Archives: Reviews

Rosenblatt1

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org In William H. Coles’ McDowell, the influence of greed drives a respected general surgeon and devoted father to use morally and ethically questionable tactics to rise to power as the President of the board of directors of the International College of Surgeons. During Part I of the two-part, 662-page novel, Hiram McDowell seems to be almost completely motivated by base instincts. The reader develops an understanding of McDowell as a powerful and wealthy man who takes
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Gisela Dixon

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide is a non-fiction book on the do’s and don’ts of writing creative fiction stories. William H. Coles is himself an author of fiction stories and in this book, he talks from his own experience about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to fiction or creative writing. In this book, he discusses in detail the craft and techniques of creating stories. The topics covered in this book include character development in
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Samantha Gregory

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles is a how-to guide for writing fiction. It goes through the various elements needed to get started as well as some tips and advice on things like plot and dialogue. If you are a first-time writer who is struggling or trying to work out your story before writing it, this would be a good book to read first. If you are unfamiliar with things like a plot-driven story,
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K.J. Simmill

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 With more people than ever being able to embrace their inner author, learning resources, information, and guidelines are something in high demand for those wishing to hone their craft. There is a lot to understand, from the definitions of keywords to the all-important narrative and plot design. Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles aims to introduce topics from conception to execution. As an author myself, I always feel the need to be constantly improving,
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Asher Syed

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H Coles is a non-fiction writing manual for those who are interested in improving their craft as authors. Whether it is flash fiction, short stories, or any length of novel, Coles outlines the foundational groundwork and then builds up through the process of a tale’s construction in order to assist a writer with the fundamentals of successful story writing, as well as explaining why each component is necessary. Spread over
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Edith Wairimu

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H Coles is an informative guide for both beginners and seasoned writers who want to learn more about how to write engaging fiction. It is divided into two sections. The first section examines aspects of fiction writing such as character development, creation of dialogue, selecting the appropriate point of view for your story and other features. In the second section, the book delves into the foundational aspects of writing a
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Anne-Marie Reynolds

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 From award-winning author, William H Coles comes Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide. Ever dreamed of being a fiction writer? Tried your hand at it but just can’t figure out where you are going wrong? Then this guide may be just what you are looking for. This is a no-nonsense, to the point guide that leads you by the hand through the ins and outs of writing a great literary novel. Learn the structure, how to build up
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Ray Simmons

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 I decided to read Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles because I am a writer and I’m always trying to work on and improve my craft. I have four books published, but I always want to improve, I always want to write more, and better. I have taken courses and read books but, to be honest, not recently. I hoped I would get some new ideas and a new perspective from reading William H.
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Lesley Jones

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories by William H Coles is a detailed and comprehensive guide and a must for any writer. Unlike many other books on the subject, this guide tackles often overlooked areas such as the development of strong characters and plot in far more detail. You will learn to understand the importance of dialogue that propels the story forward and build characters that readers can relate to on an emotional level. Discover the myths to writing fiction and guidelines
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Marta Tandori

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Many would-be fiction writers have sat before their computers, staring perplexed at the sea of words before them, utterly stumped at why the words that form the sentences, and the sentences that form the paragraphs, simply don’t work. Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide, by William H. Coles, would undoubtedly have shed some light on their respective dilemmas. Coles goes about demystifying and dissecting the fundamental elements of literary fiction writing in Book One with sections on character,
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Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Creating Literary Stories What is literary fiction? And what makes it different from memoirs or genre fiction? Literary fiction is something that will stand the course of time; it will make a bold statement and allow the individual reader to grow in his or her experience merely by reading the story. Basically, literary fiction is a complex work of art, something to be savored, studied and analyzed. So, how does one write literary fiction? It must be assumed that any writer can write
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Kansas City Teacher

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Can a person’s identity be defined by his success? The actions of his children? Can one grievous transgression destroy years of work in building a name? I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars. What I liked most about the book is the character development- in the main character, but also the supporting ones. I could see the attitude and outlook of the characters changing throughout the story, reflected in their thoughts and actions.
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sabrims1

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles does an excellent job in blending the different characters and their stories together to create a cohesive storyline and makes the differing opinions and views evident through varied diction and thought descriptions when we are reading the story through a different character’s mindset. The clarity of writing makes it so that the reader does not get lost in what can be a wearying experience of remembering which character is which and what they think, etc. The
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Choine

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org On the surface, this book doesn’t seem very complex, but as the story progresses, the author reveals a lot of information. Although there are many details in this book, it can be considered fast-paced. It is jam-packed with different scene changes, plot twists, and conflicts between characters. Some of these components may be hard to keep up with. If you have trouble following a plot that has multiple scene/character changes or is constantly introducing new information, I
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tnandrews127

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles does a very good job in analyzing the characters in the book. I really like that Coles went into detail about each characters’ thoughts. I have never read a book whereas the author would go into detail about the characters’ thoughts. I thought that was really awesome. I felt like I was actually seeing what they were thinking. I really enjoyed this book. There was always a surprise and a bit of a shock every
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cgehan

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic characters and the unpredictable plot this story brings. I believe that anyone in the legal or medical field would truly enjoy Coles’ work. I also would recommend it to those with sisters or mothers as the story revolves around the sisters’ complicated relationship and a mother of daughters would have an interesting perspective while reading. I found little errors and believe the story to be well edited. Due to the characters
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OliviaLouise

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles did a great job of developing a complex protagonist that plays with the reader’s emotions. I found myself sympathizing with Lucy one moment and then questioning everything I thought I knew about her the next. Additionally, the plot was suspenseful and unpredictable, yet had a very believable and natural flow. Strategic time jumps take the reader through the years of Lucy’s life and create a window into the long-term impact of her choices. There is a
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KDJ

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org After reading McDowell, I have found that the novel is best summarized by Maude’s idoneous words to Hiram: “People content in themselves learn to give selflessly, without concern for personal gain, to learn the joy of being human.” This novel will, if nothing else, prompt conversations around the important topics alluded to within its 472 pages. Parts of McDowell caused personal reflection and consideration of others in the world; therefore, I enjoyed reading it. I rate
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Abacus

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story is effectively portrayed; the reader wants to experience what is coming next. There is no lack of plot. The author capitalizes on a terrible life-changing tragedy to transform McDowell’s circumstances utterly. The second part of the story explores how McDowell’s changed circumstances impinge on McDowell, the man; he is angry, and he needs to record his daily life to relieve tension and he wants to write his memoirs to one day proves his innocence.
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Romuald Dzemo

Sister Carrie 5/5 Sister Carrie by William H Coles is a psychological thriller that explores the themes of loss, grief, family, and a sister’s struggle to keep her younger sister from harm. After the loss of their parents, none of the siblings wanted Carrie, so Jessie had no choice but to take in her younger sister, determined to bring Carrie up with their parents’ Christian principles and keep her innocent. As Carrie settles in, Jessie’s dream of a loving husband and a
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K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Sister Carrie Sister Carrie is a short work of literary fiction penned by author William H. Coles which focuses on relationships and psychology in a dangerous and destructive world. The novella features two sisters, orphaned and searching for acceptance in the wider world. When one sister begins a relationship online, the other older sister is filled with concern. She struggles with the parental role, feeling lost and lonely herself, and this struggle turns into a fraught tension between the pair as she
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Lit Amri for Readers’ Favorite

Sister Carrie After the death of her parents, Jessie Broward takes her 17-year-old sister Carrie under her care. Despite worrying about financial matters, Jessie, an optometrist assistant, gets Carrie a job at the movie theater and life is good for them. An Arab man named Zamel, however, challenges the sisters’ bond when Carrie falls in love and marries him without Jessie’s blessing. Failing her secret relationship with her own boss, Jessie feels lonely without Carrie whom she’s convinced is miserable in a
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Deborah Lloyd for Readers’ Favorite

Sister Carrie 5/5 The Broward parents, from Piedmont of North Carolina, died at the same time, leaving the adult and almost-adult family of four children. After the funeral and cleaning out the house and outbuildings, Henry returned to Arizona and Martha to Michigan. Jessie, in her twenties, had no choice but to take seventeen-year-old Carrie into her small apartment. Carrie had dropped out of high school earlier, and Jessie got Carrie a job at the local movie theater. Jessie’s intention was to
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Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell by William H. Coles is a family saga that follows the life of a selfish and arrogant surgeon, who suffers an epic fall from grace, and the path he travels to redemption. McDowell cares for no one but his children. But then he loses everything when his grandson commits multiple murders and fails in his suicide attempt, which leaves him paralyzed mentally. But the boy dies in very unusual circumstances and McDowell gets a conviction for second-degree murder.
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Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 This is the story of a man named McDowell, who had everything he ever wanted. Whatever he wanted, he achieved and he was proud of it. Envied by his peers, he was arrogant and selfish, but not with his family. He truly loved them and wanted the best for them, so when his grandson commits murder and then fails to commit suicide, McDowell’s life comes to crashing to a halt. His grandson, Jeremy, is now paralyzed and living a
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Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 In Guardian of Deceit by William H. Coles, we see seventeen-year-old Darwin Hastings being sent away to New York from Pittsburgh as his dying aunt is unable to take care of him He is sent to a new guardian, his cousin Luther Pinnelli, who is not only rich, but also a famous football player. He meets Doctor Adrian Malverne on the flight, who will later on play an important role in Darwin’s life and career. His dream is to
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Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 Guardian of Deceit by William H Coles is another interesting novel from this author. Darwin Hastings flies from Pittsburgh to New York. After the death of his parents years ago, he had been living with an aunt who can’t support him anymore. Now he plans to live with his football-star cousin Luther Pinnelli, dreaming of completing his studies in medicine after graduation. But life isn’t what he expected and people aren’t too friendly; in fact, he finds himself in
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Reviewed By Sefina Hawke for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 Guardian of Deceit by William H Coles is a contemporary literary fiction novel that would appeal most to a mixed audience of adults and young adults who enjoy mystery adventure stories. Darwin Hastings lost his parents and now his aunt can no longer care for him, which forces him to travel from Pittsburgh to New York to live with his cousin. Darwin Hastings’ cousin, Luther Pinnelli, is a well-known football star who is an arrogant, selfish person with no
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Reviewed By Viga Boland for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 In another of William H. Coles’ literary fiction novels, Guardian of Deceit, is Darwin Hastings, who lands wide-eyed, bushy-tailed and driven to succeed under the care of his sports celebrity cousin, Luther. Luther is wealthy and insensitive to those who love and even worship him, like his celebrity pop star girlfriend, Sweeney Pale. Like Sweeney, young Darwin is loyal to a fault. With every challenge Luther throws at him, Darwin becomes stronger, wiser and eventually very rich, while also
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Reviewed By Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 When Darwin Hastings’ aunt can no longer take care of the talented young man, whose parents had died in a car accident five years earlier, Darwin’s guardianship reverted to his famous football star cousin, Luther Pinnelli. In William H Coles’ Guardian of Deceit, we first meet Darwin on the flight from Pittsburgh to New York, where he meets Doctor Adrian Malverne who will have a big impact on the young man’s future career and personal life. Staying in a
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Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 Guardian of Deceit is a work of literary dramatic fiction penned by author William H. Coles. The central focus in this tale of life, woe, hardship, and achievement is Darwin Hastings, a precocious young man with aspirations to study medicine. Living in a privileged world doesn’t come without hardships, as Darwin soon discovers when he is forced to live with his new guardian Luther. A feckless celebrity footballer with a disregard for decency in general, Luther thwarts young Darwin’s
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Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 Guardian of Deceit by William H Coles is literary fiction narrated in a fun, humorous, and engaging voice – the story of Darwin Hastings who flies to New York from Pittsburgh to live with his cousin, Luther Pinnelli, the football star. He has dreams of studying medicine after his graduation from a private school. He lived with his aunt after the death of his parents, but now she is unable to provide for him. Moving to New York is
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Reviewed By Divine Zape for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 Guardian of Deceit by William H Coles is an entertaining story that explores family themes, a drama constructed around inheritance and injustice. Darwin Hastings has a dream of studying medicine after graduating from a private school. His aunt, who has supported him since his parents passed away, can’t support him anymore, so he moves to New York from Pittsburgh to join his cousin, a football star, Luther Pinnelli. But life with the star is hell for him as he
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Reviewed By Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 I cannot tell you how fast I breezed through Guardian of Deceit by William H. Coles. It is weird, but I actually loved Luther’s character. He was mean and arrogant, but the author did a wonderful job of making him so. He was so well written that I could not help but like him. I loved to hate him and I hated him with a passion. Darwin, on the other hand, had layers upon layers and I enjoyed how
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Reviewed By Arya Fomonyuy for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 Guardian of Deceit by William H Coles is an entertaining literary novel with well developed and rock solid characters. Darwin Hastings is an orphan and has been under the care of his aunt until she can’t take care of him any longer. Now, he boards a plane from Pittsburgh to New York to join his cousin, a football star, Luther Pinnelli. But things aren’t what he’d expected to find. His cousin is a self-serving and arrogant guy who lives
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Reviewed By Tracy Young for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want 5/5 The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles tells the story of the MacMeil family and how they affect the people they meet. A.J. is a patriarch and gifted surgeon, his wife Agnes is his faithful companion and they have two daughters. Lucy is a Puerto Rican beauty who was adopted before they had their other daughter, Elizabeth. Luke Osbourne works for A.J. and has met the family briefly but finds himself accepting a lift from Lucy under difficult
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Reviewed By Samantha Dewitt (Rivera) for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want There were some really good parts to this story and I thought the characters were generally interesting, though it didn’t feel like the reader got to know them very well, and there seemed to not be a lot actually happening through the plot. The entire party scene where Luke and Lucy first meet, as well as them getting married, seemed really fake and even though this is pointed out later that it was fake for Lucy, it was strange that
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Reviewed By Viga Boland for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want 5/5 The spirit of want is what drives most of the primary characters in this literary fiction novel by William H. Coles. The beautiful, but deeply conflicted lawyer, Lucy, isn’t sure what she wants. But after she marries Luke, a doctor who wants Lucy from the day he meets her, she knows Luke isn’t what she wants. Lucy’s gentle and loving half-sister, Elizabeth, wants a husband and children. The girls’ mother, Agnes, wants a grandchild; their father, a top surgeon,
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Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want 5/5 The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles is a spellbinding novel that explores legal themes, romance, family, and one woman’s unconventional pursuit of happiness. Lucy MacMeil is a defense attorney, happily married to her father’s subordinate, surgeon Luke Osbourne. But when she takes up the case in defense of a charismatic and magnetic TV evangelist accused of sexually abusing a girl, everything changes. She falls in love with her client and when the evangelist loses the case, he
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Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want 5/5 The Spirit of Want is a work of literary dramatic fiction penned by author William H. Coles. This sweeping work of life, love, passion, money, deceit, and romance focuses primarily on the life of Lucy MacMeil, a defense lawyer who seems at first to have it all. When she marries surgeon Luke Osborne, the busy couple have a daughter and begin their life together, but Lucy’s head is turned by a charismatic evangelist whom she is defending on abuse
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Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want 5/5 A character-driven story, The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles explores the thrills and perils of desire, following one woman’s quest for pleasure and the consequences of her choices. Lucy is a successful defense lawyer, who is married to Luke Osbourne, a surgeon practicing under her father. When Lucy takes on the defense of a TV evangelist accused of sexually assaulting a girl, she isn’t aware it will be a perilous path for her and her marriage. She
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Reviewed By Divine Zape for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want 5/5 In The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles, a TV evangelist and leader of a church needs the best defense lawyer to get him off a charge of sexually abusing a girl. Lucy MacMeil gets the job. As one of the top lawyers for her firm and a woman, she is the best lawyer to defend the evangelist’s innocence. Then they lose the case and Bain escapes to Africa while waiting for an appeal. But Lucy has already
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Reviewed By Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want 5/5 The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles is a mix of romance and general thriller with the primary theme of family and betrayal. Lucy MacMeil is hired as the defense lawyer for TV evangelist Reverend Bain, a charismatic man, little knowing that she is headed towards doom. She falls in love with the evangelist while defending him. After losing the case, the evangelist flees to Africa while awaiting an appeal. Unable to live without him, Lucy abandons her
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Reviewed By Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want 5/5 The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles is the story of a woman who is successful yet, when a man comes into her life, she loses it all. This is the story of Lucy MacMeil, the daughter of a successful doctor and the wife of an equally successful surgeon. Lucy is a defense lawyer by profession and she really enjoys her job. However, her life is changed completely and for the worse when she takes up the case
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Reviewed By Arya Fomonyuy for Readers’ Favorite

The Spirit of Want 5/5 The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles is a powerful story that is emotionally charged and intense, a tale with psychological depth and emotional insight. When Lucy MacMeil accepts the sleazy TV evangelist accused of rape as a client, she couldn’t imagine that this case would rock her entire world, including her profession and marriage. While working the case, the defense lawyer falls for the evangelist, but he loses the case and runs away to Africa. Unable to
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Reviewed By Ankita Shukla for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles is a collection of about 35 diverse short stories. One thing that all these stories share in common is their depth. These stories trigger emotions in you and force you to think out of the box. The plots are extremely diverse in nature. While Suchin’s Escape focuses on Suchin trying to get out of forced prostitution, The Indelible Myth is a story about a boy who just
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Reviewed By Vernita Naylor for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 If you are looking for and interested in a series of short stories, novels and a novella (longer than a short story yet shorter than a novel) then look no further. By picking up a copy of Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles, you will enjoy over 40 written works covering themes from unconditional love to struggles and choices. In this collection, William H. Coles has carefully chosen a collection of pieces that
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Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000 – 2016 is a collection of award-winning and highly engaging fictional works by author William H Coles. Spanning over four hundred pages, this lengthy collection collates 33 short stories, two graphic novel adaptations, and a novella, along with numerous illustrations by a variety of artistic and graphic designers. The stories span a wide variety of genres, from thrillers and adventure tales to harrowing personal drama and the speculative, with plenty of
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Reviewed By Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles is a collection of short stories, graphic novels and a novella that all grapple with the idea of humanity, human errors, and how every human perceives a situation differently. Sometimes the stories are about counting your blessings and being happy with them, and sometimes the stories are about the trials and tests that humans have to go through. These stories are wholesome, entertaining and complete, giving you
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Reviewed By Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles is an exceptional compendium of 33 short stories, two graphic novels, and a novella, a collection that offers a wonderful literary treat, beautifully told and brimming with exquisite beauty. “The Gift” introduces the collection, and it features a family conflict developed around an unwanted pregnancy. When seventeen-year-old Catherine gets pregnant, her mother, Agnes, has a clear plan for her. “Agnes kept her plan simple. After the birth,
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Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles features 33 short stories that read like delicious desserts. A seventeen-year-old girl gets pregnant, the mother is disappointed and sends her to deliver her baby in a French convent with the hope of giving the baby away for adoption. The crippled child becomes the greatest gift of the girl’s life. Read about how the ills that touch the lives of others can provoke life-changing choices in us.
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Reviewed By Gisela Dixon for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles is a collection of short stories about people from all walks of life and ages. This book is extremely well written and, along with short stories that comprise a big chunk of it, it also includes a novella about two people from different backgrounds and ethnicities and their mutual relationships, along with a couple of graphic novels. The short stories come with illustrations and each one stands
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Reviewed By Viga Boland for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 “Everybody has a story” is a well-worn phrase. But how many of us, as we go about our busy lives, ever stop to think about the home life of that disabled boy carrying out groceries or rounding up the emptied shopping carts around the parking lot? Or what would we find if we could read the mind and heart of that circus side-show attraction, the tiny female dwarf in the cute polka-dot dress? Or how does the trucker, who
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Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 If you are looking for and interested in a series of short stories, novels and a novella (longer than a short story yet shorter than a novel) then look no further. By picking up a copy of Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles, you will enjoy over 40 written works covering themes from unconditional love to struggles and choices. In this collection, William H. Coles has carefully chosen a collection of pieces that gives
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Reviewed By Asher Syed for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles is a compilation of the titular author’s work, with nearly three dozen short stories and a novella. Interspersed are illustrations, primarily cover-style artwork for the stories themselves. The short stories vary in length, but each brings a wholly unique plot and cast of characters that are surprisingly well layered for such a compact format. Coles crisscrosses the globe with multiple locations, delivering a host of very human,
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Reviewed By Ray Simmons for Readers’ Favorite

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 5/5 I’m not a big reader of short stories. I prefer novels most of the time, but some short stories have impressed me over the years, and I have a sneaking suspicion that I should read more short stories in order to improve my own writing. I reviewed a book by William H. Coles recently called Creating Literary Stories, and I was impressed by the ideas and techniques he described. I wanted to see the results of his theories, and
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Review by Lesley Jones

The Surgeon's Wife 5/5 In The Surgeon’s Wife by William H. Coles, when a renowned professor and surgeon, Clayton Otherson, begins to make critical mistakes in his work with obese patients, he is threatened with misconduct. Chair of the New Orleans hospital committee and fellow surgeon Mike Boudreaux faces a tough moral decision. Does he protect the patient’s safety and take action against his mentor or procrastinate and hope Clayton’s incompetence improves with further training. When Clayton rejects any advice and help, a
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Reviewed By Ann Neville for Readers’ Favorite

The Surgeon's Wife 4/5 The Surgeon’s Wife by William H. Coles follows Clayton Otherson, a senior surgeon, as he makes life-threatening mistakes during Bariatric surgery in a New Orleans’ hospital. Mike Boudreaux, the chief of surgery, must discipline Otherson, his partner, colleague, mentor and friend. Even though Mike knows he must take action, he feels conflicted because he owes his education and his career success to Otherson. But when a patient dies from post-operative complications, there is no option but suspension. Otherson turns
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Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite

The Surgeon's Wife 5/5 On a personal note, The Surgeon’s Wife is the third book I am reading from William H. Coles within a week, and after I complete each book, I feel like reading more from him. His stories are told in a voice that is confident, clear, and authoritative, and he knows how to explore the deep layers of human emotion. The Surgeon’s Wife, with Coles’ unique signature, features themes of romance, passion, and betrayal and features characters with a solid
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Reviewed By Janelle Alex, Ph.D. for Readers’ Favorite

The Surgeon's Wife 5/5 A refreshing read, The Surgeon’s Wife takes readers on a fictional journey that will keep them intrigued from the beginning. William H. Coles’ dramatic tale is based around the lives of two prominent surgeons and one woman. The issues that arise in The Surgeon’s Wife start off with one of the main characters, Clayton Otherson, making a major mistake during surgery. His former student and the current chair of the OR committee, Mike Boudreaux, tries to protect his mentor,
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Reviewed By Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite

The Surgeon's Wife 5/5 The Surgeon’s Wife by William H. Coles is the story of Mike Boudreaux, Chief of Service at a hospital in New Orleans, who is at a standstill. His teacher, his mentor, and his good friend, Clayton Otherson, has made life-threatening mistakes during surgery and now it is Mike’s job to discipline him. However, Mike is having a hard time doing his job. On the one hand, he has his duty and on the other, he has to think about
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Delaney35

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book is character driven. There is a plot, but the most interesting part is McDowell’s transformation. After reading the first few chapters, I hated his character. He treated everyone around him like inferior beings. He treated the women especially badly, and I don’t think he viewed them as human. As the book progressed though, he changed. His relationship with his daughter, Sophie, helped to humanize him. The multiple narrative perspectives also gave a well-rounded view
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PrintedPages

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This novel deserves a 4 out of 4. Mr. Coles writes seamlessly from one point of view to the next. Even though the point of view changes frequently (approximately after every couple of chapters), it does not distract the reader from enjoying the book. In fact, the different perspectives serve to highlight different views of the conflict. These contrasts are intriguing and give a unique insight to the reader at every angle. Above all, I loved
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Sinclairess

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org The characters are phenomenal. Every character, whether main or supporting, is convincing and engaging. Everyone is uniquely complex in their own way. McDowell himself is probably the biggest puzzle of all. This main character cannot be held to any particular archetype. In the beginning of the book he seems to be insular, looking for recognition in all things he does. But after a while, McDowell’s personality unfolds, petal by petal, like a rose. Just like a rose,
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dwightyb7

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and believe it to be professionally edited, as I found no typos or grammatical errors at all. The smooth writing, the character descriptions, the storyline and the pace at which the story progressed, were perfect and kept this reader engaged throughout. McDowell is a sound novel that stirs emotions and teaches lessons along the way. Being introduced to arrogant, wealthy, greedy Hiram in the beginning, elicited feelings of dislike or
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Namaste23

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. The story line was captivating and intriguing. The characters were all tied in with each other, even when it was unexpected. The book was also very well-edited as I was not able to spot an error. Any adult who likes reading unpredictable and dramatic books would be my recommended audience. It is full of adventure, travel, scandal and drama. Anyone who enjoys any of the previously listed
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linham02660

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I did not dislike anything about McDowell It was fascinating, moves fluidly and kept me completely engaged. It is well worth reading. I recommend it to adult readers that enjoy fiction novels that will thoroughly engage their emotions. This book is not a light read. I don’t think anyone can read it and be left untouched. Because of these things I gladly rate it a 4 out of 4 stars. The book was professionally edited, and
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rashmisharma

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This particular collection of short stories is deeply stirring in a passive sense. The narrative is in a design where you just can’t take an outsider’s point of view. They demand to be felt, to be empathized with, and to be thought through. Or worse yet, be disturbed. However, they all end on happy notes or at least a positive or hopeful undertone. It is a recollection of humanity, of stirring struggles whether they are commonplace or
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Calypso Terrier

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org McDowell tells a powerful story about fixing past mistakes and changing into a better person. This book carried a strong message in a fast-paced and thrilling story. I loved several parts of this McDowell, such as the brilliant characters and a strong plot. Every character had a unique personality and complimented the storyline. Additionally, the story was always moving forward and I never felt bored while reading. I especially enjoyed the way William H. Coles was
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sursangeet_2000

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org To be honest, I couldn’t find much that was wrong in this book. I believe that the book has been professionally edited. I might have come across a couple of errors with commas and other punctuation, but the story and its characters had me intrigued and I stopped noticing errors after a point. I believe that McDowell is a philosophical book that will keep its readers engaged and I would give it a 4 out of
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bauer_ve

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I really enjoyed reading this book! Initially I thought it would be hard to follow because of the switching between characters’ viewpoints, but that added so much depth to the storyline. It was not difficult to follow along at all. It allowed me to feel more immersed in the story, like I was right there with the characters. The author did an excellent job building up the complexity of the characters and making each one relatable
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Amanda Deck

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org McDowell by William H. Coles is the story of Hiram McDowell, a famous, wealthy surgeon who is also the founder of a charitable medical foundation in Nepal. While those not in his inner circle are impressed by his list of credentials, surgical skills and good works, his family and business colleagues know he’s not to be trusted. Underneath the veneer of benevolence is an arrogant, self-serving man. When he’s proven to be a fraud and a
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Lkernodle

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org McDowell is a gripping book by William H. Coles based on the life of Dr. Hiriam McDowell at the peak of his career, through his fall, and ultimately ending with his redemption. While it was disturbing in the beginning, the author takes the reader on a journey of emotions from disparaging McDowell to ultimately cheering for his reunification with his family and society in general. Overall the book is well written, chapters are clearly identified and
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Audrey_Grace

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org If you are someone who likes to experience the lives of seemingly ordinary individuals, slowly unraveling the quirky, adventurous, and even damnable aspects of them until they become completely and utterly unique, then this book is absolutely right for you. You will be taken on a series of adventures that leave you biting your nails in anticipation, hardly ever settling down enough to be predictable or let you take a deep breath. If you can bear to
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bellaterrabooks

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org I relished the interconnection of the characters and the differing perspectives of the book. While Hiram remained the lead figure, the other personalities augmented the grit of the story by developing a rich tapestry. The imperfect features of the individuals were poetic as they were deficient as humans rather than flawed merely for the sake of the fiction. When Sophie is navigating interactions with Hiram as a daughter to a father, this was entirely rational. A child
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zukylala

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Asides from the art, the stories were highly imaginative and skillfully told. After reading the book, I sort of felt star struck and I’m thinking I ought to re-learn my talents at writing or drawing even. Sincerely speaking, his work did move me so. A few stories like ‘The Stonecutter’, ‘The miracle of Madame Villard’ and ‘Big Gene’ had quite some expedient historical references. As such it is kudos to William for not making these same stories
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Sunny Day 246

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org I totally loved this book! It’s a book that tells a great story and reinforces, without preaching, one of the most basic lessons in life: be careful what you desire as actions and decisions have consequences. The author successfully delves into the worlds of law, medicine and religion and introduces us to a core of well rounded and believable characters. Before you know it, you’re drawn into their world and taken for a literary ride where initial
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Julii23

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The Surgeon’s Wife is a book that starts off as just another story of several medical practioners whose lives are intertwined in their daily hustles of making other people’s lives better either by way of medicine or surgical procedures. However, as the author delves deep into these doctors’ lives, it turns out to be a really interesting read as most of the people in the book have quite a dramatic lifestyle both in their line of
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purity721

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Surgeon’s wife is a must read. It has a well-developed plot, although short, each page leaves you wanting more and you can’t wait to turn the next page. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I could not find any error in the book meaning it had a professional edition. I recommend this book to young adults. They should understand the consequences of ignoring part of their life. They should learn how to balance
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mariakavo88

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book would appeal to those who like mystery and crime stories. This book would also suit those who are into books about forgiveness, human nature, and redemption. There are some strong scenes in this book, therefore, I would not recommend this book to young children. With that being said I think a mature teenager would be able to handle this book as well. It appears as though the book was professionally edited, as I did
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