Visit the Eternal White by T. Furuyama

 

Eternal White

By T. Furuyama

“So this is Heaven.” Hershel Byne, a math teacher observes his surroundings as he angrily enters the afterlife. Heartbroken, feeling he was snatched away from loving family and friends before his time, Hershel begins to explore what author T. Furuyama has waiting in the vastness of Eternal White. Is eternal peace as wonderful as its promise? And what of the connection with those left behind? What is to become of them? Can Hershel still help from the invisible beyond?

A glimpse into this man’s life on earth shows a typical father and husband, enjoying the joys and tribulations of raising teenage daughters with his wife, who is the love of his life. His friends are an interesting array of neighbors and acquaintances. He enjoys teaching math to his students. Busy with his life, he spends little time pondering prospects of death other than playing with math puzzles like Pascal’s Wager and Schrödinger’s cat, which he delightfully postulates. Then there is a sudden intrusion of fate.

Hershel’s life is over, and now he is confronted with an emotional journey filled with dangers to the heart and soul. The life stories shared by the people he meets along the way are gripping tales of woe and joy, desperation and love, and it is their experiences that paint the eternity that surrounds each of them. As Ben in Heaven muses, “That’s the thing about being human, we always want what we don’t have; and once we have it, we miss the time when we didn’t.” Hershel is not ready for eternity yet. He has caught a glimpse of trouble ahead for his daughter in the world of the living, and he is determined to do what very few in the Eternal White have ever done. He is determined to find the way to reach out and help her.

This refreshing story mixes a smart, fast-paced action novel with a thought provoking and sometimes emotionally charged exploration of deep life questions. Debates of these tantalizing questions bring on answers that generate even more haunting questions begging for response. You don’t need a background of mathematical study to appreciate this philosophical contemplation about the meaning of life, and questions about God and religions. At times very humorous, at times poignant, author T. Furuyama beautifully writes such very human characters and exciting situations.

Eternal White is this author’s second book. He has a PhD in genetics and conducted high profile research for twenty years. Now he delightfully applies to fiction writing both the magic of science and his awe of the natural world. Hershel’s discoveries will linger in the readers’ thoughts long after the final page. You can find more information about the author and his books at http://www.tfuruyamabooks.com

Author Linda Hope Lee Books Murder Between The Pages

Murder Between The Pages

The Nina Foster Mystery Series
By Linda Hope Lee

Librarian Nina Foster cannot quiet her suspicions and theories when her hometown is shocked by murder. Nina’s concerns prompt her to get her nose out of the books and onto a hot trail of clues. Not so fast though, author Linda Hope Lee has some surprises in store for her protagonist cover to cover, as Nina discovers the dangers of researching Murder Between The Pages.

The town of Richmond, Washington which is a suburb of Seattle, is home to Seaview Library. This idyllic place embraces all aspects of the Arts and is a beautifully described setting right on Puget Sound. The literary community and its supporters are rocked by a murder in their midst. It’s truly a puzzler, and suspects are numerous. The reader has full access to all clues discovered, and information on the array of fascinating characters including their potential motives, opportunities, and means. Can the reader solve the mystery before the Librarian? Can the Librarian solve the mystery despite the life threatening dangers she faces?

The premise of a Librarian amateur sleuth is delightful. The Library is a community center of activities and residents’ interactions. There’s much to be learned. Nina Foster has an interesting background too that often influences her choices and can result in self-imposed difficulties. She has a warm and wonderful relationship with her dear grandmother who has a sparkling personality and among her many interests is a skilled pool player. Nina is also beginning a relationship with Stephen Kraslow, a widower who is a reporter newly moved to Richmond. They are combining forces on the investigation, to the chagrin of the police detective in charge. As Nina reviews her clues at hand with some frustration, Stephen is encouraging, “We’ll continue to keep our eyes and ears open. One thing I’ve learned in this business is that you can’t hurry the answers.” All is revealed in good time.

Author Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense and mysteries. Also an artist, her skills working with watercolors, colored pencil, and pen and ink must have influenced the vibrant, detailed descriptions of settings and characters in her writing.

You can find more information about the author and her books at http://www.lindahopelee.com

The Magic of Unicorns A Reading Delight

The Magic of Unicorns

By Gina L. Grandi
Illustrated by Ximena Jeria
 

What an enchanting Field Guide to Fabulous Creatures for the young and the young at heart. The Magic of Unicorns excites the imagination and engages young readers with stories joyfully authored by Gina L. Grandi and filled with delightful artistry by Ximena Jeria. Just open the cover to join this amazing journey around the world discovering unicorns and exploring special secrets about their history, legends, habits, and variety of powers and interests. Along the way you’ll also learn ways to find the magic of unicorns for yourself.

Did you know there are a big variety of unicorns around the world? They all look different and act different, but in their hearts they are each dear creatures with wondrous adventures. Now you can read about some of their incredible escapades. Enthusiastic, compassionate readers will also appreciate the descriptions of nature surrounding unicorns around the world on all kinds of different continents and ecosystems. This book shows not only information about magical unicorns, but also about their companions in nature including birds, insects, mammals, plants, and more.

What is the best way to find unicorns in the world around you? This book suggests some practical ideas and activities that may just attract one of these elusive creatures to you. As the author says, “the world might look ordinary, but there could be something unexpected and wondrous just around the corner.”

The text of this book is readable by elementary age readers. But I also encourage adults to seek opportunities to read this book out loud with children, enjoy the gorgeous pictures, and ignite everyone’s imagination together.

The author, Gina L. Grandi is also a teacher and theatre professor who shares her passion for these magical, mysterious creatures and their mystical powers. She has taught elementary and high school students, and is a self-proclaimed Unicorn Scholar.

Ximena Jeria grew up expressing herself through illustration and treats us to such fun pictures throughout this wonderful book. She studied graphic design at the University of Valparaiso, Chile and has worked for many publishers and design agencies both in Chile and abroad. It’s so apparent how much Ximena loves drawing. As she says, “I am also bilingual (Spanish and English), and I guess drawing was my third language, one that summed up what I really wanted to say.”

Enjoy this book with a friend, and remember to celebrate National Unicorn Day on April 9^th – or go ahead and celebrate every day. “Unicorn magic will bring you luck and happiness. Even if you haven’t seen one . . . yet.”

Intriguing Quest on Sara Stamey's Islands

IslandsBy Sara Stamey

“Just a touch of turbulence, folks. Buckle up.” Maybe archeologist Susan Dunne should have heard the pilot’s voice over the speaker as a larger warning, about what lay ahead of her on the Islands of the Caribbean. Curl up with a hot mystery that’s set in a sunny, tourist mecca. Join this Pacific Northwest scientist as she digs deep into the culture, the history, and the motives of current residents, within this garden paradise.

No stranger to investigating mysteries, Susan Dunne specializes in discovering and researching clues to discovering ancient petroglyphs and their associated history. These are boulders and rocks with primitive carvings. An intriguing dimension that enhances their allure is that many of the carved designs which are found worldwide are surprisingly similar. Susan is working on a theory and wants to consult with an anthropologist who was last reported to be hiding out in the Caribbean. She is on the hunt to find him and her search turns up some unexpected and ominous results.

But Susan also holds a secret of her own, the last letter from her dear brother. He recently drowned while living on this island as he was diving for treasure at a sunken ship that’s guarded by legendary voodoo, Jumbies, and a bloodthirsty cult. Susan wants to solve the mystery surrounding his death. She unlocks some most disturbing secrets and will need to face fears of her own in order to try and stop evil from overtaking her.

The history, legends, and culture of the Caribbean are integrated delightfully within this suspenseful story. The characters and their passionate motivations are artfully revealed throughout the course of the plot. Descriptions of the luscious setting, both above and below waters, during adventurous scuba dive explorations, are to be savored.

The author, Sara Stamey wrote an early draft of Islands when she was living in the Caribbean, working as a scuba instructor and guide. She originally wrote the book as a stand-alone novel. At the end she felt that the characters had more to tell, so she started a sequel set in Belize and Guatemala, where she has also spent time. Sara’s journeys include treasure hunting, backpacking worldwide, operating a nuclear reactor at Hanford, and owning a farm in Southern Chile. Returning to her home town in the Pacific Northwest, she taught creative writing at Western Washington University for several years.

This author has several other exciting books as well, including her most recent The Ariadne Connection which is a Science Fiction thriller. 

Maeve Malloy Chilling Mystery - Hemlock Needle

Hemlock Needle

By Keenan Powell

The most recent book in the Maeve Malloy Legal Thriller series finds the adroit attorney under investigation herself in Anchorage, Alaska. She’s been advised not to take on any cases until her own is settled. Depending on how it’s settled, she may not be allowed to take on cases ever again. While under pressure to prove her own innocence she makes a pro bono exception that tugs at her heart, to help find a missing Yup’ik Eskimo chief financial officer who is a single mother. Is this a partying woman who’s wandered off with the wrong crowd? Or did danger lurk in her business life, or personal history?

Maeve Malloy and her strong-willed investigator Tom are driven to solve this case on behalf of the dear seven year old son Evan that the mother has left behind. And as the mystery grows, it looks like young Evan’s life is in danger. Maeve’s strong desire to help is admirable, but the unexpected leaves her skating on thin Alaskan ice, and it’s cracking under the weight of legal entanglements and dangerous murderers.

Keenan Powell has authored an action thriller that incorporates poignant descriptions of Alaskan scenery, its extreme conditions, and residents’ lifestyles. This loving, illustrative account is vivid, crisp, clear, and a fascinating glimpse into what life is like in Anchorage, including the positive and the difficult. The action builds quickly and this book is truly an exciting read. The clues discovered during the investigation are presented for the reader to attempt solving the mystery before Maeve Malloy. The very diverse array of characters driving the story, their actions, and motives are artistically molded by this author, showing compelling insights into human nature.

Keenan Powell writes murder mysteries because, as she says, “I love mystery best. Only in mystery do you have the puzzle, the game played between writer and reader. The writer plants clues and red herrings in what she hopes is an enjoyable story. The reader pits herself against the writer to figure out whodunit.” Keenan Powell lives in Anchorage, and has practiced in many areas of law in private practice - civil, criminal, administrative, and appeals. Earlier in her career, she defended criminal cases including murder charges. She still maintains a practice in Anchorage. In addition to this series, she authors other published works including short stories and a blog. Find out more on her website at keenan@gci.net

And if you want to hear more from the author during her interview about the first book in this series, Deadly Solution, listen on YouTube to – Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Keenan Powell

High Stakes in Dead If You Don't by Peter James

Dead If You Don't

By Peter James

The most recent book in the DS Roy Grace series, the Detective Superintendent is thrown into the midst of the kidnapping of a teenager, but this turns very complex in the investigation. All is not as it seemed at the start of the case. In the meantime, the parents are faced with the dilemma whether to follow the kidnapper’s instructions precisely because their son is Dead If You Don’t. Or maybe it’s actually better not to do what the bad guy says. How are they to know?

This prolific writer never disappoints. His thrillers are not only action packed, but they are thought provoking. Life and death questions are forced upon the characters, and require fast answers. What is the right response? That’s a debatable question, often best seen only in hindsight. The immediacy of the writing style communicates the importance of each decision and each undertaking. And at the heart of the story is the depth of emotions portrayed by the diverse characters.

Kipp Brown is a successful business man and addicted gambler experiencing the worst of luck. His bank account is depleted just as his teenage son is kidnapped and a high ransom is demanded. How can Kipp pay? This is truly high stakes because his son is Dead If You Don’t. When the Detective Superintendent takes the reins of the case he’s surprised at the direction the evidence takes him and his officers. He is coordinating and working with a fascinating team of officers and others including a creative and reliable Pathologist. The perspective of each is compelling. In the other camp, motivations of those who plan the kidnapping are poignant and disturbing. And as is so often the case plans often go astray.

In addition to this exciting thriller, also try the audio book of his new standalone novel Absolute Proof – read by Hugh Bonneville of Downton Abbey fame. Investigative reporter Ross Hunter nearly didn’t answer the phone call that would change his life – and possibly the world – forever.

Peter James is a celebrated, highly-award winning author on both sides of the Atlantic with over nineteen million books sold worldwide. A British mystery/thriller author who’s an international bestseller and a regular on the New York Times bestseller lists.  He’s been nominated for or awarded almost every mystery/thriller award including the CWA Diamond Dagger award, the Barry Award, and first time ever recipient of the Rheinbach Glass Dagger Award for excellence in crime fiction in 2017. Three of his novels have been turned into films and several more have been adapted for the stage.

And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to – Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Peter James

Read! Recommend! Raffle! Results!

The Edmonds Library in partnership with the Friends of the Edmonds Library and Symetra held a community reading recommendation event. Readers who submitted book recommendations had a chance in the raffle for prizes. Thank you so much to the Edmonds Library Staff who made participation so easy and also launched the event. The winners were:




Age
5-12 winner is Sophia
13 - 18 winner is Sofia
19 - 49 winner is Justin
50+ winner is Ruby

And the winners are also all of us who can now share these book recommendations. Please go to this link to see all the book recommendations now posted on the Friends of the Edmonds Library website -
http://edmondslibraryfriends.org/read-recommend-raffle-2/

Which one will be your next read?

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