Secrets, Fact or Fiction?
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Book Summary Information
Editor: Diane J. NewtonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-04
ISBN: 0973728256
Number of pages: 160
Publisher: Coscom Entertainment
Book Reviews of Secrets, Fact or Fiction?
Book Review: Interesting blend of imaginations from talented writers
Summary: 4 Stars
Editor Diane J. Newton, has put together an odd little collection of nine unique stories called Secrets, Fact or Fiction? fitting somewhere between taut suspense and heartrending. It's difficult to tell by the title and cover, where exactly these stories will take you, but that is of course, part of the enjoyment of reading.
"A Life Interrupted" has a slow, detailed start, with impeccable attention to the characters, so much so that I cared about what happened to each and every one of them. My only complaint is that after such a build up of emotion and tension, the ending was rushed and it left me a bit put off.
In "A Creature of Habit", author Larry Pontius, weaves a fast-paced drama, complete with an abrupt, but slick twist at the end. His main character was fueled with excellent inner dialogue, and by doing so, brought realism toward the events taking place around him.
The collection gains momentum with "The Apple Doesn't Fall Far..." deliciously written by C.T. Adams. This was one of my favorites for its flow, conversation, characters, and how the plot unraveled. It truly made for excellence in storytelling.
Unfortunately, "Crawfish Braud" by Hill Kemp, didn't work for me. Too much information was provided early on, leaving the plot convoluted and somewhat flat. I didn't find the dialogue realistic, as everyone spoke overtly polite and well mannered. The story did have an interesting concept, and perhaps done differently, would truly shine.
Things quickly slow down - almost too quickly, with "Josie," a must-have hankie story. While a predictable plot, it was moving and sentimental. Kathleen Strelow, knows how to work the heartstrings, which means, yes, I got teary-eyed when it came time for the bittersweet ending. While I can understand the concept of its inclusion in this collection because of the secret factor, I'm not entirely sure it worked for me here.
After such a poignant story, we are thrust back into the hard and heavy with "The Queen's Sin," which was thoroughly entertaining literature complete with dynamic storytelling and adventure. If anything can possibly be found unlikable within this story, it's the placement after such an emotional one. This was another favorite and I'll be certain to keep my eye out for more creative works by author C.W. Gortner.
"A Matter of Taste" was charmingly written by Cathy Clamp, and between the sensible character bantering, and a few hidden goodies, this is a delight to savor. For more reasons than one.
Probably the creepiest story of the lot is "Not There" with its superb tension and ambience. Author A.P. Fuchs has it down pat with bringing a reader in, using all of the senses, and letting the imagination run wild. Just when I knew where it was going, I was taken for a loop and left biting my nails. Equally as important, it stayed with me for days after reading. I would have placed this story first or last in this collection to give the readers something to chew on.
"The Baby Secret" by talented author Carlene Reed, exudes a nice writing style, with careful attention to details, but didn't leave me with a lot of emotion. I felt somewhat cheated with its neatly wrapped up ending, and the complete lack of realism with her main characters, given the nature of the situation. It also suffers by being toted as the final story, after following several high adrenaline stories.
Secrets Fact or Fiction? has a lot going for it with imaginative stories and fully developed characters. The authors involved are talented and skilled in their craft, with a few exceptional stories that stood out from the rest. As I mentioned, the order of the stories really threw me off. Just as I had my blood pumping, I was thrust into a somber mood, only to be thrust back into a hard driving story and left to ponder the whole collection after a final solemn story. Because of that, I'd suggest reading one story at a time, to enjoy them on their own merit, rather than reading the book all the way through. While I was certain the stories would be of a science fiction nature, I was happily proven wrong.
Summary of Secrets, Fact or Fiction?
Love to solve mysteries? Welcome to our contest for readers. These nine intriguing stories about secrets will test your skills as sleuths. The question: Are our stories based on fact or are they purely fiction? Our lips are sealed, but if you correctly guess which are true and which are not, you can win a signed copy of another book written by each of the authors, plus a free copy of Secrets II, due for release April 1, 2006. Additional contests will run through 2010, with this volume in 2006 and 2007, and in yearly sequels. Ready to take up the challenge? Good. Prepare to be entertained and then send us your entry. Good luck! According to the NEA, fewer Americans are reading books. We, authors from across the United States and Canada, intend to change that. How? Everyone loves a juicy secret so we wrote thrilling stories on that enticing theme. Life and death, love and hate, good and evil, cover these pages, as they do in real life. With words, we painted poignant pictures and breathed life into engaging characters, some worthy of admiration, some deserving of contempt. To lure folks into our world of words, we're also offering a nice bribe. Once there, we hope to get everyone hooked on books!Anthologies Books
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