Archives: Reviews

Marion Jepkosgei

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org These stories are carefully crafted. They’re exceptionally-thought out and presented with exemplary coherence. The characters are very relatable too. William H Coles is definitely gifted with the art of evoking emotion. I didn’t find any errors while reading. This means that it was professionally edited. I therefore award this collection a perfect score of 4 out of 4 stars. The stories were really interesting and carried moral lessons with them. Having read William H Coles other
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Sarah Tariq

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The Spirit of Want is a character-driven story that engaged me just from the beginning due to its omniscient character description, realistic and constantly guessing storyline. There is never a dull moment in the story. The multifaceted characters, changing perspectives, and diverse rituals are the prominent features of this book. The element of hypocrisy, jealousy or greed exist in almost every character at the personal or professional level. In the whole story, Lucy appears as the
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Marty_Kelly

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The Spirit of Want is written in the third person but with different points of view. It has a steady pace and is very engrossing. It is a story of love, lust, deceit, desire, ethics, loss and disappointment. I find every aspect of the book interesting and likable. What I like most about the book are the characters; they reflect reality. The characters show how we, humans, make decisions based on wants and the urge to
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Yasmira_M

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book was a real eye-opener for me as I discovered how little I actually knew about writing fiction. It is a book filled with so much useful information written in an entertaining manner that held my attention even more than a fictional novel. The author used examples throughout the book to explain the various concepts. For example, he used the story of The Little Red Riding Hood to explain the role of character-based stories. This
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mariatraianou

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles is analytic and precise in explaining the process of writing. He produces several examples of re-writes (and editing) that work best and provides definitions regarding specialized words that need clarification. He writes the book in a rather technical and slightly academic language that might need a bit more concentration to understand. I found the book to be highly inventive and direct. The author offers a guide through the challenges of writing literary fiction. It teaches writing
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Crcraig

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles is a book full of intrigues that will keep you reading to the very end. The book does an excellent job of intertwining the lives of three characters, Luke Osbourne, Lucy MacMiel, and Lucy’s younger sister, Elizabeth.I give The Spirit of Want a 4 out of 4 rating. The story line is not like most fiction, boy meets girl, boy and girl break, boy and girl get back
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Marty_Kelly

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Humans are creatures with many layers of complexity. William H. Coles paints, in “The Spirit of Want,” a vivid picture of how complex humans can be. Lucy MacMiel has no real love for Luke Osborne and none for her family either. She initially does not want her baby, Jennifer, and she goes a step further to abandon Jennifer and travel across the world to be with Hower Bain, the man who wrecked her career and whose
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Steven Samuel

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The book was quite interesting. There were no monologues dedicated to character development, the author gradually unveiled his characters as the book progressed. The author’s characters remained true till the end. For example, Lucy portrayed a selfish individual who sought after her desires without considering the consequences of her actions while Elizabeth portrayed the contrast of Lucy. The book’s editing was next to impeccable, I only spotted very few typographical errors. The book’s twist was mouth-gapping.
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Budhal

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story is interesting and thought-provoking. I felt that it was quite close to reality. It really makes you ask questions to yourself about what love actually is. Is it alright to hurt others in the process of loving someone? The characters were flawed which made them believable. I was able to relate to them. I liked how the author narrated both personal and professional experiences of the characters. Read the entire review here… Budhal

Nerea

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org All characters are well-built. The characters manifest the spirits we witness in the world today. For instance, A.J (Lucy’s dad) is a qualified ophthalmologist. He is arrogant, egoistic, and violent. His greedy attitude caused him to lose focus. As a result, he was caught up in a scandal that even his son-in-law, Luke, couldn’t save him. These qualities couldn’t let him have a healthy relationship with his colleagues at work and his family too. Read the
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Paulyne

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I love Coles novels because he uses descriptive writing. The type of writing style that describes people, places and events in such a way that the reader is able to create a clear image in their mind. For instance when he describes Lucy, he writes, ” Lucy had cured-leather tan skin; dark hard eyes; reddish-brown, shoulder-length hair. She was about five feat five, and her figure was thin and muscular, yet indisputably feminine, and her clothes
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Eva Njoki

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles demonstrates the spirit of want on all characters, Lucy wants a place where she feels she belongs, how Luke wants true love in his life, how Elizabeth wants her own children and family, how AJ MacMiel and Hower Vain want power, how Agnes wants her freedom from a suffocating marriage. The author focuses on Lucy and revolves around family drama, politics and legal, love and passion and a bit of religion.I love that the author
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gichimuAnn

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book discusses a range of issues in our society today. How people in high places take advantage of those they should be taking care of. William H. Coles talks about religion and a reader can relate the story to real life. My favourite theme was on family. The author wrote a plot where the value of family is taken for granted by some characters. And if they had stuck with their families maybe they’d have
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juanawunderkind

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org First of all, I admire how Williams H. Coles changes the scenes where the reader gets to know what’s happening in different places at the same time. For example, the reader gets to know what was happening in Georgia when Lucy was in Ghana. I also admire the use of many vocabularies which tend to broaden the minds of the readers and to polish up their fluency in English. The Spirit of Want is also educative
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M Deedee

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The storyline is such an interesting one as it unravels mysteries and unimaginable storylines. It is full of suspense and must-read for book lovers. Why would Lucy decide to abort their baby without considering her husband’s opinion or any other persons? among many other questions is one to look forward to. I rate this book The Spirit of Want 4 out of 4 stars because of its very interesting and unique breakdown. The author Williams Coles
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Beatus

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story is so well-thought-out that I could not find fault. The editing was professional, the cover is superbly done, and the wording couldn’t be any better. There are concepts about faith that may disturb conservatives. However, the author was careful to construct these concepts in a manner that the reader can learn about other perspectives regarding religion and God rather than incite negative feelings. Conversely, though I believe that the author ought to have detailed
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Ivy_Lucky

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org What I liked most about this book is the fact that it is educative and as one reads the book there is emotional touch of the story that makes one feel the reality of the story. Coles has brings out the theme of desire, family, crime and among others so well. Again, I have to appreciate his writing style. William prefers to use dialogue to narrative which I felt its essence in the entire book as it
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Kaylee123

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org One of the things I liked most about the book was how fast-paced it was. I never got bored reading it. The book is divided into three sections. The beginning introduces the reader to all the main characters and basically shows Lucy’s life before Hower Bain and at the start of her time with him. The second part involves time Lucy spent in Ghana and in the third part, Lucy helps with a political campaign. The story
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sheeba_b

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The blend of all these Characters brings out the beauty of the story. The book is indeed a easy read without much grammatical errors. I liked how the book was filled with suspense and eagerness of what would come next as you read through it’s pages. It is difficult to tell what I disliked about the book as it was exceptionally flawless. The characters are depicted in an extraordinary manner and the storyline is intriguing. I
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kajal31

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org The book is a literary drama and romance novel and I feel Mr.Coles did a great job. I feel like I am in a character’s heart and I felt original while reading this. The whole story goes in very suspense and flows that inspired me to read it more and more day after day. There are humorous moments, some philosophical and some sad and it was definitely different from what I read before. Read the entire review
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Jayashree Raveendran

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The stories are real, the characters could be you or me, the plot is everywhere out there among the rich, the common and even the downtrodden. They are graphic enough for us to visualize the emotions in each of the characters and the scenes of the plots. I rate this book 4 out of 4. This book provides us with varying definitions of victory. There is nothing that I disliked or felt should have been different
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writestuff

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org From the first pages it’s abundantly clear, why William H. Coles has been awarded for his short stories. The author has the art of making emotions felt, to be real. I couldn’t help reacting strongly to the stories and their endings. I appreciated not knowing what moment captured, would end the story I was on. The writing is a fine example of well edited work. The characters are deeply defined in a masterful way. In moments
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Ladydawn103

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I happily give this book 4 out of 4 stars. I loved almost every story. Quite a few of these stories were sad. There are stories of lost love, some of loss, some of yearning for love, some about new life; one for every emotion. There are also some stories that have taboo subjects like child sex trafficking or pregnancy loss. A celebration or tragedy for every stage of life. As I mentioned before, these stories are
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mareeann12

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org If the reader is looking for happily ever after, you won’t find it here. But if you want a ride through the dark side, you’ll enjoy this collection. The thing I liked most about this book was the variety and uniqueness of each story. The writing was that good. I have to give this collection 4 out of 4 stars. The writing, editing, and artwork are all excellent. Read the entire review here… mareeann12

m1n

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org In Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide, the author, William H. Coles does exactly what it says on the cover. He leads his reader through how Literary Fiction differs from other types of fiction and explains what marks it out. These are not fluffy explanations! This is proper English Literature education for the purpose of making you a better literary fiction writer. Read the entire review here… m1n

f_starkperalta

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The book is very well written, and the language is pretty clear for readers of all age. The way the author explains every single detail that makes a book a great book is very fascinating for me. Personally, I found it so helpful reading this book as I love writing fictional stories as well and this guide is the perfect thing to read if you want to understand the art of literature better.I rate this book
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trinamcdon04

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org I enjoyed watching the characters in this book grow so much. The writer did an excellent job of introducing a lot of different characters in many different walks of life. He made me want to follow along with the journey of multiple people to see where their lives would take them and where their paths would cross. It was a joy to read a book where the main character was both the bad guy and the good
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Don Pwai

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I also loved suspense used by the author in coming up with the stories. Each and every story is filled with suspense at its boiling point. There is ensuing suspense around the major events in each short story. I must admit, the suspense therein increased desire to learn about the fate of the leading characters in each story. Suspense made the stories more interesting. Other styles employed by the author in coming up with this novel
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KatBookLover

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles is a collection of 33 short stories, two graphic novels and one novella. It seems like a strange mix, but all this work makes a perfect sense. They are linked all together by two things: illustrations and a theme. All the stories are focusing on darker side of human´s soul. Do we really know ourselves? Can we predict our behaviour? What does good and bad
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Vleewrites57

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles, who has penned other non-fiction books teaching about literary fiction as well as fictional books and short stories, takes great care in differentiating literary fiction from genre fiction. He walks the reader through each chapter of Books One and Two, delving into, but not limiting information to character development, point-of-view, voice, humor, time and narration. As he does so, Coles stresses the importance of the writer’s imagination and creative skill as the foundation for creating
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nobleronin

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The following is a review of the book entitled Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by by William H. Coles. I read the book in a relatively short amount of time because I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I highly recommend it. I rate this book a 4 out of 4 . I do not believe that a rating this high is to be lightly given. However, the reason I give it such a high
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Mlh1981

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org As a writer, I am always searching for ways to improve my craft so it connects with the reader and leaves a lasting impression. The search for this knowledge can seem daunting because there are so many opinions and thoughts on the best way to connect with a reader of fiction. After reading Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide, I feel a refreshed eagerness to jump right into writing with the information I gleaned from
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keycrump

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org I liked the novel. It kept me interested to see how it would end. If she would find her true love? Would she be redeemed from past hurt? The characters felt real and believable. The only complaint I would have is I felt the author added some useless information in the story. I felt it dragged the story on instead of adding any significance to the story. I liked that the point of view of the story
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KitabuKizuri

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The theme of the book predominantly explores the depraved nature of man, especially those who command respect in society. There are consequences for those who treat others unfairly as well as those who do the right thing. The capacity for those who are at the apex of trusted institutions to succumb to actions beneath their social standing is real. We see it in real life on the news and in the grapevine, but the reader of
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ernest mwangemi

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org William H. Coles has never disappointed in his work. His ability to create a story full of drama and twists without forgetting the unpredictability of the sequence and characterization. The Spirit of Want is that book that fully captures your attention from the beginning to the end. It fills your mind with many questions and eagerness to know what happens next, this will keep you opening the pages up to the last page. I really liked
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Don Pwai

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The styles used in the creation of the novel enhanced its taste. The author uses suspense, vivid description, comedy and irony, and dialogue in creating the novel. They enhanced the taste of the novel in different ways. I was particularly moved by the comedy in the novel. I could not help but laugh at certain comical scenes in the course of the narration. Characters like Hower Bain are just comical. He is a pastor but the
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Lucas Kalinic

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I loved the themes discussed by the author in this novel. In addition to the theme of love, the author discusses themes like family and marriage life, divorce, religion and hypocrisy, effects of drug abuse and rotten justice system. These themes are self-evident in the society today. Avid readers can easily identify with them. I was awed by the theme of love, family and marriage as a result of their interconnectedness. The leading character, Lucy is
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SophieS1994

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Clear your diaries! Clear your schedules! And cancel all social plans. Because once you start reading The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles, you won’t be able to stop. Set in 1980s Atlanta, the story follows the romantic trials and tribulations of the beautiful, but oh- so exhaustingly difficult, Lucy MacMiel. On the surface, she is the quintessentially fierce career woman who has it all. She has the looks, the brains, the marriage and her
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Newlyretired

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The characters are well developed and easy to follow. We don’t lose sight of each of them. Due to the nature of the story, Mr. Coles does an excellent job describing the medical aspects and use of medical jargon making it simple and easy to understand and follow. Having worked at a hospital known to be one of the first and well known bariatric centers Mr. Cole portrays bariatric surgery and it’s many issues very accurately.
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Jkmj2005

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I found The Surgeon’s Wife by William H. Cole to be captivating read. I was intrigued by the medical/ethical dilemma of treating patients with bariatric surgery. The conflict between the two doctors could be felt and was conveyed well throughout the novel. The chemistry and dynamics between characters as the story unfolded made me want to continue reading to feed my curiosity of their lives, forgetting about my own. The ending was shocking and unpredictable! Read
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ReyvrexQuestor Reyes

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This novel is well-written and thoroughly edited, with smoothly flowing narrative and an engaging theme most likely suited for fiction fans, preferably, those above the age of consent because of the family issues. Further, some knowledge of medical procedures would be a plus factor for added enjoyment. I could honestly say that there is nothing for me to dislike in this novel. With that said, my rating for the novel titled The Surgeon’s Wife by William
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Liyanage7

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I rate this 4 out of 4 stars as it was well-written and professionally edited with a flow that made me want to read non-stop till the end. The smooth flow and narration of the events which can happen in real life was depicted in a manner that even few lessons can be learned. The twists and turns in the story with conflicts in relationships and politics that can happen in any type of office, not
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Don Pwai

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I loved the themes discussed by the author in this novel. The themes discussed in this novel include love and romance, technology in the medical field, marriage and family life, divorce, discrimination and poverty just to mention a few. These are themes that represent the features in the society. They depict the real situation in the society. For instance, the picture of technological advancement posing technical problems to some medics was really excellent. It shows a
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Gathoni1991

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I admired the story of one of the characters. Being from a humble background (a single parent family, whose mother worked as a fortune teller in the streets), he studied his way out of poverty to be a respected surgeon in New Orleans. This was my biggest takeaway from the book – how education can remove one from obscure poverty to place them in high society. What I did not like about the story, was how
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Sharon2056

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles is an adept storyteller; the book is an easy read with a fast-paced story. The book was exceptionally edited with a few instances of using foul languages. Besides that, I did not find any other flaw in the book, and I wholeheartedly rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. This is an intriguing well thought out love story that shines a light on both sides of the affected characters. I highly recommend to fans
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Karina Nowak

Review from OnlineBookClub.org In all, I really liked the flow of the story and how the author took time to tell smaller stories that eventually crossed over with the main characters. Other than the few surgeons who were mentioned in passing, there were hardly any idle supporting characters. Every character had their own arc, their own purpose, their own story that went ill or good according to their choices. I was able to chew on each of them, their beliefs
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C-obi

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story was well-written. The characters were well-developed and properly linked. I had no difficulty understanding who was whom in the story. The concept behind the story was realistic. Here you find Catherine, a surgeon’s wife who found herself in a marriage where she was used as a bait for financial favors, falling genuinely in love with the man she least expected. It raises very important questions to parents on the need to respect the decisions
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corinaelena

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I really enjoyed reading The Surgeon’s Wife. I believe William H. Coles did an amazing job at creating realistic characters, and that he constructed a very interesting plotline, that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The way the protagonists evolved with the traumatic events they face left me speechless, and I believe the author captured veritable character development in each of his protagonists. Read the entire review here… corinaelena

Y0landa

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book lists the key constituents that set literary fiction apart from other genres. Chapter by chapter, the author breaks down these important components and goes into depth describing each one in detail. I like how the author found ways of giving examples so that the book content would be easily understood. First of all, the new terms introduced in each chapter were listed and defined to clear any doubts before further reading the chapter. Second,
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nobleronin

nancynayana

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I highly recommend this book as a guide for both new and established fiction writers. A handy and very detailed reference if you are writing literary fiction for the first time. The beginners of fiction writing are provided with the reasons why the literary fictional stories fail and when a fictional story is received as credible. The author urges the fiction writer to introspect and figure out ones motivation for writing literary fiction. A truly great work
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KingK123

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The author had an incredible flow to this work. Every event correlated to another so smoothly that you never had to guess why something was happening. Even with the introduction of new characters, one never gets lost in their purpose because of the consistency in the author’s writing. The descriptors through the entire novel were also excellent. It was very easy to picture what was happening, even in the surgical procedures. This makes it so those
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B Creech

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The author did an outstanding job of creating the characters and their personalities. The storyline was realistic and gave an accurate view of pressures in the medical profession. As a retired nurse, I can relate to the day-to-day stress of working in the medical field; and how adding personal drama to an already stressful job can create explosive situations. I was impressed with Cole’s writing style. The narrative was easy to read, and the storyline was
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GHOSTFRIEND

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story is really intriguing and the author has made really good use of every single page to present to us a power-packed short story. I liked how the characters were made to suit each other. As I have mentioned earlier that this book largely deals on human behaviour and we all know human behaviour is very much unpredictable. The author, however, seems to have a very good understanding of human behaviour because the ways his
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kadinkins14

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I would give this novel a 4 out of 4 stars. I thought it was a great length; the story was thoroughly presented without too much verbiage. My favorite aspect of the novel was the relatable moral and ethical healthcare dilemmas that Dr. Boudreaux found himself facing. As a nurse, I have witnessed and debated these ethical issues firsthand and can relate to how he struggles to do what is ethically right for the patients. I
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corinaelena

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I loved noticing the diversity of characters presented in the book. No matter how lonely, or special you might think you are, William H. Coles manages to make everyone feel included. I believe the main goal the author set was to prove that nothing is impossible: life is rough, and many unimaginable things are constantly happening to us. His characters, no matter how unique and deranged, show the rough reality of life. The tragedies presented can
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fmd1821

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles always reveals his preference for profound and often controversial themes in his works. I read some of his novels, but this is the first time I read his short fiction. I found here the same commitment of his longer works. Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles tells stories about love, diversity, death, guilt, and punishment – only to mention a few themes. Coles develops these themes with clarity, and at the end of each story,
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QuirkyPenn

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I loved the book. It was an engrossing read and I could not put it down. I loved the characterization. The quirky people he meets are often funny, always endearing and very real. A beautiful story I would recommend this book to anyone interested in character-driven books. There was nothing not to like. It is well written, thought-provoking and for me an original read. Read the entire review here… QuirkyPenn

N_R

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Guilt and redemption, what could possibly make a better theme in a novel? If this is a contrast that interests you, then William H. Cole’s McDowell is the book for you. As a reader, you will experience a range of emotions and be left as you finish the last page with a feeling of compassion. I rate this novel as a 4 out of 4. It was professionally edited and had no grammatical mistakes. Once I
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Astrid Lustulin for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 William H. Coles’ McDowell is a page-turner that you cannot stop reading until you finish it. This fast-paced and engaging novel tells the story of a reputable surgeon, Hiram McDowell. He is presented at the beginning as a self-centered and arrogant man who cares only for himself and his children. Even though he reaches the top of his profession, he is even better at falling out with his relatives and colleagues. After a personal tragedy, however, McDowell’s perfect world
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Lesley Jones for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 In McDowell by William H. Coles, Hiram McDowell, a self-obsessed, narcissistic surgeon, is on his second marriage and heading quickly for divorce. Hiram believes people, including his wife and children, exist to serve his needs. He manages to make many enemies in business too and is facing an investigation into professional misconduct. Hiram seems oblivious to his family problems, a grandson that falls into crime, a daughter that is struggling to cope since her mother’s death from cancer and
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Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell by William H. Coles is an engrossing piece of literary fiction surrounding the rise, fall, and ultimate redemption of Dr. Hiram McDowell. McDowell is both the story’s protagonist and, as he truly is his own worst enemy, also the catalyst for his demise. This snowballs from years of narcissism, callous behavior, and a ‘win at any cost’ attitude. He’s blameless in his own eyes. Blameless for failed marriages, for his vengeful colleagues, and for the frailty of his
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Lex Allen for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 Hiram McDowell is at the top of his profession, a surgeon admired not only for his skill in the operating room and his contributions to the development of new surgical methods and equipment but also for his philanthropic activities. Add those achievements to his hobby of mountain climbing that includes conquering every 8000 plus foot peak in the Nepalese Himalayas. Sadly, Hiram is also an egomaniac that retains little sense of loyalty or sympathy for anyone other than his
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Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell McDowell by William H Coles brings us the tale of a man who, having reached the top of his profession, self-destructs and loses it all, then attempts to rebuild his life from scratch. McDowell is a world-renowned surgeon, lauded by all as one of the best in the business and he knows it. This overachiever climbs mountains in his spare time and has summitted Everest along with most of the highest peaks in Nepal. He is known by all as
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K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell is another high quality work of literary fiction penned by author William H Coles, this time focusing on themes of privilege and the fall from grace. Our central character is the titular Hiram McDowell, an acerbic and selfish man who cares only for his immediate group of close family. A renowned surgeon, McDowell’s downfall begins when his grandson commits a heinous crime and is soon after found dead himself. The bottom falls out of the surgeon’s world when
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Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 I became a strong fan of William H. Coles after reading his novels The Surgeon’s Wife, The Spirit of Want, and Guardian of Deceit, so when I stumbled on McDowell, I knew it would be another spellbinding and well-written story. I wasn’t wrong. It is the same powerful and unique literary voice, focused and steady. With his unique style and signature, Coles creates another compelling character in Hiram McDowell, a successful and respectable surgeon, a man with a dubious
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Divine Zape for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell by William H. Coles is a novel that follows the rise and fall of a man, surgeon Hiram McDowell. McDowell climbs quickly in his career and gains the respect of his peers and the community. But he is not in the good graces of most of his colleagues, thanks to his callousness and pride. His success gets him into the President’s circle, but a tragedy that leads to a conviction destroys everything. McDowell finds himself running from the
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Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell by William H. Coles is the story of Dr. Hiram McDowell. A celebrated surgeon, Dr. McDowell is single-minded in getting what he wants. His climb to the top is not without casualties and is not without some questionable practices. Cold and calculating, there is no denying his brilliance but when tragedy strikes, his world comes tumbling down. Grief and anger put him on a criminal path that will see his life of privilege and wealth all but destroyed.
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esaveni74

Guardian of Deceit 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The characters are all well-developed. It was a very thought- provoking novel that captured my attention. The story was written in a simple language that was easy to read and understand. There were lots of twist and turns in the story. The author discusses a lot of social issues, like bad judgment, bad child upbringing, bad choices and mistrust. The author is very talented to write such an interesting novel. The story flowed easily from one
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Nerea

Guardian of Deceit 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story highlights aspects like deceit, drama, career, athletics, family, education, abduction, relationships and legal development. The relationships featured in the story are quite interesting. They are dramatic and keeps fluctuating. Furthermore, the effects that divided families have on the members and the flaws present in the education system are vividly explained. I enjoyed reading the book Guardian of Deceit by William H. Coles. For a moment, I thought I was watching a movie. The author
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Rosh_360

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org The title of the book, “The Spirit of Want” is truly justified. Throughout the book, you might hate Lucy for certain parts but in the end, you will always come back to feeling sorry for her as you understand her pain. One of the few sentences in this book that has gravely touched me is when Elizabeth (Lucy’s sister) is talking to Luke about Lucy having abandoned her family. She says, “and what might have happened if
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Sfranco1

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org I really enjoyed this book. Lucy is a complicated, but very human, character. She is both ruthless and vulnerable. She makes poor choices, and the reader will root for her while also being angry with her. William H. Coles develops Lucy perfectly. He shows how she can both reject and desire love. He shows us her insecurities and how she manages them — sometimes in disastrous ways. We see how she is a strong, beautiful, and intelligent
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SmrutiS

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org William H. Coles in The Spirit of Want weaves Lucy’s romantic adventures. She is a lawyer by profession. The impression that a reader forms when she first appears, is that of an arrogant and a proud woman with an I-don’t-care attitude. She ends up with an accident the first night that she drives with Luke. She marries him. She takes up Reverend Bain’s case – underage molestation. She loses. Well, what does she lose? What does she
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Seriousbookreader

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org It’s a good, fast-paced read and the book offers poignant storytelling and meaningful takeaways by the author, William Coles. I like that his stories have no open endings. The stories are complete, leaving you completely drenched with emotions feeling like a complete human. Common themes are complicated relationships, humanity, love, and injustice in the world and every shade of emotions. The emotions are piercing and hit you at the most unexpected times. If you are in a
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emptyC

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org There are so many subjects covered in this book that that it is hard to pick a favorite out of the thirty-six stories the author has wrote. Most of the stories cover the darker side of humanity such as Suchin’s Escape. Reading about a poor girl who is stuck into prostitution at a young age and tries hard to escape that life was sad. However the help she received from the most unexpected person was uplifting. So
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Janalyn101

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I would recommend this book to anyone who likes family drama, medical dramas, or romance novels, as it has all of those included in the book. I wouldn’t recommend it to those who are sensitive to gun violence, adultery, and/or physical abuse. Furthermore, there isn’t much vulgar language or at least not any that I can remember, and that is something that gets my attention. This book was perfectly edited and had no grammatical errors. With
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SMPlaya

The Surgeon's Wife Review from OnlineBookClub.org What I most enjoyed about the book was the investigation into the questionable practices that exist within the privatized medical system. Otherson’s professional problems stem from his promotion of a surgery targeted toward the obese that has specific indications for patient candidates and limited positive results. As Otherson begins to ignore the indications, and as more patients begin to experience complications rather than an enhanced life, his practices are called into question by his peers. I was
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bkiss317

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and found myself rooting for some over others as the story progressed. Hearing from reporters, co-workers, and relatives of Hiram, gives an interesting perspective as you see that different people have different views on the same thing. One person may have a great respect for a person and their actions, while someone else may view those actions and horrible and appalling. I found myself flipping back and forth
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Kaylene75428

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book is a success. McDowell needs to be on the shelf of every bookstore and library. I believe it would also make a great motion picture. Author William H. Coles magnificently portrays the life of Dr. Hiram McDowell not only by description and events, but also in first person point of view letting the reader make their own opinions about the characters. Coles has a real talent for painting a very detailed picture in the reader’s
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Bradie

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The character development in this novel is amazing and one of the elements I appreciate the most. It was a unique experience for me to have so much distaste for a character, but I think this is what made the story even more intriguing. Hiram is proven to be callous, rude, and selfish on a multitude of occasions. The interest comes from being able to get insight into the life of a person you would hope
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