Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children, science-fiction

The Prometheus Project – Trapped

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Douglas E. Richards
Publisher: DNA Press LLC
Genre: Juvenile / Science Fiction
ISBN: 0-9748765-4-2
Pages: 140
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
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After six weeks in Brewster, Pennsylvania, Ryan and Regan Resnick are looking for anything at all to help relieve their boredom. So, when they discover their scientist parents are working in a top-secret facility where something seems suspicious, they want to find out what’s going on.

Getting in requires some logic and skill, but they soon find that getting out might pose a larger problem, as will saving their mother from certain death.

As they explore this fascinating location, they come across challenges that test their intellect and reasoning ability. Using the scientific method, they need to discover how to navigate this strange environment that occasionally turns hostile on them. And saving their mother will be the ultimate test.

This book held my interest from the moment I picked it up. Just like Ryan and Regan, I wanted to know what was happening in Prometheus Alpha, and I tried to solve the puzzle of how to get in right along with them.

The alien city was reminiscent of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, where anything could happen, and there were no limits to the places they could go or the things they could do. I would have loved for the kids to spend more time exploring, but under the circumstances, they had no time to waste.

The unique puzzle they needed to solve to save their mother made my head spin, but ultimately their logic was right on. It certainly will give kids something to think about.

This is a well-written and enjoyable science fiction adventure. I highly recommend it.

See review of: Captured

Reviewer: Alice Berger

history

The Intellectual Devotional: American History

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: David S. Kidder & Noah D. Oppenheim
Publisher: Modern Times / Rodale
Genre: Reference / Pop culture
ISBN: 1-59486-744-5
Pages: 378
Price: $24.00

Author’s website
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If you’re looking for a daily bite-sized portion of intellectual stimulation, look no further than The Intellectual Devotional.Written in the style of the daily spiritual guides, this volume is designed to educate the reader in American history, one day at a time.

Each day of the week is devoted to a particular theme:Mondays are Politics and Leadership, Tuesday deals with War and Peace, Wednesday looks at Rights and Reform, Thursday is Business, Friday covers Building America, Saturday is Literature, and Sunday showcases the Arts.

One would expect to see references to our founding fathers in an American history book, but how about the Simpsons, Michael Jackson, and Gone With the Wind?The eclectic mix of topics keeps The Intellectual Devotional from becoming yet another boring reference book that never leaves the shelf.

Many Americans keep books by their bed to read when beginning or ending the day, and The Intellectual Devotional now sits on my own nightstand. If you enjoy learning something new every day, I’d suggest you add it to your own collection. You’ll find it a fascinating read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

holiday, memoir

Christmas on Deery Street

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Steven Roberts
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1311-9
Pages: 90
Price: $12.95

Buy it at Amazon

Christmas On Deery Street is a collection of short, cozy stories centered around the popular Christian holiday. Steven Roberts has neatly spun a collection of his father’s well-told tales into an entertaining and often inspiring book.

Each segment is a fictitious account, “with a small element of truth” according to Roberts, of life in the not-so-distant past. The reader learns about the hardships and miracles of life through the eyes of everyday folks during the magical time of the Christmas season.

“The Angel at Union Station” is one tale that seems almost too good to be true, but nonetheless, you believe it anyway. The reader has little choice because in this nutty world of ours, a dreamy story that firmly puts a smile on your face is a welcome respite.

Who would not want to read about an anxious soldier, away from home for several years, wondering if his girl still loves him after all this time? Of course we know how it turns out, but the charm is in the way Roberts tells the story. The magic and mystery are what make it all worthwhile.

“Magic Socks” and “Our Star” are two others that go well with a fire and a hot cup of tea on a cold night. And if you are sitting, reading next to your Christmas tree or not, you may find yourself happily reminiscing of your own favorite childhood memories or ones of your family or friends.

Christmas On Deery Street is a wonderful book for all ages that will delight the heart and warm the spirit. And you can get these good feelings reading them at Christmas or any old time of year.

Reviewer: Gene Berger

romance

Never Without You… Again

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Francine Craft
Publisher: Kimani Press
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 978-0-373-86037-1
Price: $5.99

Kimani Press website
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Theda Coles and Hunter “Brave Wolf” Davis were once young and madly in love, until circumstances ripped them apart. Now Hunter has returned to Theda’s life and threatens to turn it upside down.

Hunter has a son with his ex-wife Helena, who also follows him to Crystal Lake. Determined to get him back, she’ll stop at nothing in trying to ruin Theda’s life. Theda has always had a dream of becoming a high school principal, and Helena’s actions are threatening that dream.

Theda is still grieving the loss of her husband and Hunter’s son. She has to make a choice – does she allow herself to trust this man she once loved deeply not to hurt her, or does she turn him away forever? And will he allow Helena to continue to come between them, threatening everything Theda’s always wanted?

Francine Craft has created a beautiful romance between two very real people facing some of life’s most difficult challenges. Throughout their struggles, they are loving and intimate, while also feeling all their feelings around their problems, and being honest with each other. The decisions they must make aren’t easy ones, and the reader can empathize with their situation while cheering them on to make the right one. This is a heartwarming story, and I enjoyed reading it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Traveling Bear series by Winning Kids, Inc.

Bergers Book Reviews

Traveling Bear and the Drive-Through Safari (Vol. 1)
Traveling Bear and the Yellow Flipper Roller Coaster (Vol. 2)
Traveling Bear and the Search for Treasure (Vol. 3)

Creator: Christian Hainsworth
Publisher: Winning Kids, Inc.
Genre: Children’s
ISBN: 978-1-933547-01-4 / 978-1-933547-11-1 / 978-1-933547-03-0
Price: $14.95 each

Traveling Bear website

Traveling Bear is a new learning series created by Winning Kids, Inc. This fourteen part series is designed to help children overcome obstacles, make good choices, have a positive outlook on life, set goals and have the desire to always do their best.

The series is set up so that a theme is introduced on each day of the week, and then that theme is repeated in the second week. All of the books in the series have read-along CD’s included, as well as a motivational song at the end of the CD.

In volume one, Traveling Bear and the Drive-Through Safari, the theme is building confidence to ask questions and find answers on your own. Traveling Bear is encouraged to ask questions at the safari, and then to look in a book to find those answers, rather than asking the safari leader.

The second volume, Traveling Bear and the Yellow Flipper Roller Coaster, stresses the importance of thinking ahead and trying your best. Traveling Bear and his friends need to decide how they can ride on the roller coaster, while still making it to their bus on time.

And in the third volume, Traveling Bear and the Search for Treasure, the importance of setting and achieving goals is introduced. In this story, Traveling Bear makes the decision to search for treasure, and he needs persistence to make it to his goal.

This series provides a positive message for kids, and teaches them life skills in a fun way. Kids will learn to read as they read along with the CD, and they’ll learn valuable lessons that will help them as they grow up.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Booples 2: Yikity Blar!

Bergers Book Reviews


Songs by: Pete Buchwald
Genre: Children’s Christian
Price: $13.99

Booples website

Booples 2: Yikity Blar! features stories from the Bible presented in a fun and creative way for kids 0-6 years old.

In “Forgive Each Other”, one Boople finds it hard to forgive her brother, so they all go to their friend, Bah, for help. He shares a verse from the Bible explaining why it’s important to forgive. Then they learn forgiveness in action as each does something to another that requires forgiveness.

In “Jonah & the Tarshish Fish,” the Booples discover that not everyone who hears God’s commands obeys immediately, and that sometimes drastic measures are necessary. The song in this story is particularly cute, and it stayed with me for days after viewing.

“David Rocked Goliath” shows the Booples that God can use even the tiniest among us to do His will. And “God Is Faithful” explains God’s promise after the flood through the rainbow.

The songs in this DVD are catchy and cute, and kids will learn the words quickly to sing along. The Booples are not “perfect” Christians. They are very human, and they learn that they don’t have to be perfect – they just need to love God and each other as directed by the Bible.

Yikity Blar! is not preachy, but instead models Godly behavior through the actions of the characters and their intentions to live a Godly life. Kids will really enjoy the cute stories, and parents can feel good about their kids learning positive messages through watching Yikity Blar!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

spirituality

Sacred Wisdom

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Helga Schroder
Publisher: Suka Press
Genre: Spiritual
ISBN: 978-0-9787593-0-8
Pages: 380
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
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Lou van Helden is living his life according to the American dream. He has a good-paying job, a nice home, and he’s searching for a beautiful wife to make it all complete. To his way of thinking, money can buy everything, and he wants as many of the good things as he can afford.

Then one day, while he’s out taking a jog, he comes to a mysterious house in the woods and meets the Novemvirat, a group who tell him that he’s a Knight of the First Order and he has an important mission in life. Lou is intrigued by their message, and is determined to find out what he needs to do to fulfill that mission.

His journey takes him to Brazil, where he visits with his Uncle Ray, a Catholic priest, who shares his experiences in living a simple and spiritual life. Then when Lou returns to the United States, he studies meditation with a Buddhist Lama. He also meets a wonderful woman who shares his vision of living a more spiritual life.

Lou’s journey is not unlike the one many of us take at some point in our lives. We grow tired of material things, and instinctively know there has to be something more – something that really matters. As Lou makes his discoveries about what’s important to him, he inspires us to also search for and find that for ourselves. If we look within and learn to connect with our own spirituality, we can also find a path that brings us true joy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

non-fiction

Cosmic History Chronicles, Vol. 3

Bergers Book Reviews


Book of the Mystery, Time And Art: Art As the Expression of the Absolute
Author: Jose Arguelles & Stephanie South
Publisher: Law of Time Press
ISBN: 0-9785924-1-7
Pages: 240
Price: $34.00

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

The Cosmic History Chronicles attempt to answer the question, “What will further the self-illumination of the world?”In this third volume of the series, the authors look at art and how it has evolved cosmically.

The book is broken down into four parts:Art as a Cosmic Harmony, Art as a Dimensional Bridge, Art as the Practice of Life, and Transcendental Art:Evolving Cosmoplanetary Art Forms.

Two of the major art forms that are explored in this volume are rock and roll music and the internet.The authors explain the role music has played in the last several decades, and the use of the internet in establishing identities online as living art.Other art forms are also explored in lesser detail.

References are made to the previous volumes, so if the reader hasn’t already read those, parts of this volume may be a little confusing.The artwork is beautiful – unique and intriguing.

Some of this material is esoteric in explaining the evolution of these art forms, and ultimately where they will take us culturally and globally.This volume is an interesting exploration, and I found that I agreed with many of the authors’ observations.Time will tell if their conclusions about the future are correct.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health

Super Healing

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Julie K. Silver, MD
Genre: Health
Publisher: Rodale, Inc.
ISBN: 1-59486-631-7
Pages: 258
Price: $25.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

If you’ve just had major surgery or gone through cancer treatments, you probably now find yourself in the Healing Zone. Your primary goal is to heal your body as quickly and easily as possible. Super Healing can help.

Dr. Silver, a physiatrist (doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine), will help you put together your own Super Healing plan, incorporating eight healing strategies designed to maximize healing.

Physical goals include getting proper exercise and not tiring your body unnecessarily with chores that drain you but don’t contribute to healing. They also include getting proper nutrition, especially those foods that specifically heal whatever problem you’re currently facing.

Proper rest is also important, and working with your doctor to alleviate pain will help to ensure you can get at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.

In addition to caring for your body, proper mental and emotional care is important. While Dr. Silver understands it’s not always easy to keep a positive mental attitude when you’re not feeling well, there are certain steps you can take to try not to let yourself get too down.

Getting appropriate emotional needs met by the people around you can help, also. So can connecting to your spiritual needs, whatever your faith.

When all of these elements are brought together into a plan, comprised of short and long term goals, healing is accelerated. Dr. Silver has used this plan with many of her patients and also for herself, as a cancer survivor. If you follow it, she assures you that you’ll have an easier trip through the Healing Zone.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, fantasy, holiday

Christine Kringle

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Lynn Brittney
Publisher: BookSurge
Genre: Christmas
ISBN: 978-1-4196-7554-6
Pages: 178
Price: $13.99

Author’s website
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Kriss Kringle of the USA is in a bind. By ruling of the Yule Dynasty, the job of Christmas Gift Bringer can only be handed down from father to son, and he only has a daughter – fourteen year old Christine. So, at this year’s conference, Kriss plans to petition the Dynasty to change the rules.

But before the issue can be resolved, the little English town of Plinkbury bans Christmas. Christine and her two friends, Little K of Japan and Nick of England, are sent to Plinkbury to help avert disaster. Along with Nick’s mom, Zazu and her brother Egan, they take on the Town Council and attempt to change their decision.Chaos erupts, and the Council never knows what hit them.

Lynn Brittney has woven a charming blend of fantasy and humor, mixed with a little Christmas spirit. Christine Kringle is an enjoyable read for all ages, and guaranteed to start your holiday season off with a smile.

Update: Lynn Brittney has announced a contest! Come up with a synopsis of her next book, and you could win $5,000 USD. See website for details.

Reviewer: Alice Berger