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FEATHERED QULL REVIEW: Bulwark By: Brit Lunden

Bulwark

By: Brit Lunden
Publisher: Chelshire, Inc.
Publication Date: January 2018
ISBN: 978-1947188907
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: January 6, 2019

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LINK TO REVIEW

A sleepy little town in Georgia is the perfect setting for a paranormal thriller that amps up the "creepy" factor in a story with more twists and turns than an old country road.

Clay Finnes is the sheriff of Bulwark, Georgia, a small town where nothing much happens. He's got a slightly annoying deputy, Owen Bishop, who means well but just isn't the brightest light bulb in the pack. As the story opens, Clay and Owen are at the scene of an accident where an out-of-town couple got their car stuck in a big green pond of muck. The accident happened at the outskirts of town, a place where there are remnants of an old road, but nothing else. Where were they coming from and where did that pond of bad smelling water come from?

After finishing the investigation at the scene of the accident, Clay goes to interview the couple. They're staying nearby at a hunter's cabin, with the owner there to keep an eye on them, while they wait for the ambulance. The husband is motionless on the couch, and the wife isn't much better, babbling about a witch in the woods. When she spots a picture on the mantle of the hunter's dead wife and claims, "...she's the witch that took my children," the hunter is understandably upset. That's when Dayna Dalton, an annoying local reporter, shows up at the door. Fortunately, Clay is right behind her and he forces her out of the way as he goes in the house. Clay doesn't have much luck interviewing the couple who are soon hustled off to the hospital.

At the hospital, Clay runs into his wife Jenna. Unfortunately, they are separated...things fell apart shortly after their young daughter Claire went missing the previous year. Clay still loves Jenna and hopes she feels the same, but with a hot doctor making the moves on her, things don't look too promising. Meanwhile, the wife from the accident is still babbling, telling anyone who will listen that they need to find the gingerbread house, which is where her children were taken. When wolves are mentioned too, Clay has had just about enough. What is going on?

Bulwark is one of those fun stories that grabs you quickly and doesn't let go until the very end. At just 109 pages, it won't take long to read and with short chapters that keep tempting you to read just one more, you'll likely finish the book in one sitting. The story has witches, werewolves, a town with a long-hidden history, and a very determined sheriff, who not only is intent on solving the mystery but also getting his wife back. Don't think you've figured this one out as you read, and don't assume you know who is good, or bad...you'll likely be wrong, which is what makes this story so enjoyable. The only thing the book needs is a careful review by an editor as there are numerous editorial errors - not enough to ruin the story but they do get annoying. Beyond that, however, this is a very good story that will leave you quite satisfied.

Quill says: If you like your thrillers with lots of twists, plenty of "creepy," some paranormal events, and a fast-moving plot, check out Bulwark. You might just be afraid to turn off the lights after reading the last page.

For more information on Bulwark, please visit the author's website at: caroleproman.com

Indie Author's Monthly Magazine's Miami Book Fair Featured Author: The Squeezor by Becky Benishek

Indie Author's Monthly Magazine's Miami Book Fair

Featured Author:

The Squeezor

by Becky Benishek

The Squeezor is Coming! is a children’s book written by Becky Benishek and illustrated by Matt Fiss.

What’s a Squeezor?

The Squeezor is a friendly monster who just wants to give hugs, but he looks so scary, other monsters run away from him! How can he get them to look past his appearance and be friends? Then he gets an idea: It isn't about what he wants, but what the other monsters need.

"With professional writing and exquisite illustrations, a universal truth and message come to life through the graces of a monster." - Starred review by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers’ Favorite

Monsters overflow in Becky Benishek's new children's book about the power of empathy and why it’s so important not to judge on appearances. Your whole family will enjoy the imagery and important lessons underneath it all.

Buy THE SQUEEZOR IS COMING! now:

Directly from the publisher: https://mcp-store.com/store/the-squeezor-is-coming

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JDpmjB

Also comes in dyslexic font! https://mcp-store.com/store/the-squeezor-is-coming-dy

About the Author

Becky Benishek has a B.A. degree in English, and is the author of several children’s books, including Hush, Mouse!, What’s At the End of Your Nose?, and Dr. Guinea Pig George. She loves to create stories that help children believe in themselves, and find the magic in ordinary things. Becky is married with guinea pigs.

Find & follow Becky Benishek:

Website: https://beckybenishek.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckybenishek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beckybenishekauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckybenishek

Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/beckybenishek

YouTube trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKRReKseRP8

Reviews

Starred review from Readers' Favorite:

“Far too many kids feel as unlovable as the Squeezor, and this story is for them. Benishek’s droll and humorous story will please everyone in the room and maybe especially those adults who are still kids at heart. Matt Fiss’s brilliantly grotesque illustrations make this book one to linger over and read again and again and again. Literally. It’s that good.” – Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite

Starred review from Readers' Favorite:

“This story is highly recommended for young readers, especially for those who find acceptance by others as a challenge.”–Bruce Arrington for Readers’ Favorite

Starred review from Readers’ Favorite:

“With professional writing and exquisite illustrations, a universal truth and message come to life through the graces of a monster. And if monsters can make friends with monsters, what's not left for which to hope?"-Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

5 Stars & Top 50 of the Month on Goodreads:

"Oh. My. Gosh. I'm SO in love with this one. . .from cover to cover. . .an absolutely perfect read!"-Miranda Reads, top Goodreads reviewer

“This wonderful story teaches two significant lessons: acceptance of others who are different and self-acceptance.”–Erica Graham, author of the Talking Talesseries

“This is not just another story book. It has a strong scholastic element to it . . . This story will turn the readers into givers and social enthusiasts.”– Ashish Kejriwal

“Kids will love the book’s splashy color, monsters aplenty, and gross-out humor. Parents will love the story’s durable lesson: be yourself.”– Terry Vittone

“A delightful book! Read it for the story, read it for the lessons, read it for pictures that have a subtle and humorous attention to detail. Just read it – you’ll smile and be better for it.” –Lesley Rynders

“The characters are so alive that I often find myself wondering what they're up to right now. Kids will love meeting Graywick (the Apothecaryterror)... Bitey (the scared [yes, scared!] vampire who wears BUNNY SLIPPERS)... Grumpypuss (who looks like a bundle)... and the full cast of marvelous monsters who inhabit Ghastly Gigapolis -- and ostracize the big-hearted Squeezor (who through his kindness eventually succeeds in making friends with everyone). This book is SO fun to read and every page is a delight for kids' imaginations.”-Lemon

Read an excerpt:

The Squeezor is Coming!

By Becky Benishek. Illustrations by Matt Fiss.

© 2018 Becky Benishek

The Squeezor is a monster who loves to give hugs. Great, big, wrap-his-arms-around-you-twice, squeezy hugs.

The trouble is, the Squeezor doesn’t look like he just wants to give you a hug. He looks like he wants to eat you up!

“The Squeezor is coming!” all the other monsters would shout when he came to the nearest town, Ghastly Gigapolis, for supplies.

From behind shop doors and curtains, from roof peaks and from alleyways, from third-floor house windows and through cellar-door slats, monsters furry or feathered, scaly or slimy, big or small, quivered as the Squeezor stumped along the sidewalk on his squat legs and big, squashy feet with three greasy toenails each.

They trembled at the sight of his giant, curved horns and frightfully fanged grin. Even the fur on his big blocky shape looked all wrong—a sickly, saggy mix of lime green, purplish brown, and mustard yellow.

And they were practically petrified at the chillingly sharp claws that glinted at the end of the Squeezor’s wrap-around-you-twice arms!

This made the Squeezor very sad.

“It’s not my fault I look this way,” he said to himself one day as he sat in his lonely house up in Vile Vale. “I don’t want to hurt anybody. How can I get everyone to trust me?”

The Squeezor stayed home all that day to think. He didn’t have to worry about being disturbed because nobody ever came to visit him.

He wandered into his library and leafed aimlessly through 7 Habits of Highly Disgruntled Monsters; then he read, How to Stop Worrying and Start Eating, and he finished up with, I’m Okay, You’re Decaying.

None of them helped, not even the one called, First Things First: 10 Tasks to Sink Your Teeth Through.

He went into his kitchen and half-heartedly stirred up a pot of his favorite, putrid green tomato soup and slowly munched a moldy grilled cheese sandwich.

He didn't really feel hungry, though, and wasn't even tempted by the box of Nose Nougats on the counter.

He switched on the television in the living room to look for an advice show. One of the channels was running a marathon of Game of Bones, and he'd watched two and a half episodes before he realized it.

The Squeezor didn't even like Game of Bones. He switched off the set.

"How can I change anything when I can't even figure out what to do with myself?" he grumbled as he wandered around his house.

Just then, he stopped short in the hallway, under a portrait of his Great-Grandmother Squeezums, who always seemed to be glaring lovingly at the Squeezor.

"Maybe that's it!" he said. "Maybe it's not myself that I have to figure out."

The Squeezor, excited now, heated up another bowl of putrid green tomato soup, ate half the box of Nose Nougats (the box itself was edible), and didn't go to bed until he had a plan.

Instagram Post

"With professional writing and exquisite illustrations, a universal truth and message come to life through the graces of a monster." - Starred review by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers’ Favorite

Monsters overflow with a great message and fun reading for kids AND adults in @beckybenishek's new book. Get THE SQUEEZOR IS COMING! at https:/bit.ly/SqueezorMCP.