Smiling Exercises, and other stories by Dan Malakin

Smiling Exercises, and other stories is a collection of 30 flash fiction written by Dan Malakin.

Some of the stories are funny, amusing and entertaining, but all of them are profound at some level and leave the readers thinking. I picked out some of my favorites which include: The Good Doctor, The Tree Sanctuary, Deelish; All the Animals, and Me; and Frances, Harry, Language, Love.

Most of the stories I found amusing: Brian's Secret Vagina, Morning of the Friendly Dead, The Office Door Fiasco, Snap, The Great Laundry Mystery, Donald, My Favourite Onion Plant, End of? An Interview with Harold Salt, Celestial Fondue; A Dream About My Wife, Seconds Away, Dairy Queen, Brain Parasite, At Least It Could Get No Worse and My Brother, My Kidney, while others I found sad: Lilies, Mirror, Long Tongue, Twisted, Contributions and Waiting for Nothing.

Other stories may not have made an impression on me but may be enjoyable to other readers. 

The story telling is superb, catchy and engaging. In fact, I found myself wanting for more at the end of the book.

Congratulations to Dan Malakin (@DanMalakin) on such a great book!

Saved by Angels by Bruce Van Natta

Bruce Van Natta, a self employed diesel mechanic, was working on a Peterbilt logging truck on Nov. 16, 2006, when the truck fell off the jack and pressed him on the floor. With a few inches of air space between the axle of the truck and the floor, Bruce was practically cut in half.

This book is about how Bruce miraculously lived after the accident. Moreover, it features ways how GOD talks to people: through the process of prayer; through the Bible; through spoken words; through the Holy Spirit; through design and circumstance; through dreams and visions; and through angels. 

I can say this is one of the best Christian books I have read so far. As a fellow sinner, I can relate to the author not only about reverting to my evil self repeatedly but also about the overwhelming love of the LORD as He takes me back again and again despite my sinful nature. 

As my favorite excerpt from the book states:

"It still puzzles me how GOD can be so faithful to us when we are not always faithful to Him."

Congratulations to Bruce Van Natta on such a wonderful book. 

To GOD be the GLORY!

Shadow Cell by Joseph D'Antoni

Shadow Cell is the 4th book in the Wade Hanna Series written by award-winning author Joseph D'Antoni.

After his two-month covert operation in Morocco, Wade is shocked to find that his former handler and girlfriend, Megan Winslow, has vanished. He strongly believes that her disappearance has something to do with her last mission. With everything he has and with everything he knows, Wade formulated a plan to find her. His search leads him to an orphanage in Argentina where children are experimented on to turn into walking biological weapons.

Basically, I like the plot. Moreover, I like the writing style: elaborate and detailed, exactly the way I want it. The settings are vividly described and the action scenes are masterfully depicted. 

In addition, there is a set of awesome characters. My favorite is the kind and generous Don Juan Carlos Mendoza, the wealthy Argentinian farmer who runs one of the largest farm operations. I also like Mario, the admirable Argentinian operative who helps Wade in his mission. 

All in all, I love the book and I hope other readers will enjoy it as much as I did.

Congratulations to Joseph D'Antoni (@dantonibooks) on such an amazing book!

Being Medusa: And Other Things That Suck by A. Lynn Powers

Being Medusa: And Other Things That Suck is a YA fiction written by A. Lynn Powers. The book is about a high school student from Grove High School, Medusa Gordon. She is gorgeous. She is smart. She likes making lists. She hates her classmate Thea and she is always sent to the school disciplinarian's office. What is so special about Medusa, though, is that she grows snakes out of her head and she can turn people to stone by staring at them.

Medusa is having a bad first day at school. First, she accidentally 'freezes' her English teacher and is sent to the school disciplinarian's office, again. Second, she catches her chemistry lab partner staring dreamily at her. She knows, however, that Donny is off-limits because he is Thea's boyfriend. Finally, by lunch period, while walking at the school parking lot, a new student hits her with his car.

I love this book. For one, I find the plot original, in this modern times. Second, it is written in a funny and casual way and third, it is packed with witty and realistic characters. I am so looking forward to reading the next book, Being Medusa: And other Nightmares.

Congratulations to A. Lynn Powers (@VivaLaToothy) on such an amazing book!