"Stuck in the Doldrums: A Lesson in Sharing, A Captain No Beard Story" by Carol P. Roman (Review & Giveaway)

ISBN: 9781479182701
Paperback ~ $11.99

I am happy to announce that author Carol P. Roman has just launched her third book in the children's picture series "Captain No Beard."  This time Captain No Beard and his crew are Stuck in the Doldrums. I have been privileged to read Carol's other two Captain No Beard books and review them.  Again our Captain gets himself and his crew stirred up and he gets a bit bossy making life miserable for his crew.

"But who," say you "Is Captain No Beard." Well, he is.... "A young boy named Alexander, his cousin Hallie, and three stuffed animals board his bed and their world is transformed! Set sail with Captain No Beard!"  So cast off on the sea of counterpane and sail on The Flying Dragon with Captain No Beard and his crew.

This colorful, delightfully illustrated third book will engage young readers (or those to whom it is read aloud) and bring loads of entertainment their way.  As they "shiver me timbers" and "ahoy ye maties" through the pages, they find themselves learning lessons right along with Captain No Beard and his crew.  The lesson they learn (and readers will learn) is one of sharing.

The Captain's ship is sailing along when the wind stops and they are "stuck in the doldrums" (a boating/sailing term meaning there is no wind that can be captured with the sails to keep the ship moving).  They are stuck on a deserted island and so they have a bit of play time.  When life gets unpleasant because of someone who doesn't share, we can "get stuck in the doldrums" just as Captain No Beard and his trusty crew of The Flying Dragon.

Cute, new crew members for Captain No Beard!
Aren't they adorable in their Captain No Beard
T-Shirts and pirate hats!

Delightful crew members are again present in book three: Linus the Lion, Fribbet the Frog, Polly Parrot (every pirate's tale needs a parrot), and Mongo the Monkey. While they get frustrated with the Captain's non-sharing and bossy antics, they do come to his rescue when the need arises.

GIVEAWAY:  Captain No Beard's author has graciously provided a copy for one of Chat With Vera's readers to vie for by entering the giveaway using the Rafflecopter entry form.  Begins April 9 and ENDS April 24 at 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to USA mainland residents, only.

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About the author: Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turned businesswoman. She has successfully run a family business with her husband that employs close to five hundred people.  Her first book, Captain No Beard - An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life has been named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 as well garnered the star of remarkable merit.  Captain No Beard has developed in a series of 3 more books.  Her next project is the book series I Want To Do Yoga Too.  She is currently working on a new educational series that explores different cultures from a child's point of view.

Dianna T. Benson Thriller/ Adventure/ Suspense Author & EMT (Guest Blog & Giveaway)

Book signings in Raleigh, NC
Listed at end

 I am so pleased to introduce you to Dianna T. Benson who is a North Carolinian - just like me.  Only she's so gifted in her writing and also in her skills as an EMT.  In March 2013 her first thriller/adventure/suspense book launched - The Hidden Son.  But today, let's ride with Dianna T. Benson - author, EMS team member, and real nice lady.  What happened on Smith road at Bailey Construction?  Let's see......

EMS 16. Fall at Bailey Construction, 1600 Smith Road
I shake my head to full awake from my cat-nap, and gear up for the trauma call less than a minute drive away. Once my partner and I roll on scene, I note the three cop cars arriving.

Additional information regarding the call flashes across our ambulance laptop screen.

Proceed with caution. Law enforcement dispatched.

“What’s the deal?” my partner yells out the driver window at a cop rushing toward the building.

“Another worker pushed the guy.”

“Ah,” I say with a nod. “Attempted homicide.”

“Or homicide, but if the guy’s not already dead, he’s gonna need us.” My partner jumps out of our ambulance.

We grab a C-collar (cervical collar) and a backboard, and toss it onto our stretcher already loaded with EMS equipment and supplies.

“Remember caution?” I remind my partner.

“Yeah, yeah. Guy was pushed not shot or stabbed. Let’s go.”

I really didn’t want to hang back either. Our patient’s life may be over if we wait.

Inside the building, we push through a crowd of gawkers. I notice three cops drawing their guns at a man choke-holding some young woman, her wide eyes glossed-over.

“Let her go,” the cop at the left yells out. “Now.”

I’m hoping the guy follows the demand or we’ll have more than one patient. As I rest my hand on my radio in case I need to request additional EMS crews, I scan the area for an injured man on the ground. I spot our patient on the other side lying supine and lifeless in a pool of blood on the cement, his attacker in the middle and blocking us from our patient. I glance up and see the catwalk and assume our patient was pushed off of the suspended walkway about twenty feet above.  

The guy fell twenty feet? I think to myself.  If he’s alive over there, he’s in critical condition.

“Clear out,” the cop to the right shouts. “Everyone. Out of this room. Now.”

The crowd scampers away. My partner and I hold our position behind the cops. The perpetrator doesn’t have a weapon, so there’s no danger to us.
 
After a few drawn-out minutes of the cops warning the perp to let the woman go, and our patient remaining lifeless and out of my reach on the ground in the near distance, I somehow dig up my most gentle tone and interject, “Sir, I don’t think you want to hurt her. Do you?”

The perp jerks his head in my direction. Ten seconds tick by with him just staring at me as if pleading me to help him out of this. “Ah…no. No, not really.”

“I didn’t think so. How about letting her go and we’ll talk?” Stop blocking me from my patient. If he’s not already dead, he needs me now. Needed me minutes ago.

 “Talk? Yeah, yeah,” he nods, “I just need to talk.” Chest panting, arms shaking, the perpetrator shoves the woman aside and drops on the ground. All three cops pounce on him and drag his arms behind his back.

I roll the front of the stretcher around the chaos on the ground; my partner pushes from the back. As I pass the perp, I ignore his insistent yells to talk with me since my focus is on my patient.

“Sir?” I say to the lifeless man as we approach him.

No answer. No movement of any kind.

I slide my fingers to his neck and find a thready carotid pulse. His chest is rising and falling in steady rhythm bi-laterally.

My partner holds his head in an in-line spinal stabilization position as I strap the C-collar around his neck. I slip a towel underneath his head for hemorrhage control and feel for trauma. I find an open skull wound, crepitus bone, and flesh.

Two firefighters appear at our side and assist me with log rolling the unconscious patient onto a spine board and strapping his body down. I secure the man’s c-collared head to the backboard with head blocks, straps and tape, allowing my partner to finally release the manual c-spine stabilization. 

“What do you need from me?” some guy asks. “I’m his supervisor.”

“How old is he?”

The manger answers that pertinent question as well as all my others, as I connect my patient to our cardiac monitor. Less than a minute later, I’ve assessed all vital signs and the heart rhythm, as my partner performs a rapid trauma examination. Our patient remains unconscious. I’m thinking internal bleeding is the main cause and he’s headed to hypovolemic shock, and if that’s the case, surgical interventions are vital. No more time to waste on scene.

“Femur fracture,” my partner says.

“Among other things,” I say. “Let’s go.”

All of us lift the backboarded man onto the stretcher, and roll it out to my ambulance.

As one of the firefighters drive, my partner and I attend to our trauma patient in the back with the assistance of another firefighter. Our patient remains unconscious. In order to protect his airway, I slide a lubricated oropharyngeal airway down his throat. With a curved laryngoscope, I lift the epiglottis and gain a visual of the glottic opening and white vocal cords. I drop the orotrachael tube between the cords, down the trachea. I connect a bag valve mask over the tube opening. To keep him oxygenated, I squeeze the football-size bulb every five seconds.  

“Take over bagging,” I say to the firefighter, and he grabs the bag valve mask from my hands.  

I spike an IV bag as my partner slides in an eighteen-gauge IV needle into our patients left arm. Since the patient is unconscious, there’s no point to administer pain meds.

I grab the radio mic. “Wake Med ED, this is EMS 16.”

“Go ahead EMS 16.”

“We are en route with a thirty-three year old male. Trauma patient. Twenty-foot plus fall onto concrete. Unconscious. Intubated. Open head trauma posterior. Fractured femur.  Normal sinus cardiac rhythm. BP 95/52 and falling. 182 heart rate. ETA 5 minutes.

Even if this man’s body survives, his brain will probably never be the same. I swallow the sadness clogging my throat, hoping he doesn’t have any children, and I re-focus on finishing my job on this trauma call.

Now, if that doesn't whet your appetite for more to come and more of Dianna T. Benson's writing, I don't know what will.  Watch for my review of The Hidden Son (partially set in Raleigh, NC) to appear here on Chat With Vera very soon. 

GIVEAWAY:  Dianna T. Benson has gracious provided a giveaway copy of her first book, The Hidden Son, for one of Chat With Vera's readers to win.  So here is how to do it.  Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  Begins April 9 and ENDS May 1 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT.  
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Raleigh, NC BOOK SIGNINGS:  Book Signings by Dianna T. Benson, Suspense Novelist  -  Both of the below book signings are open to the general public and all are welcome to attend.

1) Saturday, April 27, 1pm-5pm
Alexander YMCA
1603 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27605
Hosted by Quail Ridge Books

2) Saturday, May 4, 1pm-5pm
The Greenway Club
1300 Falls River Ave
Raleigh, NC 27614
Hosted by Quail Ridge Books 

About the author:  Dianna T. Benson is a 2011 Genesis Winner, a 2011 Genesis double Semi-Finalist, a 2010 Daphne de Maurier Finalist, and a 2007 Golden Palm Finalist. In 2012, she signed a nine-book contract with Ellechor Publishing House. Her first book, The Hidden Son, released in print world-wide March 1, 2013.
 

After majoring in communications and a ten-year career as a travel agent, Dianna left the travel industry to earn her EMS degree. An EMT and a Haz-Mat and FEMA Operative since 2005, she loves the adrenaline rush of responding to medical emergencies and helping people in need. Her suspense novels about adventurous characters thrown into tremendous circumstances provide readers with a similar kind of rush.  Dianna lives in North Carolina with her husband and their three athletic children.  www.diannatbenson.com

"Angelguard" by Ian Acheson

 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psalms 91:11 - King James Bible "Authorized Version", Pure Cambridge Edition

About the book:  Within a period of weeks, three horrific bomb blasts devastate areas of London, Los Angeles, and Sydney. No explanation is offered, no victory claimed for these acts of terror. Yet behind the scenes a Machiavellian European businessman, aided by the dark forces to whom he has sold his soul, is planning to bring the richest nations to their knees for his own evil purposes.

Jack Haines, an Australian academic, is grieving the loss of wife and children in the Sydney blast. Against his will, he finds himself thrown into a war that transcends the physical world, a conflict in which angelic guards have a special mission for him. But how will Jack respond when angels turn out to be more than precious porcelain statues? And will he accept that he has been chosen to fight for the future of mankind? (copied from Amazon.com)


My thoughts: Angelguard is a work of fiction and the reader must on every page realize that as pertaining to Scriptural beings the author has created angels and demons with personalities and traits rather human in nature.
 
Ian Acheson has written a very well developed and exciting story about an evil, Satanic plot involving depraved humans to create havoc, terrorism, and utter ruin of the political entities and systems of the World. Acheson also uses a brilliant university professor, Jack Haines, as the ultimate hero in the story.  But Jack's strength and decisions are guided by the Angelguard (yes, a host of angels protecting him and guiding him).  However, there is opposition and not just from depraved, power seeking humans.  Opposition from ultimate evil, Satanic demons.
 
The prayers of faithful Christians throughout the World give strength and power to God's Angelguard.  But it is truly God who is the Director and who is the ultimate victor.  The strength of the praying Christian is not to be missed in this story.

The story is fast paced, interesting, and covers a lot of territory - the United States, Belgium, London, Australia, etc. It involves high ranking political figures. The goal of the evil plot is the world-wide destruction of the political systems and ensuing chaos.
 
I enjoyed the intrigue, the overcoming of evil  by good, the characters, conversations, and descriptions. But as the saying goes, "....I have somewhat against thee."  There were a few uses of profanity that could have been left out (this is Christian fiction and as such readers expect a higher standard). It is quite understood that in the real world there are no holds barred as far as language and behavior are concerned.  I believe that Christian authors CAN give us the entire story without bad language or descriptions of bad moral behavior.  

This book was clean and decent except for the use of a few bad words.
 
I also have an issue with the portrayal of angels and demons with such inane humor and conversations and characterizations.  Angels are good and demonic spirits are evil - understood.  However, flippant conversations between angels or between angels and demons is a little too much for me. And, too, I don't "see" angels as beautiful women and strong men. To me they are "angels" and as such basically neutral in gender.  They are a different creation by God and not to be alluded to in human terms.  True, in the Bible they took on the "form" of men when visiting Abraham.  But this was not (my opinion, here) their normal form and I simply don't think they carry on flippant conversations.
 
The author has been compared the Frank Peretti in his writing of spiritual warfare novels.  I think each stands on its own merits. Ian Acheson has written a very good book and I would like to read his next.  I would like a little more dignity ascribed to the Angelguard, though.

About the author, Ian Acheson:  I'm a professional strategy consultant having been in the Corporate world for the past 25 years. I bring some of this experience into my stories. I've lived in Sydney, Australia, all of my life. I share my life with a most beautiful and gracious lady, my wife, Fiona. We try to keep up with two almost-twenty something young men who give us much joy and you know what else if you're a parent.
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of Angelguard from Kregel on behalf of Lion Hudson Publishing and the author, Ian Acheson, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

Purex© Natural Elements© Tropical Splash detergent (Review & Giveaway)

As a Purex Insider, I have been asked to introduce you to their newest "kid on the block," Purex© Natural Elements© Tropical Splash detergent.  As its name indicates, this laundry detergent delivers the Bright, White, and Clean you can expect from a Purex detergent and it is made with naturally sourced ingredients.  Natural fragrance extracts and a biodegradable formula that you can use to help promote green cleaning practices.

This detergent is optimized for performance in high efficiency or traditional washing machines.  The out-of-pocket cost to you is about half of that of other leading laundry detergents, too.  The Purex© Natural Elements© brand is their #1 selling line.

I found it did an adequate job of cleaning our clothes.  They were left with a fresh fragrance that I found non-irritating.

You can expect from it.....

• Hopoallergenic, dye-free formula for sensitive skin
• Fresh, natural inspired fragrance
• Packs the cleaning power of Purex with DirtLift Action

GIVEAWAY: Now you have the opportunity to try it,too.  I have two free product coupons to share with Chat With Vera readers, and we'll be choosing two winners using the Rafflecopter entry form below. ENDS April 18 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.  Open only in mainland USA addresses.
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DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free product and coupons to distribute for the giveaway in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to provide favorable comments. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

"Unrivaled" by Siri Mitchell (Review & Giveaway)

About the book:  Lucy Kendall returns from a tour of the Continent, her luggage filled with the latest fashions and a mind fired by inspiration. After tasting Europe's best confections, she's sure she'll come up with a recipe that will save her father's struggling candy business and reverse their fortunes. But she soon discovers that their biggest competitor, the cheat who swindled her father out of his prize recipe, has now hired a promotions manager-a cocky, handsome out-of-towner who gets under Lucy's skin.

Charlie Clarke's new role at Standard Manufacturing is the chance of a lifetime. He can put some rough times behind him and reconnect with the father he's never known. The one thing he never counted on, however, was tenacious Lucy Kendall. She's making his work life miserable...and making herself impossible for him to forget. 

Review:  This book took me by surprise in that it was a story of corporate competition in the saccharine sweet world of industrial candy making.  It seems as though Royal Taffy has totally taken over the minds and actions of the characters as well as all the billboards and signage of the city in its effort to be the one and only beloved candy consumed by the populace.  Whilst its smaller competitor makes a quality product, they simply don't have the drive, know-how, and funding to adequately oppose Royal Taffy.  

Within the drama of the candy industry we have a not-so-sweet romance trying to blossom.  Lucy's father was the developer and owner of Royal Taffy but lost it all in a take-over. Charlie comes on the scene as the long-lost son of Royal Taffy's wealthy owner.  Lucy and Charlie are explicitly drawn to one another but also find themselves at constant war with each other mainly over their connection and involvement in the candy industry.

There is, however, a deeper and more personal struggle going on in their lives.  It is a spiritual and moral battle confronting them.  How will this corporate struggle, personal romance, and personal spiritual battle resolve?

This is basically a very light read and doesn't seem to have a lot of depth which makes it a very good read for relaxed/unwind reading. I grew a bit weary reading about Lucy's candy making and petty personality flaws but that is simply me and my take.  It is a good book, very clean read (which makes it rank very high in my list of qualities), and employs flawed but redeemable characters. I have another of Siri Mitchell's books on my shelf to read and anticipate it will bring a few hours of pleasant enjoyment.

About the author: Siri Mitchell is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently lives in the DC-metro area. Visit Siri's website www.sirimitchell.com or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Siri-Mitchell/67961379554 .

GIVEAWAY:   And to share this piece of history with a Chat With Vera reader, Litfuse Publicity Group is providing a copy for one my readers.  Enter using the Rafflecopter form below (please be patient as it loads. GIVEAWAY begins April 3 and ENDS April 22 at 12:01 a.m. EST. Open to USA addresses only.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse Publicity Group on behalf of the author and publisher, Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

"Whale of a Story" by Buddy Davis

About the book: Children’s book with pirates, ships, whales, and of course - Jonah!!

• Story of Jonah told in a unique way
• A clever and fun way of telling a familiar Bible story
• Includes questions for parents to discuss with their children

Join Captain John Fisher and the men aboard the Southern Cross, an Australian ship commissioned for the purpose of spreading the gospel in the summer of 1849. After a morning of warding off pirates, the captain tells the crew the Bible story about Jonah and the great fish, and it’s a Whale of a Story! With dazzling illustrations and plenty of action, this is sure to be any child’s favorite bedtime - or anytime - story!

Review:  This is a book full of strong art that will appeal to the boys in your life and it actually tells two stories.  First of all it is (as is told in the "About the book" section) the story of a ship in 1849 that was commissioned to  spread the gospel.  Ben Schooner, who was a cabin boy on the ship, the Southern Cross, welcomes you and the "mates" and he begins to tell the story of one of the sailings of the Southern Cross. The trip is packed with adventure! But on one day the captain, who was a Christian, decided to share a story with the "mates" straight out of God's Word. So he commenced to tell the story of Jonah.

As the Captain continues telling the Biblical story of the storm at sea and how Jonah was cast into the sea and then swallowed by a great fish, the crew of the Southern Cross experiences a whale appearing and soaking everyone on board thoroughly with water. A rather startling and timely incident. But the Captain continued telling the story of Jonah and the great fish that swallowed him.

There are questions at the end of the story that a parent may use to guide discussion with children. This story could present opportunity for parents to help their children understand "running from God" and "obedience to God's call."  I would, however, encourage parents to be certain their child understands that this is in fact two separate stories and that the child doesn't confuse the great fish that swallowed Jonah (Biblical story) with the whale that splashed the mates aboard the Southern Cross (storybook tale). 

Of interest from Wikipedia: Southern Cross has been the name of a succession of ships serving the Melanesian Mission of the Anglican Church and the Church of the Province of Melanesia. She succeeded the Undine, a 21-ton schooner built at Auckland and in service from 1849 to 1857. Funds from Charlotte Mary Yonge's novel The Heir of Redclyffe (1854) were devoted to funding the construction of the Melanesian mission vessel.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was given to me in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

"Invisible" by Ginny Yttrup

ISBN: 9781433671685

About the book:  Ellyn DeMoss--chef, cafe owner, and lover of butter--is hiding behind her extra weight. But what is she hiding? While Ellyn sees the good in others, she has only condemnation for herself. So when a handsome widower claims he's attracted to Ellyn, she's certain there's something wrong with him.

Sabina Jackson--tall, slender, and exotic--left her husband, young adult daughters, and a thriving counseling practice to spend a year in Northern California where she says she's come to heal. But it seems to Ellyn that Sabina's doing more hiding than healing. What's she hiding from? Is it God?

Twila Boaz has come out of hiding and is working to gain back the pounds she lost when her only goal was to disappear. When her eating disorder is triggered again, though she longs to hide, she instead follows God and fights for her own survival. But will she succeed?

As these women's lives intertwine, their eyes open to the glory within each of them as they begin to recognize themselves as being created in God's image.

My thoughts:  I found this an interesting read involving the lives, past and present, of Ellyn, Sabrina, and Twila and how they met and interacted with one another though their circumstances were so very different.

As Ellyn struggles with her weight issues and her conception of herself, she functions as owner and chef of a successful Northern California restaurant.  Twila brings maturity to the table in the relationships though she, too, is struggling with her own concept of who she is and how she appears and this is to the point of an eating disorder.  And we have Sabrina who is a psychologist who is battling depression to the point of isolating herself from all she holds dear.

As these three ladies become acquainted with each other, they also become more acquainted with the concept of a God who loves them as they are and who heals wounds.  A God who will give them strength for each day.

True this is a book about eating disorders, depression, and individual conceptualization of who one is, but it is more about becoming the person that God intends for you to become and to recognize the need for and presence of God in one's personal life.

I don't think I would necessarily recommend this as reading material for the teen audience, but I do recommend it for adults.  There is not any "adult material" in the story.  It is a sweet story.  There is even a sweet, mature relationship romance that blossoms.  But it is more for those who struggle with issues or who know someone who does struggle with issues.  This is NOT a self-help book or a physo-babble book.  It is a work of fiction and should be read as such. But it is interesting. It is informative. It is rewarding.

About the author: Ginny L. Yttrup is an accomplished freelance writer, speaker, and life coach who also ministers to women wounded by sexual trauma.
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of Invisible by Handlebar Publicist on behalf of B&H Publishing Group and the author in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.