Location: United States
Member Since: Aug. 01, 2010
Leona Olson
Where to find Leona Olson online
Books
This member has not published any books.Smashwords book reviews by Leona Olson
- The Ash Spear
on Feb. 25, 2011
The Ash Spear is based in medieval Britain in the 6th century, the Dark Ages, and is the third of the series. The other books are Storyteller and Flight of the Hawk written by G. R. Grove. Gwernin Kyarwyd is an apprentice bard, or storyteller, and this is a story of his journeys and trials. He is telling the story which begins in his seventeenth year and his second year of being an apprentice to become a harper and bard from his teacher Talhaearn Tad Awen. Talhaearn is the pencerdd (head poet) and harper to Cyndrwyn, prince of western Powys in mid-Wales. Gwernim has a love, Rhiannedd, who is "the dark-haired delight of my heart" and she is carrying his child. There are a number of characters in this book that have a close connections and loyalty to each other. Some other characters are Taliesin Ben Beirdd, Ieuan, Ugnach of Caer Sean and Neirin. The names are Welsh and hard to understand at first. I had to go back and read the first chapters to get the names straight. I have not read the other two books and think they may have helped but this can be a stand alone book. I began to pull the pieces together. The book is after the time of King Arthur and Taliesin tells the story of when he was the bard for Arthur and the final battle. One character in the book, Neirin, is going to walk the Dark Path and needs the help of three bards. The Dark Path is a Druidic spiritual rite of passage. It is becoming a true bard. They go to the Island of Mon, The Ash Spear was "the symbol of warfare and manhood but also stood for awen, the poet's inspiration of the bards". I had to find this on researching because somehow I missed the definition in the book. I liked the saying after most chapters" O, my children, is a story for another day" which encourages the reader to keep reading. It was like a bard leaving you waiting. G. R. Grove does an excellent job of descriptions and helps the reader know where the characters are and what they feel. There are emotions, pain, food, drinks, people, daily lives and worry. I really liked this book and look forward to reading her other books. I give it a five star because of the details and leaving me to want to do more research. Go to the authors blog on treGwernin.blogspot.com to see what she is writing. Leona Olson
- Again
on March 06, 2011
First, I want to thank LibraryThing and Diana Murdock for the opportunity to read Again by Diana Murdock. This short novel by Diana Murdock is based on two main characters in different time eras. Both of the main characters have men in their lives that are possessive and the women are looking for passionate romance; the knight on a white horse type of man. The story is about a woman's feelings for real love. The men in the novel are all physically fit and are described as such. Eryn is the modern character and is a successful photographer; she is married to Bryce. Lady Catherine is the medieval noblewoman and it is assumed she will be married to Galen, someone she has known since childhood. Eryn has recurring dreams that bring her back to the time of 1501, the time of Catherine. The chapters switch back and forth between the two women. Both of the main characters have similar happenings in their lives. The book is somewhat based on reincarnation. A book called Twin Souls- Life Beyond Life and a necklace sent to Eryn by her brother are some mentions of the view of reincarnation. I liked the short novel but would have liked more substance in the writings. I received this complimentary ebook to read and review from LibraryThing. The opinions are my own. Leona Olson ( )
- Doctor, Doctor
on April 06, 2011
(no rating)
Review of Doctor, Doctor by Lori Handeland Doctor, Doctor by Lori Handeland is a nice romance about the boy and girl who live next door to each other in the small Wisconsin town of Pine River. As adults, they are rekindling their relationship they had as childhood friends. This is a love story not only about a man and woman but also about love of a parent and a child, love of animals and a lost love. A fast reading book than has some love scenes which, I think, are well done. Gwen Bartelt has moved to the city of Milwaukee and is an ER doctor. Her father is the doctor in Pine River, breaks a leg and needs her help. She takes over his practice for a month and only for a month she said as she is needed by her fiancee who is also a doctor at the same hospital in Milwaukee. The boy, or man now, next door is Eli Drycinski who is a veterinarian in Pine River and loves the small town atmosphere. He has always been in love with Gwen and wants her to stay. I liked the references to Eli's dogs, Elwood and Jake. These dogs, as my daughter's Golden, loves their tennis balls. At one point in the book, Eli is leaving and the dogs are hanging out their tongues and almost saying "Car Ride, Car Ride" and they get into the car. Lots of memories of the childhood of Gwen and Eli, Gwen's mother who dies when Gwen was 2 years old and the school teacher whose age was unknown. The story revolves around a number of characters who are all involved in some manner. The author brings in the personal attributes of Wisconsin: the Polka, beer, families and food. Lori Handeland lives in Wisconsin. I live in Minnesota. Not a real deep novel but one who most readers can relate. This is different than the author's series of the Moon books. I will give it four star. You can order the e-book from Smashwords.com for $2.99. I received a complimentary copy of Doctor,Doctor from Smashwords. The opinions are my own.
- When You Wish
on April 07, 2011
Review of When You Wish by Lori Handeland A story of Doctor Daniel Chadwick and Grace Lightfoot competing for a grant on the projects they both feel are important. The grant will come Mrs. Cabilla who will make the final decision. The challenge comes when the two main characters are supposed to work together for two weeks before it is decided who will get the grant. Grace has a different outlook on life than Dan; she is free spirited and he is reserved. Her project is Project Hope and his is a medical research project. Dan's family has disinherited because he went into the wrong field of medicine and Grace was still angry at her father for letting stress kill him (my feelings). He was Ojibwe and his wife Irish. The Ojibwe believed in taking care of family and so he took care of his three sisters who loved in the same house as Grace. They are wonderful characters and I really see them as characters. There is also Olaf, a Norwegian, who protects Grace from "bad men". Again, the author brings the flavor of her home state of Wisconsin. I live in Minnesota but was not raised here so I had to learn these things of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The labatory for Daniel is on a old Boy Scout Camp in Wisconsin; my sons went to Tomahawk Scout Camp in Wisconsin. There is Lake Illusion in the book and Wisconsin is full of lakes. Lutefisk is mentioned in the book and it is a cured fish eaten traditionally by Scandinavians. Mosquitos are thick when there is a lot of rain and so true. I learned in one of her book why Wisconsin is called the Badger State. I like this type of information in books; it makes the book more personal. I think that Lori Handeland does a good job of her descriptions; the reader is almost there. The story is about an oil and water mixture from the two main characters they get along and then don't get along. The reader wants to know what really is going to happen at the end. Some steamy kissing scenes but not bad. A good read for the airplane or sitting outside now that (hopefully) Spring is coming. The e-book can be purchased on Smashwords.com for $1.99. The authors's site is www.lorihandeland.com. This will also be posted on my blog: mnleona.blogspot.com and librarythimg.com I received a complimentary copy of When You Wish to read and review. The opinions are my own. Leona Olson