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The Medium Next Door:  Adventures of a Real-Life Ghost Whisperer is a new age spiritual book on channeling.

Maureen Hancock was raised in a large family of Irish Catholic heritage.  It is said she was born with a veil over her when she was born and old wives tales and legends have always explained this as being "special" in psychic abilities.

Ever since she had a near-death experience as a little girl, Maureen has seen things that she was unable to explain and she decides to stifle her "gift" for the next couple of decades, as she feared her abilities.

When she regains her abilities by allowing them to return, she finds that she is even more heightened to the spiritual energies that were attracted to her.  Now, she is able to communicate with them and they with her.

Since then, she has been on talk shows, held seminars, assisted police in cases and shared herself with anyone who wishes to hear her story.  From the Mayan spirits who arrived in her hotel to tell her that her mother was having heart attack to the story of Suzie whose son Bo hung himself and wanted to let his family know he is  still with them, each of these anecdotes are shared in a heart-warming and friendly manner.

I thought this was an interesting read and if you love paranormal then you will definitely find something in this book.  The stories that Maureen shares are quite thought-provoking and truly freaky in their content.  I am not sure how I would deal with such a "gift"!  I have my own "gifts", not only was I born with a caul, but I was born dead to boot and I often shy away from my own abilities and am thankful I cannot speak to dead people.  Though I would try it for a day if it were possible!

I did find some of the stories and flow of the book to be disconnected and at times it was hard for me to stay involved with the story.  While I do believe in Maureen's gifts, some of the stories are unbelievable and you wish you could have your own reading just to fully understand her gifts.  She is quick to put the skeptics at ease by relating stories only they would know to show the connection between the departed soul and the loved one. 

It is a quick read even with over 260 pages of text, it is written in a friendly narrative, giving the reader a bit of insight into the author.  This would make an interesting book to discuss in book groups or to read on rainy afternoon.

SYNOPSIS:
At just five years old, Maureen Hancock discovered her ability to communicate with the dead. Descended from a long line of legendary Irish mystics, she was no stranger to the spiritual realm, but for fear of being misunderstood by her friends and family she kept the otherworldly messages to herself, eventually suppressing them completely.

Maureen wouldn't hear the spirits again until she was in a near-fatal car crash. Soon after, she had hundreds of voices in her head, many of which helped her crack cases and expose fraud in her role as a litigation paralegal at a large Boston law firm. Then, when tragedy struck on 9/11, Maureen was bombarded with messages from the spirit world. As each one made contact with her, she finally came to terms with her calling: to communicate with the deceased, assist the dying, search for missing children, and teach the living about life after death, all the while raising her children in her subu

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The Very Fairy Princess Takes The Stage is a children's picture book.

Geraldine believes she is a princess and not just a regular princess, but a fairy princess.  On the day it's announced that her ballet class will be acting out the play, "The Crystal Princess", Gerry is positive she will be cast as the lead, after all, she has everything a good fairy princess would need!

However, things don't turn out the way that Gerry wants and she is cast as the Jester.  Gerry is really disappointed but decides to make the most out of it, even though she believes she looks really silly in her Jester costume.

On the big day, Gerry is really nervous when she stands upon the stage.  However, her fears are unwarranted, for not only does she sparkle and shine but she saves the day when a piece of the Ice Crystal Princesses costume goes missing!

Award winning Actress, Julie Andrews, yes THAT Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, have collaborated to put together a really great book for young readers.  Julie has been writing books for over thirty years and the mother-daughter team have been sharing their writing talents together for several as well. 

I thought this was a very well-written and whimisical book.  Geraldine is a very likeable little girl.  I liked how she was able to go with the flow and not think of revengeful things to do because she didn't get her way.  I liked the positive attitude building that the book incorporates and how to make the most out of situations that aren't agreeable.

The illustrations by Christine Davenier are done in a charming and engaging coloured pencil sketches that are pleasing to the readers eyes.  The soft strokes of the pencils give you a feeling of love and tenderness as you read about Gerry and her dilemma. 

I would recommend this to any parent who enjoys reading wholesome stories with positive outcomes to their children.  The children will fall in love with Gerry and her comical attitude.  This would also make a good storytime book to read in daycares or during library programs!

SYNOPSIS:
Everyone's favorite fairy princess is back and just in time for her ballet recital in this new picture book addition to the Julie Andrews Collection. At first, when Gerry is cast as the Court Jester and not the Crystal Princess, she is dismayed -- nothing is pink and no one can see her crown under her silly jester hat! But just as the recital looks like it's headed for disaster, our ever-energetic very fairy princess swoops in to save the day!

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The Munched-Up Flower Garden is the first book in the Troublesome Creek Kids Series.

Liz Reilly and her friends live in Troublesome Creek and they never go looking for trouble, trouble just seems to find them.

One day Liz decides to create a flower garden and enter it in the local contest at the annual picnic.  However, before the contest begins, trouble wrecks havoc in the garden and Liz is convinced someone sabotaged her garden to prevent her from winning.

Sallie is a four time champion, a fact that she never allows Liz, nor their other friends, James, Carolyn and Dean to forget.  Liz doesn't know if Sallie would be so mean as to destroy her garden.

While troubles brews, Liz must come to the realization that maybe her friends weren't really her friends afterall.

This was a very entertaining children's book.  The pages are full of rich and vibrant colours that any young one would enjoy.  The characters almost leap off the page with the artistic touch of illustrator, K. Michael Crawford.  Her blend of colours and lines are welcoming to view.

I loved the message that the book portrays and the kids of Troublesome Creek are fun to read about.  I think this is a great book to read to your children as they prepare for bed or for those afternoons when they want to cosy up to a story.  They will come to love the kids and the troubles that follow them.  The recommended reading age is those for children five to nine, but I think the younger ones would enjoy it also.

SYNOPSIS:
Sweet talk aside, Liz learns how hard it is to grow flowers, especially when a rival wants to do in your garden. Troublesome Creek Gang book #1.

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Trees Cry For Rain is a fictional historical account of the past meeting the future.

The story sets out during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, where those who did not follow the "one true God" were tortured, raped, baptized against their will, had their children stolen  and even brutally murdered.  It was a time when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella ruled the land and systematically cleansed it of all known religious atrocities.  If you were Jewish, you paid lip service to the Catholic faith while practising your own faith in complete secrecy. 

It was a time when you didn't trust your friends nor your family and everyone was pointing the finger at another in hopes to save their own skin.  Torture was common practise to illicit those people who may be worshipping a religion that was banned. 

When the guards arrive to arrest Rozas and Lucas, Rozas enlists family friend, Rafael, to take their three daughters and hide them.  Giving them all their money and tying a piece of a key around each of them, she vows they will all find each other again one day.  Knowing their deaths are at hand, the parents stand their ground in order for the four to reach safety.

Catalina, Zara and Marianna follow Rafael through the tunnel that leads them to safety and from there they fight every day for survival.  Along their journey they are separated and each must face their futures against all odds in order to survive. 

After Rozas is tortured for information about her daughters, she refuses and is burned at the stake, taking her love for her family with her.  However, after 500 years has passed the past comes back to haunt three woman and the man with the fiery eyes.  When Aliki, Shira, Ria and Cole meet up, they soon come to realize that in some strange way, they were all meant to be together. 

I thought the depictions of the Spanish Inquisition to be quite graphic and detailed.  The writer doesn't throw any punches when it comes to the atrocities that must have ensued during this murderous and troublesome time of our history.  To be persecuted for having a belief is not only asinine but totally appalling.  It is almost unbelievable that so many people could be killed in the name of God.  Dr. Fink writes with much depth and information and truly draws you into the story. 

The innocence of young Catalina and her sickly plight was heartbreaking to endure as you read her story.  The situation in which Zara found herself in will leave you shaking your head.  How any priest or nun could perform such acts with murderous hate is truly an exasperation.  The glee in which some of these characters took in the barbarities that they attributed will leave you with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. 

I wasn't as fond of the future aspect of the story.  The flow between the two time frames didn't flow as nicely as I would have liked it.  I also found it to be a bit wooden and stiff.  How the four came together wasn't written with as much detail as I would have liked.  I also found several editorial issues where sentences began and/or ended in mid-sentence.  I usually bypass a few but when it becomes apparent the book has more than its fair share, it kind of draws away from the story.  You have to stop and pull yourself out of the story in order to understand the sentence/paragraph structure.

All in all though it was a worthy read, anyone who loves historical pieces will be sure to enjoy th

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This Business Of Children is a fictional account of a group of teachers trying to stand up to the system.

Vera has arrived in her last year of teaching with few upsets and confrontations.  She has been a good teacher over the years and has mixed emotions about her upcoming retirement.  She expects the year will be pretty much the same as it has always been, catering to the school board system and their miles of red tape.  After meeting Dee, and watching as she stands up for the school and the children, Vera comes to realize that taking the safe approach isn't always the best way.

Dee is a new teacher recently hired by the Blevins District School Board to bring her inner-city style of teaching to the students who are often truant, pregnant or many of the other misaligned societal standards of today's youth.  She doesn't appreciate the way that Blevins runs its schools and makes a stand and brings attention to the bureaucracy of the school superintendents. 

Mark, another teacher, is stuck in a loveless marriage and doing a job he believes he loathes.  He is always scouring the newspapers in hopes of a better future.  Dee and Mark become entwined in affairs of the heart and Mark begins to see his future in a different light. 

Stu is the type of teacher that students giggle about.  He is a closet homosexual who becomes distraught when those he loves most die.  After his lover dies of AIDS, Stu must brave the accusations and be tested as per the governments instructions.  He befriends Dee who is open to his plight and together they brave the decisions that will change everyone's lives forever!

Together these four share their lives, each fighting the odds, and work to bring a solution to the growing concern about their countries educational system.

I thought each of the characters found within the pages was believable and enjoyable to read.  They all worked together to bring a cohesive front to the plot and each of their tales was relative to the story.  I really enjoyed reading the character of Dee, she is very ballsy and most definitely has moxey!  She brought a life to the story that may have otherwise suffered. 

The red tape of the school bureaucracy really made me livid.  It is no wonder that children behave as they do when time and again they see very few fighting for their worth.  Another reason why I enjoyed Dee so much, she genuinely cared about those around her, even when she was unsure of herself.  You couldn't help but feel for teachers and the true nature of the forces they have to work and survive in. 

Teachers and education should be the backbone of everyone and everything, for it is from learning we all survive, and when the educational system is attacked and unattended, the children are the ones who suffer.  It was not long ago that only the rich and the theologians were given the opportunity to learn, something many have forgotten in the past fifty years. 

This is a book that will grip you and allow you to realize that something is definitely wrong with the educational system of today and the red tape involved is mind boggling.  It will make you wonder where we have gone wrong and give you a reverence for teaching and the teachers who take the time to ensure we learn.

SYNOPSIS:
Vera Harriss, Deidre Fletcher, Mark Pettingill, and Stu Martel are elementary school teachers in the fictional town of Blevins, Maine whose secret, private lives change

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The True Nature of Tarot:  Your path to personal empowerment is tool to help your spiritual growth.

Author, Diane Wing, has created a guide to those who have questions about Tarot.  She provides insight into all aspects of Tarot showing the reader that it isn't warrant of the negative press that it has received throughout its history.

Diane has been reading the Tarot for over twenty-five years as well as being a Reiki master, teacher and life coach with a Masters degree in psychology and many years in intuitive studies.  Diane has spent many years fine tuning the art of Tarot and providing all she knows in this comprehensive 101 manual for the newcomer and a more advance reader for the experienced, it suits all who read it.

This book will allow you to experience your own intuitive abilities by helping you to grow or you can just use this as a casual reader answering any questions you may have about the subject.  There is also a section in which she discusses the purported "evil" aspects of Tarot, bringing many interesting thoughts to the fore.

I loved how this book will take you through the steps of getting your cards read and the danger signs to look out for, as well as, there are tips for the card reader within the pages.  I thought it was really well written and didn't leave me wondering what the author was talking about.

I was equally thrilled to read about the individual tarot cards themselves.  I have never seen anyone describe the cards such as Diane Wing has, they are more true to human nature than the stiff descriptions of other cards I have read! 

I enjoyed reading all the things that could impact a reading, I don't read tarot myself, but my youngest sister does and I was amazed to see that she did things mentioned in this book naturally.  I always thought she had a remarkable gift and after reading The True Nature Of Tarot, I can see she truly does!

SYNOPSIS:
Get Better Results by Increasing Your Psychic Sensitivity!
The True Nature of Tarot dispels the myths and negative connotations that surround the tarot by sharing the personal experiences of the author, Diane Wing, a tarot reader with 25 years of experience. Tarot is discussed as a tool of enlightenment and understanding. Diane Wing shares intuitive techniques for reading that take you beyond the conventional card meanings and deep into tarot as a tool to channel energy and increase psychic sensitivity:



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The Lowlands of Heaven is an inspirational fantasy fiction novel.

The story sets out in the 1920's as a young doctor and his young, pregnant wife are taking a leisurely drive through the countryside, however, before the day is over, tragedy strikes and both the doctor and his wife have died, leaving a new-born orphaned.  The accident was so painful and horrific that the baby, Kate, and her Guardian Angel, Laurel, are separated.

Kate grows up into a beautiful and charming young lady whose passion in life is being the saviour and benefactor of war-torn children.  She has a brilliant plan that would bring medical aid to those who would require it firsthand, and not succumb to their injuries from lack of medical care.  Working in a hospital gives her the focus she needs to help those who require her "special" touch.  Her best friend, Dot, and  Dot's husband, Ted, introduce her to Sam, an aviator pilot who owns his own freight company.

For Sam, it is love-at-first-sight, as he is inexplicably drawn into Kate's appeal, however, the feelings will never be reciprocated, as Kate does not have any "feeling" that normally occurs between men and women, it is like a piece of her has been silenced.  Kate, is not unaffected by his charm and the two become friends, Sam evens helps Kate to realize her dreams, and teaches her to fly.  For Sam, he is it in for the long haul, even if Kate is unable to return his feelings.

Laurel is Kate's lost Guardian Angel.  She awoke battered, confused and with a deep memory loss.  She knows she has a purpose and she must do whatever it takes to deliver her "gift", if only she knew who she was supposed to gift.  Her friend, Huey, is a beautifully coloured Hummingbird who carries her messages to Heaven's Post Office at Branch 92.  Huey has always been with Laurel, he is always there to protect her and keep her safe.  As well, she meets Tony along her travels, as she rides the rails in search of the soul she seeks, he keeps her safe from the dangers that may be found on Earth.

Binding the two together is the music, Laurel believes if she plays, it will be heard and the two will be rejoined.  Kate  has an impulsive urge to draw white feathers with blue irridescent edges, she doesn't know why, but her hand will act on accord of its own and when she is stressed, she lets her hand fly.  The two know that something is missing and neither know how to make things right.  And hiding in the shadows is the forces working to keep them apart...

Will Laurel and Kate meet so that the destiny that is meant to be fulfilled occurs or will the hands of fate keep them apart, leaving the two to roam forever without the other?

I thought this was a good read with a enjoyable plot that was easy to read, and with only small infractions on the stories flow.  I thought the imagery presented was quite exceptional and expressed with great detail, allowing one to view the Heavens, giving visualization to a place left to one's imagination.  The idea of the post office with its high tech gadgets was a very different concept to incorporate.  All the different birds coming in and out, some on missives, some resting from and the cacophony of sound they must make when all together would be a wonder to hear and see. 

I found the dialogue to be a bit slow in places and sometimes lacking in life.  I didn't like the modern feel to the dialogue, there were no language inflections of the times, nor any of the slang that you

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Vial of Youth was animator and illustrator Adele Thomas' 2005 graduate film based around the myth of 16th Century Hungarian Countess Erzsebeth Bathory, with a twist. The Countess was known to have bathed in the blood of young women to prolong her youth and beauty.

Adele's animated film received an award at the Pacific Film and Television Commission's QLD New Filmmakers Awards in 2006. It also screened at the International Animation festival in Argentina.

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The Confessions of Catherine de Medici is an historical fictional account of one of France's most notorious Queens.

Catherine is a very loyal child, she understands her role in the political aspirations of her Medici family name.  Even at a young age, she realizes that her destiny is one of greatness.  Having the gift of 'sight', she becomes a very superstitious person, who sees signs and portents and dabbles in magical arts.

Her uncle, Pope Clement, has betrothed her to the King of France's second son, Henri d'Orleans.  She has no love for this man, but her duty requires her to stand strong in faith and with much determination, she makes the best of her situation.  Ingraining herself into France's culture, she emerges as a champion of the countries soil.  Amidst strife, and massacres like the one of St. Bartholomew, she must find her way.

After several years of unsuccessfully producing an heir, Catherine becomes afraid for her future, however, King Francois I, has a special place in his heart for her, in another time, they may have been man and wife.  He assures Catherine that she will produce him many fine grandchildren and Catherine is determined to fix her place in the royal family. 

Prince Henri believes he has married beneath himself and for many years, successfully ignores his marriage duties.  His long time mistress, Diane de Poirtiers, keeps him away from court, and no matter what Catherine does to entice her husband, she fails.  Ordered by his father to perform his marital duties, he dispassionately rapes her.  However, no heir was produced and the two struggle to remain faithful to their duties.  When Diane realizes her only hope to remain mistress is to encourage Henri of impregnating Catherine, the two begin to successfully produce the heirs that France so desperately yearn for. 

Catherine turns to magics to help her produce an heir and keep her husband coming to her bed, tired of court discussing her barreness.  Whether they were successful or not, after eight years of non-production, Catherine goes on to birth six children.  They are her life's passion and in her mother's undying love, she fails to see the jealousy and hidden innuendos amongst her own children.  Diane continues to add strife to Catherine's life by having a hand in the raising of her children, sometimes adding fuel to the fire, discouraging Catherine's children from fully loving their mother.

Catherine de Medici is a woman of many mysteries and C. W. Gortner has given her a different portrayal, of the woman beneath the rumours.  Beginning from when she is a child, we read her thoughts and positions as she grows into womanhood and as she ages with time we learn of another possibility behind what made Catherine motivate herself to do the things she did. 

I truly enjoyed the book, the flow was excellent, the characters believable in their mannerisms and dialogues.  I thought the passages descriptive and easily found myself envisioning the surroundings being described.  I enjoyed C. W. Gortner's portrayal of Catherine, so much in history has her painted as an evil witch who poisoned those at her fancy, who controlled and manipulated everyone to her will, even when her judgements were lacking.  Seeing her being portrayed as neither victim nor heroine but as a woman who has accepted what life has offered her and making the best of what is being presented to her.

I was equally impressed with the graphic nature of some scene

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Typedepot is a "small" type foundry currently based in Sofia, Bulgaria, founded by Alexander Nedelev and Veronika Slavova in 2009. These two talented designers came together and created Typedepot after the creation of their first font "glide", and since then they've started production of several new typefaces available soon for purchase.


The main focus of Typedepot is to design original typefaces for retail and custom use. The foundry leans in the direction of contemporary type forms both for screen and print use.

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Tumbling Down The Rabbit Hole is the debut book in a new paranormal series called Blue Moon.  Elizabeth Darling is a loner with few friends and massive headaches.  She has the ability of "sight" and more often than not, the deaths of people all over the world continue to haunt her and Elizabeth is always at battle with herself as she fights to suppress her "gift".  She doesn't know why she sees the things she does, nor does she want to. 

On the day she "sees" her best friend, Molly, being murdered, everything in her life changes.  Elizabeth is steered towards her destiny by the Blue Moon agency and the folks who work there.  She agrees to train and focus her talents on bringing justice to those who killed Molly.

The Shen's are a powerful and dangerous Vampire family who set out to find the "Oracle" and they work to pick off the members of the Blue Moon Agency, one-by-one, torturing them for any information leading to the Oracles whereabouts.

According to Molly, a seer herself, only Elizabeth has the power to stop them...will she be able to get her powers under control??  Or will they sweep her away into insanity??  Fighting her will power, lycanthropes and vampires, Elizabeth finds herself one step closer to Molly's killers.

For a first time author, I found this book quite entertaining.  Though many questions that were an integeral part of the story were never answered, I still feel like the read was well worth it, and I'm sure the point for the left out information, is to encourage you to read the rest of the series and find out what Elizabeth's actual powers are and how is she the key to all of this.  With mild to moderate language and several sex scenes, this book is not for everyone.  I look forward to another chapter in the fate of Elizabeth and the folks at Blue Moon.

SYNOPSIS:
One womans journey into the world of the paranormal.  Struggling with her own demons and those around her, she sets out to deal justice to those that deserve it.

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Artist Woulter Tulp has crafted a remarkable body of work in a variety of styles and medium over the past decade. A graduate of Willem de Kooning Academie, Woulter has been making a living as an illustrator since 2001.

Woulter creates incredible caricatures of historical figures such as President Obama and Abraham Lincoln – entertainers such as Johnny Cash and Michael Jackson. He has even completed a few of his friends and family. But caricatures are one aspect of this versatile artist. Explore his work further and discover more treasure along the way.

It’s absolutely incredible how Wouter can move in and out of such a wide range of styles and still maintain the same flawless excellence within each one. Every illustration he creates is equivalent to the other in terms of mastery, inventiveness, and beauty. Such an enormous body of work would be impossible to record all in one post but hopefully the work that is displayed here is reflective of his many techniques and approaches to art.