Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Apr 23

19

Sex, Drugs, and Spiritual Enlightenment by Karuna Das- Review

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on April 19, 2023
Posted in Books Read in 2023 • Coming of Age • Fictionalized Memoir • General Fiction  | Tagged With: , , , | 2 Comments

Sex Drugs and Spiritual EnlightenmentSex, Drugs, and Spiritual Enlightenment (but mostly the first two) by Karuna Das

Publisher:  DX Varos Publishing (March 28, 2023)
Category: General Fiction, Fictionalized Memoir
Tour Dates: April 4-21, 2023
ISBN: 978-1955065764
Available in Print and ebook, 280 pages

Sex Drugs and Spiritual Enlightenment

Description Sex, Drugs, and Spiritual Enlightenment by Karuna Das


On the cusp of turning eighteen, it’s time for Drew Lovell to become a man.

But deep within, Drew has questions—ones he doesn’t know how to phrase—about what that means and how to go about it.

During three intense stretches between 1985 and 1993, taking him into his mid-twenties, Drew undergoes a series of profound experiences—often wild, sometimes painful, and always revealing—that force him to rethink his current assumptions. Only after nearly dying from trying to conform to conventional models of masculinity does he begin to become the man he wants to be and not the one he thought the world required him to be. Still, he’s unable to live with full integrity until interaction with a pair of awakened humans inspires new awareness that helps him at long last embrace the truth of who he is.

My Thoughts Sex, Drugs, and Spiritual Enlightenment by Karuna Das


Teenager, Drew hangs out with his friend snorting coke.  His friend then pays a girl to take Drew’s virginity but Drew wonders if that is all there is to it.  A quick 1, 2, 3 and it’s done.  He struggles to understand the real meaning of life.  It can’t just be sitting around doing drugs, having sex, and writing.  He aims to become a professional writer.

Drew later meets his favorite author and it is through that relationship as well as after he experiences a seizure, he has a kind of spiritual awakening and is able to explore what life is really about. It is also after having sex with many women, that he realizes that he is bisexual.

Karuna Dos calls ‘Sex, Drugs, and Spiritual Enlightenment’ a “fictionalized memoir”.  He uses his experiences as a young man as a starting point and embellishes them.  Mixing the two together make a heartbreaking yet, laugh out loud novel.  His poetic prose is hypnotic and make the book near impossible to put down.  I read it into the wee hours, only forcing myself to put it down at 3 am,  However, I kept going over the book in my mind ad got very little sleep.  The next night, I finished it, thinking I would get a better nights sleep.  LOL! That didn’t happen. Drew is a very memorable character and will stay with me a long time to come.  The book left me wondering how he is as a now middle aged man.

This book is a whirlwind and one that I highly recommend.  I do think it only fair to warn you, that “Sex Drugs, and Spiritual Enlightenment is not appropriate for those who offend easily.  As the title suggests, it is full of sex and profanity.  However, I found it heartfelt, honest, and true to the human condition. It’s bound to become a cult classic!

I give it 5/5 stars!

About Karuna DasKaruna Das


Karuna Das is the pen and spirit name of Kyle Bostian. Born in Wisconsin, he grew up in Massachusetts and now resides in Pennsylvania, but he lives wherever he happens to be at that moment and feels at home everywhere in the universe. He holds a BA in English and an MFA in Playwriting. In addition to his dramatic writing, he’s published the sci-fi novel Kat’s Cradle as well as short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. He and life partner Ti share their house with five wonderfully wacky cats.

Website: https://www.karunadaswriter.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarunaDasWriter
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/karunadaswriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karunadaswriter/

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Sex Drugs and Spiritual Enlightenment by Karuna Das

Nov 20

19

Runaways Of Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe- Review

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on November 19, 2020
Posted in Book Tours • Books Read in 2020 • Coming of Age • Dragons • Young Adult  | Tagged With: , , , | 2 Comments

Runaways Of Missing Lake by Tanya FyfeThe Runaways Of Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe

Publisher:  Kindle Direct Press (September 1,, 2020)
Category: Young Adult, Teen, Fantasy, Dragons
Tour dates: Oct-Nov, 2020
ISBN: 9798681416005
Available in Print and ebook, 394 pages
The Runaways of Missing Lake

Description Runaways Of Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe


Luke Houser and his friends enter their junior year at Missing Lake High School under extremely unusual circumstances after a tremendous forest fire kept the community on edge for months. The memory of the fire permeates all aspects of everyone’s lives, including those of the incredible secret dragon family who live up north. Luke makes a new canine friend through his step-mom’s veterinary clinic and Chase plays an important role despite not being one of the family’s beloved sled dogs.

The silver dragon, Zagros has some serious news for his young Dragoneer that will impact the entire dragon realm, particularly the young dragons, Helios and Cassiel. Luke has to process this information all while a crisis unfolds during English class. Luke has to make some serious choices that challenge the sometimes awkward sixteen-year-old but he cannot share them with anyone without risking the discovery of the magnificent dragons.

This is the fourth book in the Missing Lake series that follows a reluctantly intrepid young man’s journey into adulthood with his family, friends, dogs, cats and dragons by his side.

My Thoughts Secrets Abound Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe


‘The Runaways of Missing Lake’ is the fourth book in Tanya Fyfe’s ‘Missing Lake’ series.  You can see my review for the third book in the series, “Secrets Abound Missing Lake’ here.

In the opening chapter of ‘The Runaways of Missing Lake’, we learn that there had been wild fires over summer break and the town of Missing Lake was evacuated.  Luckily the town did not loose their homes but they did need to deal with smoke damage.

When school started, Luke and many of his friends were in Ms. Tanner’s English class.  They had her the year before as well.  She likes to had them examines songs and their meanings in groups.  One of the songs is ‘Eleanor Rigby’ by the Beatles and there wasn’t much enthusiasm for it.  However, the next song had better discussions, called sharing sessions.  It was ‘Run Runaway’ by Slade.  I love how Fyfe sneaks pop culture into her writing.  Of course, I grew up with these songs but the kids of Missing Lake did not.  It’s fun to read their discussions of the songs.

One day in class, they are discussing ‘Run Runaway’ when all of a sudden Ms. Tanner collapses on Luke and he caught her.  Luckily some of the kids had just taken CPR class so while Luke and his other classmates worked on her one student ran to get an adult and another called 911.  It turned out Ms. Tanner had a heart attack.  This came up quite often in the story.

The dragons appeared in this book much more than in book 3 which made me very happy.  We learned that the dragons are even more affected by climate change than humans and much of the other wild life.  That is because the dragons are near extinction.  They need to make sure that humans do not know of their existence, the only exception are their human dragoneers. Luke is dragoneer to Zagos, the father of two small child dragons.  Since he is a teen, his father and step-mother also know of their existence.

A lot of things happen with the dragons in this book and keeps Luke busy with them and his own teenage issues.  ‘The Runaways of Missing Lake’ is an excellent coming of age story that is enhanced by the world building of the dragons.  Tanya Fyfe really gets inside her characters so readers can really get to know them.  Her scenes with the town and dragons are vivid and really captures the readers imagination.  She pulled me in from page one and I became a resident of Missing Lake as I read.  ‘The Missing Lake’ series is written for young adults however; I am in my 50’s and adore it! I rarely read young adult novels.  I hope she continues it with a book five!  I highly recommend it and give it a well deserved 5 stars!

About Tanya FyfeRunaways Of Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe


Award winning author, Tanya Fyfe was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada and trained and performed as a professional figure skater and coach for many years. After working briefly as an English Teacher in Japan, she met her husband, Dr.Alistair Fyfe and moved to North Dakota in 1994.

She completed her BSc and then got accepted into veterinary school in Saskatchewan which she graduated from in 2005. Since then she has worked as a veterinarian in ND and Montana.

Tanya has written stories since she was a little girl and enjoyed completing a course with the Children’s Institute of Literature several years ago. She began writing her teen fiction series in 2013 which began with Lost and Found in Missing Lake. The Dragons of Missing Lake followed and then Secrets Abound in Missing Lake came next. Around the time of publication she started selling real estate in Montana (because, clearly, she was not busy enough) but was still able to jump back into the story to complete Book 4, The Runaways of Missing Lake.

She enjoys hanging out with her characters and tries to give readers a sense of what it is truly like to live in the beautiful mountains of western Montana. She enjoys spending time on any golf course with her husband and they canoe, hike and ride horses as well. They share their world with 5 adorable cats, several horses and 3 ridiculously personable ferrets.

Website: https://tanyafyfe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanya.fyfe.9
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tanyafyfe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyafyfe/

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Giveaway Runaways Of Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe


This giveaway is for 1 copy each for 3 winners and is open to Canada and the U.S. only. The winners will have the choice between print and ebook. This giveaway ends November 26, 2020,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted by Rafflecopter only.

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Runaways Of Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe

May 18

23

Secrets Abound Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe: Review

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on May 23, 2018
Posted in Book Tours • Books Read in 2018 • Children's Books • Coming of Age • Young Adult Books  | Tagged With: , , , | 6 Comments

Secrets Abound Missing Lake by Tanya FyfeSecrets Abound Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe


Publisher:  Create Space (April 27, 2017)
Category: Fantasy, Paranormal, Dragons, Young Adult
Tour dates: Apr/May, 2018
ISBN: 978-1545370308
Available in Print and ebook,342 pages

Secrets Abound in Missing Lake

2018 Independent Press Awards: Distinguished Favorite  for Teen Fiction

In the third book in the acclaimed teen fiction, ‘Missing Lake’ series, Luke Houser is approaching his sixteenth birthday as well as summer vacation in the tiny mountain community of Missing Lake. He continues to try to find balance between real life with friends and their social requirements with the secret world of the mystical dragons.

Luke faces challenges with one of his beloved sled dogs as well as with Zagros, the majestic silver dragon, when he has to make choices that could lead to potential disaster. As the summer unfolds, so do more secrets in all aspects of Luke’s life and he tries to make sense of everything happening around him.

This is the third book in the series which shares Luke’s awkward and yet charming journey through adolescence with his beloved team of huskies, his friends near and far, and two dragon eggs that are going to hatch in the middle of nowhere.

My Thoughts Secrets Abound Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe


I have a secret…I have been in love with dragons for as long as I can remember.  I

Bill & Suanne with Peter Yarrow

played Peter, Paul, and Mary’s song ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ to the point that the vinyl wore out.  I still love the song.  You may have noticed the photo of Bill and me with Peter Yarrow on my Facebook.  He was here in Vancouver, promoting his new book, ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’.  Bill and I were the only adults in the store without children.  LOL!  We had to meet Peter Yarrow! I love all of his music but he is the one who sparked my imagination with dragons!

When Tanya Fyfe approached me to review her book ‘Secrets Abound Missing Lake’, I jumped at the chance.  I only had to see the dragons on the cover, to want to read it.  I normally don’t choose books to read from the cover.  I also only very occasionally read children’s and young adult books.

‘Secrets Abound Missing Lake’ lives up to the cover!

Luke is a teenager who has lived through his parents’ divorce and being moved around.  They lived in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where his mother still lives but then he moves with his father to Bismarck North Dakota.  He settles in and makes friends only to move again with his father and step-mother, Jackie to Missing Lake, Montana.  The move was to raise sled dogs and compete in competitions.  It was also to give Jackie a less stressful veterinary practice.  Luckily, Luke is very likeable and makes new friends again.

Luke also is chosen by a dragon, Zagros to be his friend and overseer.  Zagros and his mate Tabatha are also about to become parents, when their two eggs hatch.  There are only a few people who know about the dragon’s existence and it must be kept a secret to protect them.  Luke can’t even tell his best friend or mother.  Luckily his father and Jackie know about them so he has someone to talk to about them.

‘Secrets Abound Missing Lake’ is a delightful coming of age story.  It is full of well written characters that jump off the page.  The descriptions of Vancouver, Bismarck, and Missing Lake really set up the story.  I totally got lost in this book and didn’t want it to end.  This is book three in the ‘Missing Lake’ series and I can hardly wait for book 4.  It can easily be read without reading the first two books but I plan to read them next because I loved this book so much!

If you love coming of age stories, dragons, or just excellent storytelling, ‘Secrets Abound In Missing Lake’ Is a must read! 

5/5

I received the ebook for my honest review.

About Tanya FyfeSecrets Abound Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe


Tanya Fyfe grew up in Canada as a professional figure skater who dreamed of writing books. That dream came true when she wrote and published Lost and Found in Missing Lake in 2014. Now a veterinarian, Dr. Fyfe lives in rural western Montana and is inspired daily by the beauty around her.

She and her husband split time between Montana and North Dakota and enjoy improving their golf games and visiting Hawaii every chance they get. They share their home with charming dogs, inquisitive cats, a herd of horses, and three hilarious ferrets named Phillipa, Calypso, and Luigi.

Website: www.tanyafyfe.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tanyafyfe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lost-and-Found-in-Missing-Lake-578449102259842/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyafyfe/?hl=en

Buy Secrets Abound Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe


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Giveaway Secrets Abound Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe


This giveaway is for one print copy or ebook copy of the book.  Print is available to Canada and the U.S. only but ebook is available worldwide.  This giveaway ends on May 29, 2018.  Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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Secrets Abound in Missing Lake by Tanya Fyfe