Location: United States
Member Since: March 19, 2010

Glenda Bixler


Biography

As a former university administrator and later a professional book reviewer, I have since retired! What that means is that I'm reading even more and using my blog to share about new books by new authors...maybe yours?!

"Books--Cats; Life is Sweet"

Where to find Glenda Bixler online

Twitter: gabixler
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Blog: http://gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com/

Books

This member has not published any books.

Glenda Bixler's favorite authors on Smashwords


Smashwords book reviews by Glenda Bixler

  • The Summoning of Clade Josso on April 29, 2010
    (no rating)
    The Summoning of Clade Josso, The first descent into The Vein By J. Dean BookSurge Publishing ISBN: 978-1439222737 316 Pages The Summoning of Clade Josso,The first descent into The Vein, by J. Dean is my idea of the perfect book to be made into an animation action adventure movie! I know that the monsters in this book would be unparalleled for creative images that would be magnificent in full living color! Take, for instance, the Cloud Specter who appears upside down from out of the clouds, his huge arms reaching to grab you! Or the dangers of the Meridian that must be crossed...or... just the fact that everybody other than Clade, no matter what species, is, ahhhh, dead? What a fantasy Purgatory! When his sister died, it seemed that Clade's parents died inside--they failed to keep themselves and their business in Cyrco up and the family had fallen apart, emotionally and physically. And so Clade used a rare artifact to seek out The Control, hoping to have his family returned to what it had been--could his sister be claimed from the dead, or, if not, would it be possible for her parents to actually see and talk to her to know that she was happy and alive where she was now? Where did he go....ah, that would be part of the mystery...but the author claims that Clade was "vomited" there... I just had to add that as an example of the specific word choices that you will find throughout this novel! Oh, and as soon as he got there, he met and talked with Trecil, his sister! The descriptions for the place, the buildings, the people are all part of the phantasm, magic and excitement readers will experience as they join Clade Josso in his descent into The Vein. Clade was attempting to enter a city whose occupants had no interest in letting him in and there was met by Radha, a member of a Sect whose purpose was much greater than the personal wishes of Clade. They worked to protect those that had found an artifact and help him find his way to The Vein. Once inside, she led them to an eating place where he met other members of her Sect, but who were all different species. Then the unimaginable began when Clade's first tasty bite of his food, immediately the flavor disappeared. Food there was only for keeping you alive, not for pleasure. Radha quickly noted that it was sort of a punishment--being reminded of the pleasures of a former life... It was then that Clade began to learn that the Sect members had been expecting him, that prophecy indicated that those who obtained the artifact would be able to find the Control and the Seven Worlds would be joined again, and those there would be able to rejoin their own world--and Balys-Crahly would be freed! Now that is the basic storyline--but the real adventure begins when the quest is started and all the action starts! You haven't even heard of the bounders, or the maw eel, or worse, the Unseen or the Blindman! Only thing I'm wondering is how J. Dean is going to be able to maintain the quality of his imaginative fantasy! If you're a fantasy fan, one who loves visiting other worlds, you must realize by now that your next must-read is The Summoning of Clade Josso,The first descent into The Vein! Book Provided by The Author G. A. Bixler
  • Upcountry on Jan. 24, 2011
    star star star star star
    Tt's strange to claim that a book is wonderful when the two main characters are involved in murder. But I'm saying it--this book is beautifully written and beautiful to read. Upcountry by R. M. Doyon was inspired by true events and Doyon has created characters that come alive as if the activities are happening as we read. There is no way readers will not be immediately pulled into the story and claiming your full attention right to the very last page. Somehow I predicted what that ending would be, but it still left me smiling and content when I closed the book! If you love true-life drama, you are going to love Upcountry. On the other hand, this book is so intertwined and full of secrets that it is hard to share the storyline without giving too much away, so I'm choosing to share about the characters. Jane and Joanne are fraternal twin sisters. Joanne stayed at home and married right out of high school, while Jane left their home town, working her way into a high position handling PR for the Governor of the State and assisting him to run for the presidency of the United States. Their father is living next door to Joanne; their mother died of cancer. Her funeral was one of the few times that brought Jane back home, but not for long. Jane had purposely pulled away from the family and the pain and anger she had felt in her hometown. But once again, her Dad had sent her a holiday card, as he had done for every single holiday since she had left, and for this Thanksgiving, she decided to visit the family, rather than spend the time with her lover, who had planned to seek her commitment to marriage during their time together. Her coming home did not just disrupt those potential plans, however. Before the Thanksgiving day was over, Jane had committed murder! And when she grabbed the shotgun to leave, she took her sister with her! During their time moving away from the scene of the crime, Joanne played and sang in a bar, Jane used the shotgun to bust into an amusement park where the twins rode all of the rides before escaping from the police who were coming, and Joanne drove a snowmobile away from the cabin where they had been staying, directly toward the four police cars coming, which included a high jump over the last car on the road! But there were more tears than thrills as the two sisters shared the secrets that had kept them apart for so long... This is a special book that I hope you don't miss! It's about family, forgiveness, and love measured against the evil that lives within some of those people we share our lives with. It's a good triumphs type of book, with all the issues tied up in a bow when you finish, even if some of the packages bring sorrow rather than joy... Highly recommended for all and a perfect book to read during the start of this New Year! Book Received Via Facebook Reviewers Roundup G. A. Bixler
  • The Gateway (Harbinger of Doom Volume 1) on May 10, 2011
    star star star star star
    In olden days in the world of man called Midgaard in the kingdom of Lomion, there was a gathering... Lord Aradon Eotrus was missing. His oldest son, Brother Claradon Eotrus, a Caradonian Knight had pulled together a band to find him. But just as it had been when Lord Aradon had gone, when the night came, a great wailing began...and the mist would descend... for what came was not of this world... No matter what, when you begin to read Thater, you will immediately see his expertise in writing Olde and Middle English. In fact, for more than twenty-five years, Glenn G. Thater has written works of fiction and historical fiction focusing on the genres of heroic fantasy and sword and sorcery. The Gateway is first in his saga and certainly sets the stage for upcoming exciting adventurous battles! One thing I appreciated from this author was an extensive list of names, people, places and all things important for the Saga. It makes an easy reference and provides effective documentation and definition for the fantasy world that was created. And so it was, that on the first day Claradon's men reached a dark barren circle and they began to search for his father and his men. Nothing was found except a number of gold coins... But when the night came, the wailing began...and the mist descended. However, the men were ready. Each man had been provided a magical sword or dagger and they drew together row after row and started forward! Until they came to a huge dark building--a building that had not been there during the day! And they also found remnants of Lord Aradon, but no man lived or was even left of their bodies... But this group had prepared, bringing magical weapons as well as those men or creatures that could use magic against the enemy, for surely the enemy came from none other than the realm of the chaos lords! And when they did, they were grotesque, loathsome creatures that immediately began to tear the soldiers apart... Two men stood out in the ensuing battle: Sir Gabriel Garn, House Weapons Master and close friend and mentor to Claradon, and Lord Angle Theta, a knight-errant and nobleman from a far-off land. In fact, he was a stranger to most and was not fully appreciated as a peer--until he began to share his great magic and slice through the creatures like butter... In the constant fight between good and evil, The Gateway takes you into one both mystical and bloody. Be prepared, ye readers, lest you be attacked by one of the creatures coming through to Midgaard... Thater writes with a realism like no other; fantasy lovers of sword and sorcery--check out this short first battle and be ready for the entire saga awaiting you! Book Received from Author GABixlerReviews