 From as far back as Kimberly can remember, she has either told stories or written stories. In the first grade, she stood and made the announcement that her family couldn't afford a stove and they were starving. Not until the community started to deliver food to the house did her parents find out that the motivation had come from their six-year-old daughter.
Combining her two passions of writing and composing, Shursen's first full-blown musical was produced in Minneapolis by a Broadway producer and went on to open in Sweden. Her second musical was produced in 2009. Plans are in the making to re-open "Eden" with a larger cast and orchestra.With three grown, successful sons, Shursen has a background in marketing and shares her home in the Midwest United States with George and Gracie Burns - a Yorkshire Terrier and Bichon Havanese. BRIAN: Kimberly, it’s wonderful having you at the Underground. I’m going to jump right in about your book, Itsy Bitsy Spider. Where did you get the idea for the novel? How long did it take from idea to publication? KIMBERLY: Thanks, Brian. It’s fun to be home again as I remember when the four of is started Underground Book Reviews – the brain-child of Amy Biddle – it was so much fun to toss around ideas for this site that would review books and interview authors. “Itsy Bitsy Spider” took a little over a year to complete—and then another six months for editing. For years, I’ve heard and read of abuse that mostly focused on lower socio-economic groups. I started to wonder how many adult children had gone to their graves not telling their stories because the abuser controlled them by using power or money. Thus the birth of “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” the story of the powerful Boston Mayor Jack McCallin and his step-daughter Claire. McCallin has threatened Claire that if she ever tells ‘the secret,’ bad things will happen.
BRIAN: Itsy Bitsy Spider is a contemporary action-thriller sent in modern day Boston. As someone who loves that town, I’m curious why you picked that particular setting? KIMBERLY: Boston has such a diverse community from multi-cultured citizens to the established wealthy. My characters represent the diverse communities from blue collar to elite. I educated myself on the city by studying pictures and reading about the suburbs I wanted to write about. I mentally visited the JFK Library, the Globe headquarters in Dorchester, the St.Charles River, Harvard, and Larz Anderson Park just to name a few. BRIAN: I’m shocked, because I just assumed you’d been there by how well you describe it. You obviously did your homework Indie authors comprise a big slice of Underground Book Reviews audience, so I’d like to ask a few questions about your writing and publication experience. First, did you try to publish Itsy through traditional means? If so, what was your experience? If not, why? KIMBERLY: Yes, I did try the traditional method, but not for long. The wait for an answer to my query was harrowing, and even when I received a response it was a form letter. Unless I was a ‘name’, I didn’t stand a chance. Smaller publishing companies were interested, but wanted to know my marketing plan. I felt if I had to do all the work, why not publish the book myself? BRIAN: You’re a marketing professional by trade. Marketing is a tough nut to crack for any indie author. Can you share your marketing strategy for Itsy Bitsy Spider with our readers? KIMBERLY: I started pre-marketing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” six months before it was published. There’s a fine line between “oh my God, be quiet already” to “that’s a book I want to read.” Once a week, I posted on linked-in, Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter with posts such as “soon to be released,” or “two more weeks before…” I invited people to become friends especially to Linked-In as I feel the site is the best way to find your readers. I also wrote dozens of book clubs finding e-mails on the net. A few months before the novel was published I gathered thirty authors together and formed a gorilla marketing group. I interview one of the authors every two weeks for my website. The rules are that each author has to market the interview twice a week for two weeks on all their social sites. Not only do the authors get exposure, but readers who read their interview will take a peek at my work. All the authors in this group are not only quality writers, but quality people, and it is a privilege to get to know them personally and professionally. The novel was released on May 1st. On Mother’s day weekend I offered the Ebook free to generate exposure and reviews. Imagine how elated I was to discover that almost 1300 books had been downloaded. BRIAN: Itsy is tightly edited, but indie writers often get a bad rap for poor editing from the publishing establishment. Tell us about your editing process and, please feel free to promote any editing services you used. KIMBERLY: Thank-you. Yes, I agree, if you don’t cough up money for editorial services, you will not have the reviews or readership you might deserve. There are always errors in every novel and I have found major, ongoing errors in some of the best-selling books. Ann Cooper-Westlake was my editor for Itsy Bitsy Spider. I feel it is important to have a relationship with your editor and Ann and I established a friendship outside of the editing process. She is very dear to me and can be found at http://writerscrampeditingconsultants.com/Books.html BRIAN: You cover is excellent. Did you come up with the concept yourself? Who did it for you? KIMBERLY: Createspace did the cover. I offered ideas, but the team developed the cover. Many women have written to tell me they have a phobia about spiders, but have to read the book. The cover of a book is key to someone picking your book. I know this from my experience in developing brochures and ads in marketing. BRIAN: What’s your number one piece of advice for aspiring authors? KIMBERLY: You can’t do it all. If you are creative, you don’t have to have perfect skills in editing, but it takes a village to put your novel out there. You, Brian, Amy and Katie were a part of the creation of “Itsy Bitsy Spider” as all three of you were beta readers. When I left the underground, Katie became my beta reader. As a creative person, it’s difficult to take a step back from your writing however, whoever your trust to be your beta reader represents all readers and, if they don’t understand or feel the emotion you hope to impart, chances are neither will your readers. My advice to aspiring authors is to find a writing partner who’s writing you respect and open up to their suggestions. BRIAN: Describe for our readers what kind of dog a “Bichon Havanese” is. I’ve never heard of the breed, but that’s a heck of a name. KIMBERLY: Gracie Burns is nine pounds and looks like a miniature sheep dog. She is the sweetest dog ever unless George Burns gets in her way. Gracie is nine and George is ten. They are the first to hear what I have written as they sit at my feet when I write. BRIAN: What’s next for Kimberly Shursen? KIMBERLY: “Hush,” the present-day courtroom drama that revisits the Roe vs. Wade case that legalized abortion, will be out this fall. Penning out at around 100,000 words, the edgy drama that borders on a thriller took months of legal research. My editor for this novel is Joelle Walker who not only has years of experience as in editor in publishing companies, but worked as a paralegal. Staged in Minneapolis where I lived for over 25 years, the “Hush” will also travel to Geneva, Switzerland where one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world will do anything to stop this trial. Why? Well, you’ll have to read the book.
BRIAN: Kimberly, thank you so much for joining us today. For our readers, you can read my review of Kimberly Shursen’s debut novel Itsy Bitsy Spider here on Underground Book Reviews. Kimberly Shursen Links: Itsy Bitsy Spider on Amazon Kimberly Shursen’s Website Kimberly Shursen on Facebook, Twitter, Google, and LinkedIn.
 Review by: Brian Braden Title: Itsy Bitsy Spider Author: Kimberly Shursen Publisher: Self-Published Genre(s): Action-Thriller Length: 313 pages The Rundown In order for an action-thriller to work, it must always be in motion. I can never feel comfortable, in control, or safe. I have to care about the hero. The bad guy has to be bad. There needs to be a love interest and she has to be pretty and nice and occasionally vulnerable. I mean, really, if she isn’t vulnerable why the heck do we need a hero? If one’s adrenaline doesn’t spike at least once per chapter, the book doesn’t earn a five star review. If I don’t get an urge to put on 3-D glasses and eat some popcorn while I’m reading it, it doesn’t get a five star review. Bottom line, if its not fun, why bother? These were my criteria for evaluating Itsy Bitsy Spider by debut author Kimberly Shursen. Matt Christenson is a young, handsome investigative reporter for the Boston Globe. He’s assigned to track down a missing lawyer with connections to Mayor Jack McCallin. Instead, Matt stumbles upon Claire, the mayor’s beautiful daughter, and her little girl, Lizzie. With the help of a few trusted friends Matt discovers Claire and Lizzie are caught in a tangled web of lies originating from the mayor himself. This bloody web stretches from one end of Boston to the other, and now it’s trapped Matt. Claire holds a secret so devastating the mayor will do anything to silence her. The mayor commands Boston’s cops, underworld, and media. There is nowhere to hide as the web tightens around Matt, Claire and Lizzie. Matt becomes part of the story and finds himself falling for Claire, even though it might cost him his life. Itsy is always in motion. I can think of only two chapters where it even thinks about slowing down. The action takes place across the City of Boston, where Matt and his team find themselves imperiled by the mayor’s powerful allies. I always felt a little on edge, because I knew the characters were never safe. Like them, I never knew who to trust and expected betrayal at every turn. I cringed a few times worrying about Lizzie, Claire’s little girl. The easy-going hero, Matt Christenson, is also very likable. I can see a series of books with him as the hero and can easily see Itsy Bitsy Spider being turned into a screen play. Never pretentious and always entertaining, Itsy Bitsy Spider is a state-of-the-art action thriller. Enjoyably easy to read, I had a strong urge for popcorn the whole time I read it. Now, where are my 3-D glasses? Five out of Five Stars. Kimberly Shursen Links: Itsy Bitsy Spider on Amazon
Kimberly Shursen’s Website Kimberly Shursen on Facebook, Twitter, Google, and LinkedIn.
Editor’s Note: A UBR alumni and founding member, Kimberly Shursen departed
our staff a year ago to pursue new opportunities. We told her when she published
her first novel, we would be honored to review it, but she wouldn’t receive any
special favors or consideration. This reviewer bought this book and did not
receive a free copy.
 Title: The Watchman Author: Matt Langford Publisher: Self-Published Genre(s): Literary Fiction Length: 180 pages The Rundown What is the difference between a good book and a great book? People talk about a good book, perhaps recommend it to a friend or even rate it on Amazon. On the other hand, a great book connects in a very personal way. A great book is inherently honest, without a shred of manipulation. It gets inside you... tugs, digs, and performs reconstructive surgery on your heart and soul. A great book leaves you no place to hide and forever changes you to the day you die. Is The Watchman by debut novelist Matt Langford such a book? Adam is a mentally disabled teenager caught up in the everyday maelstrom we call life. He cannot speak beyond a few simple words. Most of his language is made up and known only to him. He possesses a very limited grasp of the past, with even less understanding of the future. Everything exists in the now, and revolves around him. Adam’s family, which is the same as saying his entire universe, is falling apart. His younger brother and sister are growing up and changing in ways he cannot comprehend. His parents’ marriage slowly grows cold under strain of a father’s joblessness and alcoholism. Adam is also changing, physically becoming a man, imposing more unrelenting demands and needs upon an already stressed family. The book begins with a short entry from an expecting mother’s journal, full of hope and love for the baby she carries inside. The Watchman ends with a father’s touching connection with his oldest son. The Watchman is an ambitious book by any standard, but Matt Langford took this challenge to a higher level. The author tells this story exclusively through Adam’s perspective. In doing so, he forces the reader to actively participate and make their own translations of Adam’s world, their own conclusions about the motivations of the “normal” people surrounding him. Langford pulls this off masterfully. With short, simple and brutally effective prose, Langford creates more character development, more humanity, in a few sentences than most authors can create in whole chapters. In only 180 pages Langford boils a family’s existence down to its raw essence. This is the point in my review where I usually point out something I found wrong with the book. If there were editing problems with The Watchman, I didn’t notice. I was too busy losing myself in the story. For two days it took over my life. A book hasn’t done that to me since I was a kid. Is The Watchman a Top Pick? Of course, but good books can be Top Picks. “Top Pick” seems like such a small kudo for such a profound novel. So, does The Watchman qualify as a great book? A few nights ago I attended my child’s school play. During the presentation loud, inappropriate laughter and other strange noises emanated from the back row. There, an obviously mentally disabled boy of perhaps thirteen squirmed next to his mother. He smiled, touched, flailed and spoke in a language known only to him. Tenderly, and with the utmost patience, his mother tried to simultaneously restrain her boy while watching her other child in the play. It could have been a scene right out of The Watchman. Until the day I die I will never look at a mentally disabled person, or their family, again without thinking of Adam. This great novel earns Five out of Five Stars. Matt Langford Links:Matt Langford’s Blog and Amazon PageThe Watchman on AmazonMatt Langford on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
 Title: The Paul Society Author: Jonathan Clark Publisher: Self-Published Genre(s): Non-fiction Length: 210 pages The Rundown Federal Deficits. National Debt. Sequestration. Stimulus. Tax Policy. Sovereign Debt. No, you haven’t accidently stumbled into the Financial Times website. Occasionally, we at Underground Book Reviews put down our novels and short stories and swerve into the oft-neglected lane of independently published non-fiction. Today, we look at Jonathan Clark’s debut book, The Paul Society, a primer explaining the current fiscal crisis. From the internet to the nightly news, one can’t avoid the reality that western governments are drowning in debt. Regarding the United States, The Paul Society boldly asks one question: Why? The question itself is a lightning rod for controversy. Like aloe over a burn, Clark coolly and unemotionally tries to remove the passion from the subject, replacing it with fact. The Paul Society is well researched, logically organized, and employs many real-world examples. It feels like Clark is sitting across the kitchen table with a cup of coffee, calmly explaining why America’s fiscal situation is so messed up. Cool and calm, yes, but never boring, TPS is a perfect book for someone new to the subject. TPS divides federal spending into different buckets, such as welfare, healthcare, defense and subsidies. For a given “bucket” Clark details how congress converts taxpayer money to influence, influence to power, power to spending, and spending into more votes. Clark sorts out the powerful players, from corporate lobbyists, to unions, to special interest groups. In each bucket Clark keeps coming back to the same theme: The root of the problem is corrupt and entrenched politicians, unaccountable lobbyist, and an apathetic (or complicit) electorate. One thing Clark doesn’t do, however, is get partisan. To be blunt, I expected this book to be a run-of-the-mill right-wing rant against big government. It wasn’t. Clark ignores that trap and instead dispassionately indicts both political parties, showing under the surface they often have the same agenda – convert taxpayer money into personal wealth and power. If you put a group of Tea Partiers and Occupiers in the same room and made them read this book, they might stop yelling at one another and find they have much in common. Clark clearly identifies the enemy and, in my opinion, that makes The Paul Society delightfully dangerous. Corporate executive, small business owner and entrepreneur, Clark possesses a great deal of credibility. He never raises his voice and makes his case so logically even a Vulcan would smile. At only 210 pages, The Paul Society keeps moving and is never boring. More importantly, Clark offers hope. His answers are not easy, but ones most American’s can get behind. They start with getting informed and then getting involved, both of which begin with reading The Paul Society. Jonathan Clark Links:
The Paul Society on Amazon
Jonathan Clark's Blog
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 Title: Pale Queen’s Courtyard Author: Marcin Wrona Publisher: Self-Published Genre(s): Historical Fantasy Length: 320 pages THE RUNDOWN Historical fantasy’s mission is to bring a specific period in human history to life through myth and legend. Successfully writing historical fantasy is tough for several reasons. Just like straight-up historical fiction, the historical fantasy author must operate within the confines of actual history. However, the historical fantasy writer must also delve deeply into the myths, legends and folklore of that period; simultaneously keeping facts straight while letting the imagination soar into the realm of speculative fiction. Combining fact and myth in an entertaining format is a tall order, and it's easy for an historical fantasy writer to get lost along the way. In Pale Queen’s Courtyard, author Marcin Wrona has no such trouble and delivers a tale to satisfy any fantasy reader. Leonine is a handsome thief with a tragic past and a very special talent – magic, a gift punishable by death in Wrona’s version of ancient Mesopotamia. When tasked by a wicked sorceress, leader of a forbidden cult, to steal a magical object he sets off a chain of events that sweeps him into a deadly chase. He must elude a band of zealous soldiers led by a ruthless priest-warrior called The Hound. Things get complicated when Leonine rescues a little girl also hunted by The Hound. He soon discovers she possesses an untamed magic so powerful it endangers herself and all around her. Leonine, who for so long has suppressed all feelings of love, begins to think of this girl as a daughter. Now his old employer, the wicked sorceress, wants the girl’s power as her own. If he keeps the little girl, the Hound will surely find them. If he abandons the child to the sorceress, she’s doomed. Leonine is running out of places to hide, from both his enemies and his own past. Wrona’s debut novel is well written and edited. His prose is excellent and the plot moves quickly and smoothly. Pale Queen’s characters are fully fleshed and memorable. My only issue with Pale Queen’s Courtyard is the avalanche of historical and mythological names that immediately hits the reader. I found it difficult at first to keep track of places and characters. I had to do a lot of jumping around to re-look up the formidable host of unfamiliar proper nouns. This creates an initial barrier which may discourage less persistent readers. A map would have helped, too. Don’t fear, because with just a little patience the characters and plot quickly gel and carry the reader deep into the book. While this initial noun barrier was sufficient to nudge Pale Queen out of my top picks, it shouldn’t discourage fantasy fans from reading this book. Pale Queen’s Courtyard is a worthy novel, especially for lovers of historical fantasy. Suitable for early teens and up, Pale Queen’s Courtyard scores 89 out of 99 cents. 99 Cents Worth of Marcin Wrona Links: Marcin Wrona’s BlogMarcin Wrona on TwitterPale Queen’s Courtyard on Amazon
 Title: Need to Breathe Author: Tara Staley Publisher: Self-Published Cover: Photo by Carolyn Burns Bass; Design by Word Art Solutions Genre(s): General Fiction Length: 368 pages The Rundown A few weeks ago a man discovered a twelve pound gold nugget with a metal detector under a few inches of loose soil. I wonder what went through his head when he pulled the treasure from the ground. I didn’t quite feel that amazed when I read Tara Staley’s debut novel Need To Breathe, but I kept asking myself if this really was a self-published, 99 cent novel. The deeper I dug into her book, the more I realized I’d stumbled on a chunk of literary gold. From the beginning Need to Breathe gives the reader very few opportunities to catch their breath. Staley puts us into the mind of Millie Rose, a guardian spirit who dies as a young woman in 1922 giving birth. In 1975 Millie hovers over the incubator of Claire, a 26-week premature baby, whose existence hangs from one precarious breath to the next. From that point forward Millie guides Claire, often unsuccessfully, through life as a voice in her head. Claire’s life is haunted by a host of medical conditions resulting from her premature birth as well as a dark secret that eats away at her parents’ souls and marriage. To gain a place in Heaven, Millie must guide Claire to an unknown purpose while protecting her from life’s every day perils. Millie, however, is haunted by the memory of the baby she’s never known and a past life unfulfilled. Worse yet, a malevolent spirit named Liam dogs her every move, seeking Claire’s earthly ruin and Millie’s spiritual demise. The story is told from Millie’s perspective. Because she’s a spirit that means we get everyone else’s perspective, too. Staley pulls this off masterfully. Her efficient and beautiful prose flits from paragraph to paragraph, never dwelling too long on one person or one event. The amazing thing, however, is the novel never feels shallow. Like a parachute in a gale, Breathe’s characters pop to life quickly, rich and full and ready to carry the reader to whatever destination Staley has in store. We’re there with Millie every step of the way, cajoling, scolding, nudging, suffering and sharing the amazing life of a little girl with all the cards stacked against her. We grow up with Claire in a sometimes loving, often messed-up, and always unforgettable extended Southern family. I was concerned that the excellent, character-driven novel would bog down as the plot progressed. Thankfully, Staley never let that happen. Each stage of Claire’s life presented a new crisis, served up naturally, with great timing, and so realistically as to make any parent cringe. This book never stalls. Suitable for early teens and up, Need To Breathe is a beautiful story and I’m glad I stumbled across this piece of self-published gold. Tara Staley makes a powerful debut and sets a high bar not only for herself, but for other independent authors as well. Need
To Breathe earns 94 out of 99 cents and needs to be my next Top Pick. 99 Cents Worth of Tara Staley Links:Need to Breathe on Amazon. Tara Staley’s website, Facebook and Twitter. If you enjoyed this review follow Underground Book Reviews on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter.
You can also follow Brian Braden on his blog, Facebook and Twitter
and buy his book, Carson's Love. If you are an agent or publisher you can make the smartest financial decision of your life and offer Brian a contract on his brilliant
novel, Black Sea Gods.
 TITLE: Thank God for Boll Weevils AUTHOR: Rhett Barbaree PUBLISHER: Tiger Iron Press COVER DESIGN: Julianne Gleaton GENRE(S): Southern Fiction/Christian Fiction LENGTH: 162 pages THE RUNDOWN Big stories are often told by small books. Thin novels tucked away in the back of museum gift shops, historical societies, and indie publisher websites can hold sweeping tales of civilizations in crisis and the giants who save them. Thank God for Boll Weevils by debut author Rhett Barbaree is such a book. This is the gentle, unpretentious and inspired story of two girls. Separated by race but united in faith, they trust God with the little and big things in their lives. By Providence they find themselves in the right place at the right time to help save a civilization from economic destruction wrought by a bug. We follow nine-year-old Janie through her everyday adventures growing up on her father’s cotton plantation in south Alabama in the early 1900s. Janie’s world forever changes when Sipsey, a black sharecropper’s daughter, arrives at Melrose Plantation. The two girls become fast friends as they grow to womanhood in a culture caught between the dying remnants of the Civil War generation and the dawn of the New South. That world is threatened when a tiny cotton-eating insect, the boll weevil, sweeps across Dixie. Enter one of Sipsey’s Tuskegee college professors, famed scientist George Washington Carver, whose timely peanut research saves, and forever changes, the South. The challenges faced by the characters in Thank God for Boll Weevils are viewed through the prism of an uncomplicated, practical Christian faith, where daily relationships of trust are established with a loving God and outcomes are left in His hands. This faith saturates the culture like the Alabama humidity, transcends racial barriers, and forges two girls into lifelong sisters. A very easy read , Thank God for Boll Weevils is mostly told though Janie's perspective, but occasionally through Sipsey’s. Barbaree’s dialogue is effective and authentic, his prose adequate to the task at hand. He hits his stride when he slows down the narration and we see the girls moving though their daily lives, interacting with Melrose Plantation’s colorful cast of characters. Barbaree absolutely shines when telling the tale through Sipsey’s perspective, especially when she first arrives at Melrose as a child. We feel her trepidation and experience her relief as she surrenders her problems over to God. In fact, I think this would have been a better book if Barbaree wrote the majority, or even all of it, through Sispey’s eyes, not Janie’s. Through Sipsey we see Barbaree’s writing at its finest. While a good first novel, Thank God for Boll Weevils has a few challenges. Fortunately, because the novel is short none of these issues sink the book. First, the pacing is very uneven. Some parts seem to drag, especially in the middle, due to a marked lack of tension. In other places it zips by, exacerbated by the first person perspective that shallows the prose and occasionally gives the impression of a letter, not a novel. When delivering the novel’s spiritual message, Barbaree is most effective when he masterfully weaves it into the dialogue and characters’ internal thoughts. Sometimes, however, he delivers the message in sermon-style chunks. The net effect is as if someone hit the plot’s pause button and everything came to a stop. Overall, the reader hits a bump here and there, but always gets back on track. With its original blend of Southern flair, historic fiction, and faith-based messages, Thank God for Boll Weevils is suitable for all ages and a worthy read. With only a few “bugs” this debut novel earns Rhett Barbaree a solid down payment of 80 out of 99 cents on what I believe is a promising writing career. 99 Cents Worth of Rhett Barbaree Links:Thank God for Boll Weevils on Amazon Rhett Barbaree on FacebookThank God for Boll Weevils on Facebook If you enjoyed this review, follow Underground Book Reviews on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter.
You can also follow Brian Braden on his blog, Facebook and Twitter
and buy his book, Carson's Love. If you are an agent or publisher you can make the smartest financial decision of your life and offer Brian a contract on his brilliant
novel, Black Sea Gods.
 Imagine someone genetically spliced An Unmarried Woman with I Love Lucy (if there was an episode where Lucy leaves Ricky because he shagged Ethel) with Chef Paula Deen occasionally popping up and offering you something tasty to eat. The result is a funny, original and entertaining debut novel from self-published author J.W. Bull. A delightful piece of light women’s fiction, Pickin' Tomatoes reads like a good television sitcom. Maggie is a plucky, forty-something redhead. Separated with a newborn, she is about to finalize her divorce from her philandering husband of 20 years. Desperate for a new life, Maggie lies on a job application and, just like that, finds herself masquerading as a gourmet chef and relationship advice columnist for a major women’s magazine. Living a lie and loving it, she flops from one humorous situation to the next (both in and out of the kitchen) as she gains national fame as America’s Chef of Hearts. The plot simmers along as Maggie answers letters from fans seeking relationship advice, her witty responses always accompanied by a relevant recipe. The reader alternately laughs and cringes as the inevitable, but entertaining, boiling point arrives when Maggie must confront her past and her lies. Pickin' hits all the right chords, from tight story development, to light and downright funny dialogue, and it's topped off with a memorable protagonist. Combining a fictional novel with a cookbook is a unique, and smart, angle. I’m by no means an expert on women’s fiction, but I cannot fathom women not enjoying this book. Heck, I’m a guy and I thought it was funny because I know women like Maggie. However, it barely misses my Tops Picks for two reasons. While a tasty read, Pickin' needed a little more seasoning regarding the supporting characters, from Maggie’s best friend Justy, to her belligerent ex-husband Richard, to her hunky editor Peter. These characters are well written in the sense they fulfill their assigned roles relating to Maggie, but do little more. They don’t balance the care and depth J.W. Bull bakes into Maggie’s excellent character. Also, I think the book could be slightly shorter. About two-thirds into the story I was ready to dispense with the reoccurring kitchen capers and get on with the plot. However, these critiques are minor and, combined with the fact this is a debut, self-published novel, Pickin' Tomatoes is certainly a yummy dish. J.W. Bull combines all the right ingredients for an entertaining and easy read. She starts with a base of light, character driven humor, throws in some tender moments for depth, a dash of love and friendship, and tops it off with a garnish of wackiness. Bake it on your Kindle or Nook for 279 pages and Pickin' Tomatoes will serve up to 89 out of 99 cents. 99 Cents of J.W. Bull links:Pickin' Tomatoes website
Pickin' Tomatoes on AmazonIf you enjoyed this review follow Underground Book Reviews on Facebook and
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You can also follow Brian Braden on his blog, Facebook and Twitter and
buy his book, Carson's Love. If you are an agent or publisher you can make the smartest financial decision of your life and offer Brian a contract on his brilliant novel, Black Sea Gods.
 Jodi McClure’s novel Homebound is about a broken man who rediscovers himself, and love, within the confines of his childhood bedroom. A gentle, easy read set in the contemporary South, Homebound reminds me of a country song about healing, tenderness, and love. John crashes to earth, both literally and figuratively, when a motorcycle accident renders him bedridden. Helpless for months in his childhood bedroom, John has nothing but time to contemplate a failed marriage and a failed career. He is a broken man in every sense. Enter Cloey, the small town nurse and beauty hired to take care of him. Over the course of the story Cloey and John form a relationship of trust, solve a mystery, and, of course, fall in love. On the surface, Homebound sounds like a sappy, run of the mill love story, but it isn’t. McClure’s intelligent prose and excellent dialogue forge John and Cloey into believable and likeable characters without a single drop of sap or saccharin. McClure accomplishes what few writers can: build a simple setting and two likable characters into a compelling story that holds the reader without gimmick or shock. I smiled and occasionally laughed at John and Cloey’s banter and their evolving tenderness. If I could sum up McClure’s style it would be “gentle subtleness” that tugs at your heartstrings and, well, makes you feel good. I only had two minor issues with Homebound. The mystery left by Cloey’s deceased grandfather was a promising, but ultimately disappointing, plot twist. It provided a medium for Cloey and John to draw closer together by searching for clues in classic books. However, beyond its utility in this aspect, it never really got off the ground and wrapped up too abruptly at the very end. The other issue was Homebound’s length. At only 72 pages it could be considered a long novelette as opposed to a novel. Regardless, these minor critiques don’t detract from what is otherwise an entertaining book. Homebound is suitable for all ages and a delightful read . If you’re ever homebound on a rainy day, I highly recommend this light read to pass the time. Homebound
left me smiling and gets 86 out of 99 cents. 99 Cents of Jodi McClure links:
Homebound on AmazonIf you enjoyed this review follow Underground Book Reviews on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter.
You can also follow Brian Braden on his blog, Facebook and Twitter and buy his
book, Carson's Love. If you are an agent or publisher you can make the smartest financial decision of your life and offer Brian a contract on his brilliant novel, Black Sea Gods.
 After reviewing Michael Manning’s debut novel, Mageborn: The Blacksmith’s Son, over a year ago I eagerly awaited the sequel. When Mageborn: The Line of Illeniel finally came out, other books needed reviewing, so I had to wait. Finally, Underground Book Review’s one year anniversary provided me the perfect opportunity. The Blacksmith’s Son was UBR’s premier review, so it was only fitting we return to Michael G. Manning’s self-published fantasy series to celebrate our website’s first birthday. Pass out the funny hats and cut the cake. Wait, not so fast. At first, it seemed like a great idea and I committed to the review immediately. Then it occurred to me sequels often don’t live up to the original. It was possible, albeit unlikely, The Line of Illeniel might stink. In the year since reviewing The Blacksmith's Son I’ve learned a great deal about writing and critiquing. With some experience under my belt I wondered if I’d give Blacksmith the same positive rating now I as did as a newbie reviewer. I didn’t want to celebrate UBR’s one year anniversary with a negative review, but would if I had too. I dove into Illeniel hoping Manning was as good as I remembered. I am pleased not only to report Illeniel doesn't suck, but improves significantly on Blacksmith’s Son. The birthday party is back on, so pass out the cake and funny hats. Illeniel picks up with our hero, the young wizard Mordecai (Mort) and his fiancé Penny rebuilding his castle and trying to establish a fledgling dukedom. All our favorite characters are back, from brave Dorian to elegant Lady Rose to faithful Marcus. The action begins almost immediately when the village is attacked by a relentless horde of soul-sucking monsters. The action and intrigue steadily rise as Mort must confront a less than amicable king, a super-warrior who wants to use Penny to dampen Mort’s growing magical powers, and a goddess manipulating his friend Marcus to try to control Mort. Oh yes, and an enormous army is also about to invade his lands. Mort has his hands full, not to mention he hears voices in his head, threatening to drive him insane. Manning doesn’t miss a beat and builds on the strengths that made Blacksmith such a good book. While he introduces a few new minor characters, Manning spends most of the novel building upon the established characters, with heavy emphasis on Mort and Penny. Their stormy relationship provides a great deal of the novel’s tension and entertainment. Manning never strays very far from Mort and Penny, which effectively anchors the plot. This is important because Illeniel possesses a faster pace, more moving parts, and significantly more action than Blacksmith. A lesser writer might have lost his way. Illeniel is a tribute to Manning’s recently deceased father, elevating the novel to an intensely personal level. Mordecai’s relationship with his father, Royce, mirrors Manning’s own feelings for his father. Manning shows exceptional courage and grace as he shares his love and mourning with his readers. Illeniel’s closing scene is both touching and beautiful. Many of my negative critiques in Blacksmith’s Son are resolved in Illeniel. The characters are fully fleshed, the dialogue highly polished. The sudden perspective shifts and abrupt narration-style changes of Blacksmith are gone. The editing quality is significantly improved, providing the reader an effortless and distraction-free experience. The Line of Illeniel contains a few cases of strong language, mild sexual themes, and swords and sorcery violence. Overall, the book is suitable for teens and up. With The Line of Illeniel Michael G. Manning proves Blacksmith’s Son was no fluke. He also demonstrates a self-published author can deliver a high quality, entertaining fantasy series that stands toe-to-toe with anything produced by traditional publishing houses. On the one-year anniversary of Underground Book Reviews Mageborn: The Line of Illeniel lines up 92 out of 99 cents and becomes our second season’s first Top Pick. 99 Cents of Michael G. Manning links:
Michael G. Manning on FacebookMageborn, The Line of Illeniel on Amazon. If you enjoyed this review follow Underground Book Reviews on Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
You can also follow Brian Braden on his blog, Facebook and Twitter and buy his
book, Carson's Love. If you are an agent or publisher you can make the smartest financial decision of your life and offer Brian a contract on his brilliant novel, Black Sea Gods.
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