Magical Whispers by Balroop Singh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the second book of poetry by Balroop Singh that I have read, and I am led to a similar conclusion about her style as in my previous review. After reading and carefully considering about ten or so of the poems, I was longing to find some measure of rhythm, either in each poem or, better still, between them. I accept that once again there is plenty of sentiment linking the poems. But where was there assonance or alliteration – or even suitable punctuation? I confess to not being a fan of free style poetry, or stream of consciousness writing, so maybe that is where my problems lie with this collection of her poems. Admittedly, when one looks the occasional pieces of rhythm can be found within this collection.

Unfortunately, for me to read all seventy three poems of Magical Whispers became a chore; rather than a pleasure, a discovery, or a solace, which is what I usually seek through poetry. I prefer the poems of writers like Masefield, Kipling, Lawrence, Longfellow, Scott and Eliot. No doubt there are plenty of people who like this kind of poetry and when I thought more about it I was able to select some personal favourites within Balroop Singh’s collection. My short list included: A Loner, Rise Above Self, Be Like Waves, Shimmer, An Escape and Song of Dusk.

Ms Singh’s poetry attempts to offer some healing to those having difficulties in their lives, which I find commendable of course. And her choice of words and descriptions from the natural world did appeal to my more empathetic side. However, overall, the rather repetitive themes and style of the majority of the poems in the book became, in the end, somewhat mundane.


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The Grace of God by William Staub
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This military thriller with a difference, by William Staub, begins with plenty of action. Orson Kincaid is an army sniper who is hunting terrorist kidnappers in Mexico. The mission to rescue hostages from a drug gang results, unfortunately, in the death of Kincaid’s spotter and best friend, and also makes him have doubts about his career to date. He begins a whole new life journey to gain a position within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a Mormon missionary.

At this point I began to learn a lot more from the story about Mormonism, as well as some of the workings of the US military. It became pretty obvious to me that the author had much knowledge and experience with similar events and scenarios that occur in this action-packed tale. Muslim-extremist terrorists are intent on causing death and chaos amongst the Mormon community at a temple in New Jersey. Together with his new partner, Haley Parker, an FBI agent and missionary within the LDS church, Kincaid is assigned by Director Tanner to discover and remove the terrorist threat.

The characters are all written strongly and generally believable, as is the dialogue throughout the book. I was gripped by the fast moving situations and rooting for the heroes to the end; although I found some of the final denouement a little far-stretched in places when Director Tanner becomes involved in the rescue. There were a few editing issues that I found distracting from the beginning and which affected my overall rating for the book. However, this was an exciting and intriguing story and just right for fans of military thrillers.

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Puppies and Portals by Loralee Evans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Puppies and Portals is an entertaining story for children of about 10 to 12 years old. Amy Yellow Horse is babysitting Leah for a neighbour and talking to her friend, Will Taylor, when a girl also named Leah turns up at the house. This Leah possesses an amazingly advanced ‘palm phone’ from the future, and starts questioning their presence in her grandparents’ house.

The three children plus baby Leah, then get involved in a galloping romp and adventure through time, while trying to help the ‘future Leah’ return to her own future time period. Somehow her puppy dog, Skipper, and a family of racoons were instrumental in this time-travelling event. I admit I did not quite understand how the animals did this? But what did become quite clear later on in the tale was the reference to slavery, and the work done by certain groups of Native Americans, in joining the abolitionists of the period, fighting this.

The book is part of a series and so it would have helped if I had read some of them previously. However, I have read and enjoyed another couple of Loralee Evans’s books about a sparrow. My two grandchildren would like this book I am certain, but overall I’m still not sure that I did.



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