Archives for July 2012

Coastal Empire earns solid review from Independent Professional Book Reviewers

Melissa Brown Levine wrote this review of Coastal Empire for Independent Professional Book Reviewers: In author Rocky Leonard’s debut novel, Coastal Empire, Savannah private detective Robert Mercer, finds himself in the middle of an elaborate, illegal real estate scheme after taking a job to track a suspected philanderer. What begins as a simple case soon becomes a tangled web of fraud and murder. Mercer risks his on life as he works to save the remaining targets on the criminals’ list. This story has a complicated plot that moves in unexpected directions. After receiving a thank you card from a jeweler in Atlanta, Sarah Reid hires Robert Mercer to find out if her husband, Barry Reid, a prominent local real estate agent, is cheating on her. Mercer accepts the job and spends a couple of days in Atlanta searching for the man who sent the thank you card. During his investigation, Mercer meets Kelly, a woman who originally presents herself as an employee of the jewelry store, but who Mercer later discovers is a significant figure in his case. Upon his return to Savannah, Mercer meets Nick Mason when Nick runs out into the middle of the street as Mercer and his dog Ox are making their way home. This chance meeting turns into a partnership when Nick informs Mercer of strange real estate transactions involving multi-million dollar properties and a local attorney. When the men discover that the owners of two of those properties were killed just months after a real estate trust on their properties was set up, they investigate the key players in the scheme. Barry Reid happens … [Read more...]

More kind words for Always a Next One

In her review for Reader's Favorite, Alice D. wrote: John Leonard and his wife Lisa have been involved with animal rescue and fostering in Georgia for many years. Their children learned to live alongside dogs and cats whom the Leonards had taken in while awaiting their "forever home". Author John Leonard comes across as the soul of kindness. From his writings the reader will know that Leonard is an expert at rescuing animals, taking them to a veterinarian when needed, and judging with wife Lisa what a dog or cat needs in the way of petting, feeding, playing, and tending to toilet needs. He tells of German Shepherd Sheba who protects Sparky from a bully named Cole, of Maggie the border collie chosen at a shelter by Leonard's son, of Belle the dalmatian who has gastrointestinal issues and lets loose with smelly farts, of Simone the cat who thinks she is one of the dogs. As he writes on page 42, John Leonard will convince the readers to "never underestimate the healing power of a stable pack." "Always a Next One" is a wonderfully written story of a family's involvement with taking in foster animals until their permanent homes are found. Readers who like Herriot's animal stories will be drawn to John Leonard's writings and will want to read more than the sample chapter of dog stories featuring Leonard's beloved Ox at the book's end.The writing in each story is consistent and not maudlin and the animals' characters come through believably. Simone the cat is a cat, not a human in disguise. This is a book that belongs on animal lovers' reading lists everywhere. Wow! Any … [Read more...]

Reader’s favorite review for Always a Next One

While our focus has remained fixed on the release of Secondhand Sight on September 7th, we haven't exactly been idle. A few weeks ago, my collection of short stories about animal rescue titled Always a Next One was officially released by Each Voice Publishing. To date, the anthology has received several very favorable reviews. Lee Ashford from Reader's Favorite wrote the following kind words in this very complimentary five-star review: “Always a Next One” by John L. Leonard is a pleasant, enjoyable read with a powerful message. The author and his wife volunteered countless hours of their lives to assist their local no-kill Humane Society with the rehabilitation, care and nurture of unwanted dogs and cats. They accomplished this by establishing themselves as a foster home, primarily for dogs, to house companion animals in excess of the Humane Society’s capacity, as well as injured or otherwise less-adoptable animals. In this book of tales (pun intended), he relates the experiences his family had with the more than 100 animals they housed over the years they volunteered. These tales will entertain and delight you, and tug at your heart strings. The book is full of chuckles, and may even prompt you to volunteer some time at your local Humane Society. “Always a Next One” is short, and can be read in a few hours. I have always been a “dog person” and knew I would enjoy the book, but it still surprised me how much I enjoyed it. The author wrote in a conversational manner, as if he were sitting with me and personally telling me his tales. I recommend this book with a … [Read more...]

The cowardly Mike Luckovich

Apparently, prestigious prizes ain't what they used to be. The downward spiral for the Nobel Prize began with Al Gore, awarded the Peace Prize for a movie that had nothing to do with peace. The film was nothing more than a propaganda tool advocating carbon taxes, disguised as a documentary. Then, to make absolutely sure that everyone knew the Nobel Peace Prize had become a joke, Barack Obama won a Nobel Prize for not being George W. Bush. Seriously. Here's some of what the Nobel committee wrote about Obama while giving him the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons. Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. This was a mere three months after his election, only a month after being sworn into office. While a senator, Obama developed something of a reputation for voting "present" as opposed to "yea" or "nay" on controversial legislation. So early into his time in office, Obama hadn't yet begun his efforts to completely destroy the reeling American economy. Still, the Nobel committee had faith in the neophyte president, for their vision of what ought to happen to America. Their faith continues to be rewarded, even as I type these words. Okay. So, the Nobel Prize sucks these days. But the Pulitzer Prize is … [Read more...]