St Thérèse
Prayer for missionaries
Prayer to the Father
Prayer for spiritual childhood
Prayer for world peace

I hope those samples above give you a feel for the volume. This is a good little volume to read. It is a book I benefited from. And I am certain one that all who read will benefit from. The teachings are real and easily applicable. It is a little primer on prayer, or prayer in imitation of the little way. I can easily recommend this great resource by Brother Craig Driscoll and from the Catholic Truth Society.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.


CTS Books and Booklets n the life and spirituality of St Thérèse:
Thérèse of Lisieux - On the visit of her relics to Great Britain (Do 810)
Louis and Zélie Martin, Parents of Thérèse of Lisieux, by Paulinus Redmond (B 709)


Books by Brother Craig Driscoll:
Of the Cross a Biography of Blessed Edith Stein
Our Lady, an Angel, and Sister Agnes: the story of the wondrous events at Akita, Japan
Thérèse - Teacher of Prayer
The Coming Chastisement


Thérèse Teacher of Prayer - Brother Craig Driscoll - CTS Spirituality


Saturday, 8 February 2025

Jumping into Joy - Theresa Linden - Caitlyn and Peter's Rosary Adventures Book 1

Jumping into Joy
Caitlyn and Peter's Rosary Adventures Book 1
Theresa Linden
Kelsey Doherty (Illustrator) 
ISBN 9781734992977
ASIN B0DTZR75XZ

Jumping into Joy - Theresa Linden and Kelsey Doherty - Caitlyn and Peter's Rosary Adventures Book 1

This story marks the 40th time I have read a book by Linden, and I have read her contributions to anthologies numerous times as well. My children are well past the reading age for this book, but I love Linden’s writing so much I decided to give it a read anyways, who knows hopefully someday I can read it with grandkids. 

The description of this volume states:

“Jumping into Joy is the first in this Rosary-themed chapter book series.

Nine-year-old Peter dozes off while his family prays the Rosary. His friend Caitlyn encourages him to use his imagination. He’s not sure what she means until she takes him through the Portal to the Rosary Mysteries. At first Peter doesn’t see the ancient town of Nazareth. But as Caitlyn describes their surroundings and the teenage girl carrying a water pot, Peter begins to see it too! Hey, is that Mary?

Peter uses his problem-solving skills, and Caitlyn refers to her Rosary Journal as they try to discover the virtues attached to each mystery of the Rosary. Once they discover the virtue, they zip to the next mystery!

Prayer is more important than ever—and not just for adults. Children have the potential to become great prayers warriors and to grow in virtue by using Our Lady’s gift of the Rosary. We know that the Rosary is more than a recitation of words; it is also a meditation on the lives of Jesus and Mary. Children have a unique ability to use their imagination. Following lively characters, this Rosary-themed chapter book, geared toward children ages six to nine, will show readers how to use their imaginations to meditate on the mysteries and will encourage them to pray for particular virtues.

After the story, find Bible verses and virtues specific to each mystery, along with a “Prayer before the Rosary” for children.”

This story is really interesting and a unique twist on the time traveller motif. In some ways it is similar to Lisa M. Hendey’s Chime Travellers Series or the Mr. Baker’s Book Series by Andrew Votipka and even Douglings Adventures by Carissa Douglas. The main difference is that in this volume and I assume series is that the children are witnessing events but often appear to not be seen or hear. And there are jumping through events from the Bible for the mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

The story begins with a Rosary being said at a Home-school meet up. And Peter has fallen asleep again. After the Rosary, Peter and Caitlyn head out to the woods to play. Caitlyn challenges Peter to use his imagination to meditate while thinking on the mysteries of the Rosary. She uses her journal to pull out factions and quotes from the bible. Soon they are witnessing the events the woods are transformed into the desert, and cities of Israel. And with each mystery they realize there is a virtue being shown and they work to figure out how the mystery links to a virtue and how that virtue should be worked on in their own lives. 

This is an excellent little read. It is a great volume and one that would be a great addition to any home, school, or church library. I cannot help but conclude that this is a much younger version of Caitlyn and Peter that we encounter in the West Brothers Series when they are teenagers. 

This is another great volume from the masterful pen of Linden. It is written for a younger audience than many of her books, but appears to tie some of them together. It is a great read in what looks like it will be a wonderful series.  

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Theresa Linden:
Tortured Soul
...

Chasing Liberty Series:
01 Chasing Liberty
02 Testing Liberty
03 Fight For Liberty
Bound to find Freedom - Short Story

...

West brothers Series:
Roland West Loner
Life-Changing Love
Battle for His Soul

Standing Strong
Roland West Outcast
Fire Starters
...
...

Armor of God Series Original Editions:
Belt of Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
Boot of Peace
Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit

Armor of God Series Second Edition:

Caitlyn and Peter's Rosary Adventures Series:

Friday, 7 February 2025

M*A*S*H - 1972-1983

M*A*S*H
1972-1983
Creator - Larry Gelbart
 
M*A*S*H - 1972-1983

It took me just over a year but I rewatched M*A*S*H and at the beginning alternated seasons with seasons of Columbo. I had always been a fan, I can remember watching episodes with my dad, my grandmother, and later my step-mom had the series on DVD. Before beginning the series, I watched the 1970 movie, which I am pretty certain I had never seen. After finishing the series I watched M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television which was released in 2024, and W*A*L*T*E*R (1984) which was filmed as a pilot and only aired once. I could not find anywhere to watch After MASH (1983-1985). Trapper John M.D. (1976-1986) is a spinoff of the 1970 movie and I do recall it a bit from my childhood, apparently the pilot has a photo of Rodgers and Alda thus partially linking it to the TV show.
 
It was interesting watching the series from beginning to end. Many of the episodes were familiar, I few I recalled in their entirety, and only a couple did I not recall at all. I felt a certain sense of melancholy every time the opening sequence played. Over the last several years my son and I have read many books about Military Chaplains, especially Emil Kapaun. But the melancholy was appropriate for the material, I feel like the theme song became more sombre as the seasons progressed, it felt muted and more sombre in the later seasons.
 
What stuck out to me watching the entire season was the realism. The series started as pure comedy but soon they start tackling deeper subjects, and they explored many different ways to present the episodes story. Two that stand out are the episode filmed entirely from the patient’s Point of View, and the one with a running clock in the corner counting down in real time Life Time. The episode where Hawkeye and Houlihan get trapped in an active battle Comrades in Arms. BJ’s failing at keeping his marital vows Hanky Panky. And even Father Francis Mulcahy’s loss of hearing and struggles with his faith over it.
 
What I think of most when reflecting on the series is friendships, and even just acquaintances coming together in difficult times and finding a way to get through them. I think about comradery and having support. I think about faith, doubt, and finding a way to keep moving forward no matter what life throws at you.
 
The key cast members are:
 
Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce - Alan Alda
Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Penobscott) - Loretta Swit
Maxwell Q. Klinger - Jamie Farr
Father John Patrick Francis Mulcahy - William Christopher
Trapper John McIntyre - Wayne Rogers
Henry Blake - McLean Stevenson
Frank Burns - Larry Linville
Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly - Gary Burghoff 
B.J. Hunnicutt - Mike Farrell
Sherman T. Potter - Harry Morgan
Charles Emerson Winchester III - David Ogden Stiers
 
When the series ended it was the highest rated Television Show of all time for live viewership. It is a record it still holds for non sporting television, and one unlikely to ever be broken in the age of streaming. The show had 64 wins and 154 nominations for awards including 14 Primetime Emmys. And Alan Alda won three different Emmeys he won: Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (twice), Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series also a record.
 
M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television which was released in 2024 used footage from the 30th Anniversary special for cast members who are now deceased and new footage with several of the surviving cast members. Woven around the story about the series and stories about on and off set happenings.
 
I greatly enjoyed rewatching this series and seeing it from beginning to end. What I love most is it is about friendships and relationships. And it took me back to watching it with my father. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the 251 episodes and believe it is better than much on TV or streaming these days. If you have not watched it, maybe give it a try, and if it brings back fond memories maybe revisit the series. Goodbye, so long and farewell. 

M*A*S*H - 1972-1983

M*A*S*H - 1972-1983

M*A*S*H - 1972-1983

M*A*S*H - 1972-1983


Thursday, 6 February 2025

Praying with the Holy Spirit - Juliette Levivier and Anna Gravier - CTS Children’s Books

Praying with the Holy Spirit 
Juliette Levivier
Anna Gravier (Illustrations)
ISBN 9781860825378
ISBN 1860825370
CTS Booklet CH4

Praying with the Holy Spirit - Juliette Levivier and Anna Gravier  - CTS Children’s Books

As of the reading of this book over the last few years I have read over 400 volumes from the Catholic Truth Society. I stumbled upon them while doing research on an author, and have been hooked ever since. This is the thirteenth in the CTS Children’s Book Series that I have read. It is the eighth and I believe final by Levivier, from the CTS, that I have read. Overall I have not read many of the CTS Children's Books but I have loved those I have and I will continue to track down more.

The description of this book is:
 
“Learn about the Holy Spirit and let Him fill your heart. A lively little book with engaging illustrations which speaks simply about the Holy Spirit, and helps children to pray to Him and invite Him to change their lives.”

The back of the volume states:

“Praying with the Holy Spirit - A lively little book with engaging illustrations which speak simply about the Holy Spirit, and helps children to pray to Him and invite Him to change their lives.”

The sections in this book are:

I believe in the Holy Spirit
Spirit of God breath of life
Come, creator Spirit!
He has spoken through the prophets
Mary, filled with Grace
Jesus’ baptism
Jesus acts through the spirit
Pentecost
Come, Spirit of fire!
Come, Spirit of holiness!
Come, Spirit of light!
Come Spirit of love!
Come, Holy Spirit, teach us to pray!
Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with your gits!
Come, Spirit of reverence!
Come, Spirit of knowledge!
Come, Spirit of strength!
Come, Spirit of counsel!
Come, Spirit of intelligence!
Come, Spirit of wisdom!
Come, Holy Spirit, to visit us!

A sample chapter is:

“''I believe in the Holy Spirit"

God is spirit.
John 4:24

God, our Father in Heaven, we all know who He is. We pray to Him, saying: ''Our Father, who art in Heaven ... '' Jesus, the Son of God, we know Him well too. we know His life and receive Him in the Eucharist. But who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the love of the Father and the Son. He is God, truly God.
To believe in God is to believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

So there are three distinct persons in God: the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. This is what we call the Holy Trinity: one God in three persons.

The Holy Spirit makes us know Jesus and makes us hear the word of the Father. He prepares our hearts to welcome and love them.

Holy Spirit, teach me
to know You, welcome You,
love You, speak to You and pray to You.
Holy Spirit, give me a heart full of love
for God, for my family, for my friends
and for all those whom I find it difficult
to really love.

Another sample chapter is:

Come, Spirit of holiness!

Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.
Leviticus 19:2

Often, we think that saints are not normal people. But they really are! They have simply let themselves be guided by the Holy Spirit. They have let Him act in them.

They are all very different from each other: there are men and women, young and old, funny and serious ones, gentle, angry, calm, lively ones and even jokers. All, however, had something in common. Do you know what?

They prayed a lot. This is why the Holy Spirit acted in them, transformed them, guided them and gave them some of His holiness.

The surest way to be holy is to follow the Holy Spirit!

My vocation is to be holy. When I pray, the Holy Spirit sanctifies me.

Breathe in me, 0 Holy Spirit,
that I might think in a holy way.
Push me, 0 Holy Spirit,
that I might behave in a holy way.
Seduce me, 0 Holy Spirit,
that I might love in a holy way.
Strengthen me, 0 Holy Spirit,
that I might watch in a holy way.
Keep me, 0 Holy Spirit,
that I might never betray what is holy.
(Saint Augustine)”

This is an excellent little volume. It was great to read and pray through, I even added one of the prayers to my daily prayer list. Then we passed it along to our kids former Catholic Grade School. The Librarian has loved many of the CTS books we have donated over the years. I hope the sample chapters give you a feel for this volume. This is another excellent volume from the Catholic Truth Society. I am very thankful I picked it up and know it is one I will use often. A great resource I can easily recommend for church, home, or school library. And now having read all the books by Juliette Levivier from the CTS I can easily recommend all of them.

Praying with the Holy Spirit - Juliette Levivier and Anna Gravier  - CTS Children’s Books Sample 1

Praying with the Holy Spirit - Juliette Levivier and Anna Gravier  - CTS Children’s Books Sample 2

Praying with the Holy Spirit - Juliette Levivier and Anna Gravier  - CTS Children’s Books Sample 3

Praying with the Holy Spirit - Juliette Levivier and Anna Gravier  - CTS Children’s Books Sample 4

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.


Books by Juliette Levivier:
Francis: the Poor Man of Assisi

Wednesday, 5 February 2025

Wyverns Never Die - Declan Finn - Honeymoon from Hell Book 3

Wyverns Never Die
Honeymoon from Hell Book 3
Declan Finn
ISBN 9798344795454
eISBN 9798227111753
ASIN B0DJBGNSLF
 
Wyverns Never Die - Declan Finn - Honeymoon from Hell Book 3

This is the 50th volume I have read from the masterful pen of Declan Finn, I read most in under a year after first discovering his works. I read them at the pace of about a book a week. This is the third story in the Honeymoon from Hell series, and the seventh novel (there are some shorter works out there) featuring Marco Catalano and Amanda Colt and it is another amazing story. There are 5 planned in this series, or this part of Amanda and Marco’s story. At the ends of this one we know where they are headed next and just the mention of joining Tommy Nolan of the St Tommy NYPD fame brought a smile to my face. But I am getting ahead of myself, back to the volume at hand. 

The description of this volume states:

“THE SEQUEL TO THE DRAGON AWARD NOMINATED "LOVE AT FIRST BITE" CONTINUES!

Marco and Amanda have been houndred from Chicago to San Francisco by all the forces of Hell. Surely, Wyvern Con science fiction and fantasy convention in Atlanta would be safe? Who would dare attack a convention the size of a small city?

Everyone.

Before they even arrive, they are nearly killed by Chinese assassins. The local vampire nest has turned on them. Cyber-zombies have been unleashed on the streets.

Somebody has been playing a game with Marco and Amanda. But this is one honeymoon couple that like to play chess. And now, it's time for their gambit to commence.”

The chapters in this volume are:

More Trouble in Little Japan
Visions of the Future
Countdown to Doomsday
Murder on the Atlanta Express
Blood Moon
Not a Dark Lord
Boys of Translyvania
Midnight Train to Georgia
SPF Infinity
Dark Envoy
Blood from the Chalice
Plaza of Death
Vampire Surgery
Riddle in the Dark
Daylight Raid
Plans
According to Plan
Nowhere to Run
Parade Ground
Gas Leak
Eat In
Playing by Rules
Into the Fire
Treatment
Prey
Showdown
Applications of Power
Speed of Lightning
In Your Head
Terminated
Convention’s End

We have a convoluted cast of characters in this story and it ties to many of Finn’s other series in one way or another. Our main cast includes:

Marco Catalano – the groom, a physician assistant. Killer of evil, brilliant with a supercomputer like mind, and like Kirk does not believe in no win situations nor does he know how to back down.
Amanda Colt – 100 year old vampire, force for good. Takes communion, goes to confession, and has fought in almost every war for a century and is a spy with top clearance.
Jennifer Bosley – 400 year old vampire, president of the New York Vampire Association, mentor to Amanda,.
Raymond Wilson – Police Commissioner – Bosley’s plus one.
Enrico – crime family contact for Marco.
Galadren – relation to Marco, most dangerous man in middle earth. 
Merle Kraft – spook specializing the weird, strange and unusual. Runs a team out of San Francisco, has previously worked with Marko.
Rory – aka Sean Allis Treacy, a vampire who fights for good, an Irishman who still reminisces about eh old days. 
Father William Rodgers - 
Vatican Ninjas
SpecOps

Foes:
Big list of bad guys to be worked through
A final boss Amanda thought long dead
Division Four (who “work for the People’s Republic of Cowards.”)

The introduction of Lim Tong whom readers of St Tommy will recall was an intriguing twist. And another twist was that final conversation between Dalf and Amanda! After reading that passage I need to go back and reread the whole Saint Tommy Series with this information in mind. And some of the actual authors or books he mentions are wonderfully done.

With even more characters dropped in this story I was surprised not to have seen either Father Richard Freeman or Father Michael Pearson appear, there are still 2 volumes to go. In an older edition of Madeline L’Engle’s Space Quartet there was a family tree that included her Kairos, Chromos Series as well as other volumes including her non-fiction. I am beginning to feel like someone needs to make such a character tree for Finn’s ever expanding canon of work. But back to the book at hand.

The events in this story take place over I believe just 5 days. The main story is Marco’s and Amanda’s continued honeymoon. It involves their friends, family, associates and even just others with common enemies. The largest gathering of people who know Marco yet. Even bigger than the wedding and that was a real mixed bag. Part way through they get an inkling who they are actually up against, but they also fig out he might just be a pawn for another player, well maybe not pawn, maybe rook, knight, bishop and throw in all the moves of the queen at once. They are about to face their biggest challenge yet!  

This story if even more full of Finn’s action, adventure and battles. Improvised weapons, the normal weapons of Marco and a new toy sent as a wedding present is used yet again, and Marco decides to claim some weapons from those defeated and this leads to some serious conflict!. Battles with multiple cybernetic Zombie hordes, more than one encounter with monsters. And even a sort of created dragon, who even breathes fire. And We have Division 4.

We have Marco, Amanda and those who care for them and have worked with them coming together to fight the good fight yet again, and on many fronts they realize the battle is bigger than they initially thought. And they are attacked on multiple fronts simultaneously. There are a number of surprises and some interesting really interesting twists. It was nearly impossible to put this book down. I stayed up way too late on a work night, reading and woke at 4 and just got up to finish it before work. It will leave you desperate for the next instalment. 

It is another excellent read from the masterful pen of Finn. The third in what is shaping up to be an amazing series. A book I can easily recommend.   

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan

Books by Declan Finn:
Love At First Bite Series:
Short Stories:
Novels:
     (Murphy's Law of Vampires)

Honeymoon from Hell Series:


Other books:
...

Anthologies contributed to:
Luna: Planetary Anhtology Series Book 2
Supernatural Streets
Starflight: Tales From The Starport Lounge
Tales of the Once and Future King
Mercury: Planetary Anthology Series Book 4
Venus: Planetary Anthology Series Book 5
Mars: Planetary Anthology Series Book 7
Places Beyond the Wild: A Z-Day Anthology
Shoot the Devil: Ten Tales of Humans Defeating the Demonic
Fantastic Schools, Volume 6
Fantastic Schools Staff 7 Staff
Shoot the Devil 2 Dark Matter
Beast Hunt Volume 1
...



Tuesday, 4 February 2025

Notorious - Gordon Korman

Notorious 
Gordon Korman
ISBN 9781443187732
ASIN B085CKWMYV

Notorious - Gordon Korman

I am now over half way through the masterful pen of Gordon Korman. As of the writing of this review he has 104 books in print and 2 more announced for this year (2025). My son who is 17 still loves his books, my daughter in 14 picks and chooses, but I am trying to work my way through his complete catalogue, in my 50’s. I am just about completed the stand-alones and just have to finish his series. A few of which have been out of print for a while.  

Most of the titles by Korman I have read, I read over the last 7 year. I had read a few back in 2009 when the 39 Clues first came out. I do not recall reading any when I was young, but with my dual form of dyslexia I did not read many Children’s or Middle Grade books. It was only later I learned to really read. In many ways this volume really hit home for me. 

My son and I started reading Gordon Korman books together six years ago, when he was given one as an end of year gift by his teacher. She gave the whole class the same Scholastic edition and wrote a note to each student in their copy of the book.

When reading Korman books; some he reads to me, some we use adaptive technology and listen to in the car, and some I just read on my own. 

The description of this book states:

“Keenan is bored. He is recovering from tuberculosis, acquired while overseas with his mom. Now he’s stuck sitting in a lawn chair at his dad’s place on Centerlight, Michigan, an island of about 7000 residents in the St. Clair River which is divided in two by the Canada/US border.

When Keenan meets a girl his age, ZeeBee, who lives on the Canadian side of the border, his life becomes anything but boring. ZeeBee is full of conspiracy theories. Paramount among her theories is that notorious gangster Tommy-Gun Ferguson (original owner of the house she now lives in) buried millions in treasure on the island during the Prohibition era. She’s also convinced her recently deceased dog Barney was murdered — apparently he was a notorious terror and not a favourite among the locals.

Keenan isn’t convinced by either of these theories, but soon some clues turn up that even he can’t ignore. Will the pair of them find the treasure and solve the mystery of what happened to Barney . . . or will the dog-murdering criminals find them first?

Told in Gordon’s now classic multi-voice style, his new novel combines mystery, comedy, and a story of new friendships.”

This story is set on an island on the Canadian and US border. An island famous for summer homes of mobsters. And for a lighthouse that is in disrepair. The story begins with Keenan confined to the back yard recovering from TB, when ZeeBee pushes through the bushes and strikes up a friendship. This story is a part mystery, part treasure hunt and a whole lot of fun. It is a story about friendship, community, cliques, and even international relations. It is an excellent read. 

According to Goodreads there are 11 editions of this book, as of the writing of this review. The original publisher in Canada was Scholastic, in 2020 that same year it was published by Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins) in the United States. There is a Kindle edition, but I could not find it on other eBook platforms, nor a record of an eBook edition.

I must admit I have had this volume for a while now, but held off because of the cover. Having read the story I now understand the cover and I greatly appreciated the story. It is a perfect story from the pen of Korman, having been raised in Canada and now living in the states. It was a fun read, even though I figured out most of the mystery long before the end.  

This is another excellent fun story and of Korman’s best standalone stories. It is another great Middle Grade read from Korman, master of the ‘School Story’ and this time we have schools in Canada, the States, and mentions of those around the world. I absolutely loved it! A great read for the young and young at heart.

Books by Gordon Korman:
MacDonald Hall Series:
         (formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle)
The Zucchini Warriors (1988)
Light’s Camera, Disaster (1991)
          (aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)
The Jokes on Us (1995)
          (formerly Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall)

Bugs Potter Series:

Jeremy Bloom Series:
The D−Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1992)
The Last-Place Sports Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1996)

Monday Night Football Series:
The Quarterback Exchange (1997)
Running Back Conversion (1997)
Super Bowl Switch (1997)
Heavy Artillery (1997)
Ultimate Scoring Machine (1998)
NFL Rules! Bloopers, Pranks, Upsets, and Touchdowns (1998)

Masterminds Series:
Masterminds (2015)

Slapshots Series:
The Stars From Mars (1999)
All-Mars All-Stars/The Dream Team (1999)
The Face-off Phony (2000)
Cup Crazy (2000)
Ouch I got slapped (2023)
4-in-1 Slapshots: The Complete Collection (2008)

Nose Pickers Series:
Nose Pickers from Outer Space! (1999)
Planet of the Nose Pickers (2000)
Your Mummy Is a Nose Picker (2000)
Invasion of the Nose Pickers (2001)
4-in-1 The Ultimate Nose-Picker Collection (2006)

Island Series:
Shipwreck (2001)
Survival (2001)
Escape (2001)
3-in-1 Island Trilogy Collection (2006)

Son of the Mob Series:
Son of the Mob 2: Hollywood Hustle (2004)

Everest Series:
The Contest (2002)
The Climb (2002)
The Summit (2002)
Everest Trilogy Box Set (2002)

Dive Series:
The Discovery (2003)
The Deep (2003)
The Danger (2003)

On the Run Series:
The Stowaway Solution (2005)
Public Enemies (2005)
Hunting the Hunter (2006)

Kidnapped Series:
The Search (2006)
The Rescue (2006)

Swindle Series:
Swindle (2008)
Zoobreak (2009)
Framed (2010)
Showoff (2012)
Hideout (2013)
Jackpot (2014)
Unleashed (2015)
Jingle (2016)

Titanic Series:
Unsinkable (2011)
Collision Course (2011)
S.O.S (2011)

The 39 Clues Series:
Vespers Rising (2011)
The Medusa Plot (2011)
Flashpoint (2014)

Hypnotists Series:
The Hypnotists (2013)
Memory Maze (2014)
The Dragonfly Effect (2015)

Ungifted Series:
Ungifted (2012)
Supergifted (2018)

Slacker Series:
Slacker (2016)
Level 13 (2019)
...

Non Series Books:
The Chicken Doesn't Skate (1996)
No More Dead Dogs (2000)
Maxx Comedy: The Funniest Kid in America (2003)
Jake, Reinvented (2003)
Born To Rock (2006)
Schooled (2007)
Pop (2009)
Restart (2017)
Notorious (2019)
War Stories (2020)
Game On (contains The Chicken Doesn’t Skate and The Toilet Paper Tigers (2021)
Unplugged (2021)
Linked (2021)
The Fort (2022)
Mixed Up (2023)
Slugfest (2024)
Faker (2024)
Old School (2025)
Snoop (2025)