Conflux
Title: Conflux: Threat From the Troika
Author: William Brazzel
Publisher: Balboa Press
ISBN: 978-1504391764
Pages: 306
Genre: Fiction, Action/Adventure
Reviewed by: Susan Brown
Hollywood Book Reviews
Get ready for some fast-paced, action-packed reading in this page-turner that pits a veteran Special Forces officer, now an investigative journalist, against an extremist group hell-bent on destroying the U.S. democracy. And that’s just a summary of the action. The story’s nitty gritty is even more exciting.
Protagonist Sean Carrol, a reporter for the New York International News, is
Tickling Chanterelle
Title: Tickling Chanterelle
Author: George Bricker
Publisher: Toplink Publishing
ISBN: 978-1946801951
Pages: 342
Genre: Mystery
Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert
Hollywood Book Reviews
George Bricker’s Tickling Chanterelle takes readers on a literary excursion back in time to 1937 Hollywood, where the young stars of a mystery radio show find themselves entwined in a web of real life intrigue as mystery, murder and exciting adventure, intersect. Set in Hollywood, 1937, with the golden age of radio still somewhat viable, as a form
The Old Brick
Title: The Old Brick
Author: Judy Lennington
Publisher: Toplink Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 978-1947620797
Pages: 432
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Susan Milam
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
In The Old Brick, author Judy Lennington depicts the adjustments a family must make after moving to a small town in Ohio. With a deft hand, Ms. Lennington portrays the different perspectives that
Hidden Relationships of the Homicide Detective
Title: Hidden Relationships of the Homicide Detective
Author: Herman L. Hinton
Publisher: Toplink Publishing
ISBN: 978-1948262040
Pages: 406
Genre: Crime Fiction
Reviewed by: Matt Hurd
Hollywood Book Reviews
Hidden Relationships of the Homicide Detective is a unique, bittersweet read. It has a somewhat unusual approach to the typically familiar genre of mystery and crime fiction, which will certainly make readers sit up and take notice. Hidden Relationships is the story of Trey, the son of a homicide detective and the discoveries
When We Were Young
Title: When We Were Young
Author: Antony Smith
Publisher: Toplink Publishing
Pages: 648
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
Hollywood Book Reviews
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
When We Were Young is an intriguing and exciting journey of a cross-generational story of love and family. Antony Smith has written a story that will take readers on an adventure.
Sardinian Silver
Title: Sardinian Silver
Author: A. Colin Wright
Publisher: Toplink Publishing
ISBN: 978-1947938830
Pages: 200
Genre: Adult Fiction/Travel
Reviewed by: Jessica Schmidt
Hollywood Book Reviews
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
Sardinian Silver is a mixture of historical fiction, romance and a relatable coming of age story. Author A. Colin Wright treats the reader to stories of a young man’s escapades working as a
The Matriarch Matrix
Title: The Matriarch Matrix
Author: Maxime Trencavel
Publisher: Tail of the Bird Books
ISBN: 978-0999335017
Pages: 599
Genre: Religious Mystery / Science Fiction Metaphysical & Visionary
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Hollywood Book Reviews
Linking three different people to an ancient past and the near-future fear of world war, The Matriarch Matrix provides a rich mix of science, sin and star-crossed romance.
Peter is a tech-savvy guy traumatized by bizarre mental images and the imminent prospect of his grandfather’s death in the
Henri
Title: Henri: Seventeen Short Stories
Author: Douglas Bosack
Publisher: Stonewall Press
ISBN: 9781635246193
Pages: 296
Genre: Short Stories
Reviewed by: Christa Hill
Hollywood Book Reviews
Douglas Bosack builds richly imaged worlds and tangible imagery of places that I have never been in his collection titled Henri: Seventeen Short Stories. In the story ‘A Victim of Circumstance’ he pulled me into the landscape where Frank is with his descriptions of the ocean water, birds, and boats. The story is literally named and
An Iceberg’s Gift
Title: An Iceberg’s Gift
Author: Donald F. Averill
Publisher: Toplink Publishing
ISBN: 9781947938258
Pages: 254
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Reviewed by: Anita Lock
Hollywood Book Reviews
It is spring and brothers Luka and Rolan Ivanov, both in their twenties, are on their fishing boat constantly keeping their eyes open for a way to help Arina, their sister; she dreams of leaving Provideniya in Eastern Siberia and studying astronomy in the United States. It is during this boating trip that they discover
A Past Life
Title: A Past Life: As Told by Brave Hawk
Author: Dond Sylvain
Publisher: Toplink Publishing
ISBN: 978-1947620049
Pages: 154
Genre: Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Susan Milam
Hollywood Book Reviews
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
In A Past Life, author Dond Sylvain chronicles his journey as Brave Hawk. He receives the name when welcomed into a Native American tribe during one of
Bless Me Indeed
Title: Bless Me Indeed: Discover the Secret of Success Through a Bold and Powerful Prayer of Jabez
Author: Janet Kisyombe
Publisher: Toplink Publishing
ISBN: 978-1947620490
Pages: 106
Genre: Religious/Advice
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
Hollywood Book Reviews
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
Bless Me Indeed is an inspiring and hopeful self-help book from Janet Kisyombe. Her Biblical-based advice is derived from
The Kuiper Belt Deception
Title: The Kuiper Belt Deception
Author: Donald F. Averill
Publisher: Toplink Publishing
ISBN: 978-1946801975
Pages: 284
Genre: Science Fiction
Reviewed by: Joe Kilgore
Pacific Book Review
The best science fiction novels find a way to have just the right mix between science and fiction. Too much science and not enough fiction and you lose the humanity that is needed for emotional involvement. Too much fiction and not enough science and you lose the credibility needed to make the story intellectually involving.
Cactus Jumpers
Title: Cactus Jumpers
Author: Andrew Burch
Publisher: Dorrance Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4809-1207-6
Pages: 346
Genre: Western
Reviewed by: John Murray
Hollywood Book Reviews
The western genre has lasted so long for a good reason. While these books feature the cliché macho heroes, six shooters blazing, horseback chases, and stark landscapes, the main appeal is the triumph of good over evil. A code of morality and one man who stands against what he knows to be wrong. Cactus Jumpers by Andrew Burch continues that tradition beautifully.
Emerald, California serves as the dusty
You Have Been Chosen
Title: You Have Been Chosen: The Identity of an Adopted Child
Author: Mary Nyambura Muchiri
Publisher: Toplink Publishing
Pages: 128
Genre: Memoir/ Christian
ISBN: 978-1946801395
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
Hollywood Book Reviews
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
You Have Been Chosen: The Identity of an Adopted Child is an inspiring and heartfelt look at adoption through the eyes
For Beau
Title: For Beau: The Sarah Ashdown Story
Author: Simon Gandossi
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 9781524519889
Pages: 435
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed By: Anita Lock
Pacific Book Review
It is September 7, 2009, sixty-nine years since the Blitz—Hitler’s sustained aerial bombing campaign against Britain during the Battle of Britain (WWII). The date may seem inconsequential to many, except to those who lived through that horrific period. One person who remembers is Sarah Ashdown. Now elderly and fragile, Sarah meets with journalist Daniel Warwick
Poor No More – An American Dream
Title: Poor No More: An American Dream
Author: Steven Bentley, MD
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-5320-1161-1
Pages: 196
Genre: Memoir
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Hollywood Book Reviews
Despite a deprived, dysfunctional upbringing, author Steven Bentley realized his dream to rise to personal and professional fulfillment as chromized in Poor No More – An American Dream. One of Bentley’s early memories is of his alcoholic mother, divorced and desperate, taking her five children to church, getting “saved,” appealing for assistance for her
Trail of the Sasquatch, a shaman’s journey
Title: Trail of the Sasquatch, a shaman’s journey
Author: Donald B. Young, Jr.
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1504986151
Pages: 370
Genre: Non-Fiction
Reviewed By: Susan Milan
Hollywood Book Reviews
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
In Trail of the Sasquatch, a shaman’s journey, Donald B. Young, Jr. chronicles his quest to fulfill his destiny as a holy man. In addition,
Let’s Make Our World Better
Title: Let’s Make Our World Better: How Politics and Religion Stand in the Way
Author: Warren William Luce
Publisher: Green Ivy Publishing
ISBN: 979-1-946043-92-4
Pages: 253
Genre: Politics /Philosophy/Religion
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
Hollywood Book Reviews
“Let’s Make Our World Better” is a thought-provoking look at how to improve politics. Warren William Luce offers some common sense solutions to bring together a divided nation.
Luce is a World War II veteran who has years of experience in world affairs. His
How Smoking Quit Me
Title: How Smoking Quit Me
Author: James J. McGill
Publisher: Venture Publishing LLC
ISBN: 978-1-946955-94-4
Pages: 52
Genre: Non-Fiction / Education
Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert
Hollywood Book Reviews
Breaking the addiction to smoking is never an easy task. There are so many excuses for not quitting while conversely, there are just as many justifications to quit. However, whereas some may quit successfully boasting of awe-inspiring feats of willpower others may find that they remain stuck in a continual fluctuation struggling to
The Noble Rebellion
Title: The Noble Rebellion
Author: Joshua G. Fensterstock
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1-4327-7661-9
Pages: 432
Genre: Thriller
Reviewed by: John Murray
Hollywood Book Reviews
As Shakespeare once wrote, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” For those that are born great or achieve greatness, their future is fairly clear. They’ve worked hard or have been prepared for that path. The most interesting one is the person whom greatness is thrust upon. What do they
The Other La Bohème
Title: The Other La Bohème
Author: Yorker Keith
Publisher: Bookbaby
ISBN: 9781483591995
Pages: 366
Genre: Literary Fiction
Reviewed by: Susan Brown
Hollywood Book Reviews
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
Sing on! That’s the rallying cry of four friends, all of whom are struggling opera singers trying to make a living in the competitive environment
Nightmare in the Limbo of Halloween
Title: Nightmare in the Limbo of Halloween
Author: Behzad Almasi
Publisher: Authorhouse
ISBN: 978-1-50493-484-8
Pages: 246
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Dan MacIntosh
Hollywood Book Review
Behzad Almasi’s fantastic book, Nightmare in the Limbo of Halloween, was said to have taken eight years to write. It certainly does have an epic feel to the book. It’s much like an Albert Camus philosophical story, in that our main character is thrown into a world where much does not make sense
To Never Know
Title: To Never Know
Author: Thomas Duffy
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781536898385
Pages: 206
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Hollywood Book Reviews
To Never Know by author Thomas Duffy is the story of love lost, found and lost again, as a young man is trying to break free from his troubled past.
When we first encounter Steve Lewis, he is a senior in high school in New York City. He is a bit shy, lacking in confidence even though
Wall Street Kitchen
Title: Wall Street Kitchen: The Recipe Behind a Housewife’s 1000% Stock Return
Author: Victor Chiu
Publisher: TBA
ISBN: 9780994911506
Pages: 244
Genre: Business – Investing /Self Help
Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert
Hollywood Book Reviews
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
Ordinarily, success investing in the stock market, for the average person may seem to be well out of reach. Moreover, many people foster the belief that without a cache of
Heartbreaker
Title: Heartbreaker
Author: Thomas Duffy
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 978-1517416539
Pages: 183
Genre: Fiction-Thriller
Reviewed by: CC Thomas
Hollywood Book Reviews
Amber Robertson is one red-hot mess, from beginning to end. Amber is a 19-year-old who has just moved to New York City in order to make more out of her life. Without much of a plan, she moves in with a friend and then scrambles wildly trying to make the rent money. The Big Apple is too much of a big