Location: United States
Member Since:
Aug. 11, 2012
Rachelle Born
Books
Smashwords book reviews by Rachelle Born
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25 Years in the Rearview Mirror: 52 Authors Look Back
on Dec. 26, 2012
“There is a part of us that pushes us into the danger zones, that urges us to play catch with the explosive and to date the irrational. That skirting with danger can lead to growth and disaster. It can certainly make for good writing.” Ken Weene This book is filled with essays that take us from grade school to first loves and first jobs to the writing process itself and everywhere in between. Stacy Juba even gives us a couple writing exercises in “Unit-Lessons in Composition.” This was a fun read filled with humorous, encouraging, and informative narratives from writers of all genres. I am excited to check out each of the writers’ individual work, which is easy to do since the editors included a list of author websites in the appendix.
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Dirty Little Angels
on Dec. 26, 2012
I won a copy of this book through the LibraryThing member giveaway. All I can say is that this book is amazing. It's horrific, and I don't recommend it if you're someone who gets offended by using Jesus as an excuse to "get even." The author has a gift for painting pictures through words, and the writing style flowed well. The reader catches a glimpse of the life of a poor family from New Orleans, where the family has its share of dysfunction, but the brother and sister stick together like siblings should. I look forward to reading more by this author.
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Ghost from the Past - Paranormal Mystery Novella
on Dec. 26, 2012
This is the first book in a series (if it can be called that?) featuring Catherine, a real estate agent who is sensitive to seeing ghosts. Working with her homicide detective boyfriend (who is not sensitive to ghosts and uses Catherine as a go-between), she solves the mystery of a double murder that took place decades ago. This story probably could have been developed into a full novel, but as short as it was, it still kept me guessing and I surprised by who the killer turned out to be.
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Ghost Lovers - Paranormal Mystery Novella
on Dec. 26, 2012
What drew me into this novella was the unique approach the author took with ghosts and those who are sensitive to them. Instead of floating around room to room scaring people, these ghosts are anchored to the spot where they died. This is a good quick read, and I think that even though it’s short, it’s the right length. I feel like turning the plot into a full novel might be too much. *It’s not incredibly important, but if you’re able to read Ghosts of the Past first, do so. Some of the characters and back stories mentioned in Ghost Lovers appear in Ghosts of the Past. You won’t be lost if you don’t read that one first, but it would help things make more sense.
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Unshackled and Free: True Stories of Forgiveness
on Dec. 26, 2012
This is a delightful collection of inspirational stories about forgiveness. I appreciate the honesty and openness of the authors; it’s easy to relate and feel encouraged because these stories feature “real” people dealing with “real” struggles. As one writer puts it: “Unforgiveness as a Christian is not an option, despite our feelings. Forgiving her was an act of my will, even if my heart did not feel it.” This is an important piece of wisdom to meditate on, no matter what the circumstances are. This book is a perfect way to start or end your day.
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Cemeteries of the Heart and Other Stories
on Oct. 20, 2013
This author gets an A+ in originality. This book is a collection of short stories, horror stories, though not of ghosts and goblins. His writing reminded me of Amanda Lawrence Auverigne. The first story takes place in a dystopian society. Two of the stories include characters with physical deformities, and all of the stories feature an act of violence, some more obvious than others. I personally did not enjoy this book, but I think that it was well-written and creative. I would recommend it to adults and young adults, but not to middle-grade readers.
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Whole Lotta Creativity Going On: 60 Fun and Unusual Exercises to Awaken and Strengthen Your Creativity
on Oct. 20, 2013
I adore this book! It can be used in so many ways with a variety of audiences. As an aspiring writer I’ll be using the activities as writing prompts, but the questions can also be used by early education teachers, parents, inspiration for visual artists, and just about anyone else you can think of. The book is divided into 10 different categories: Awareness, Sensory, and Experience Creativity in Action Ideation Imagination Pictures, Patterns, and Abstraction Snap Portraits Snap Solutions Stop and Reflect Thought Expression Word Play Without sharing too much of the book, I’d like to give a few examples: “Watch a movie you’ve never seen before on mute and make up dialog.” “Listen to a type of music you hate and come up with 2 or 3 reasons why others might enjoy it.” “Make up a new children’s outdoor game.” I’m excited to read more of Regina Pacelli’s work and recommend that you do the same!