Book Reviews
Here at Magnhild Press, we take our book reviews seriously, but more than that, we sincerely appreciate our readers who take the time to write their reviews. Jotting down your impressions and feelings about books you’ve just read to actually write reviews takes some pondering and even a little self-exploration. We encourage reviews, even as simple as, “I liked it,” or “It wasn’t my cup of tea,” so we know what our readers are thinking once they’ve read one of our titles. Thank you, dear readers!
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A Woman Like Eve
We have launch!It’s finally here, and it was worth the wait. Book Five in Djuna Shellam’s juicy and decadent Em Suite Series is now ours for the indulgent brain feast!
I’m not one to give spoilers on what exactly goes down in any novel I read and review–that’s dirty pool. I will say that A Woman Like Eve is faithfully true to the series and a deeper reflection of all of the characters (Em, Dot, Prairie, Waverly) we’ve come to cerebrically embrace in the preceding four stanzas.
New characters are introduced–they are sexy, nasty, and sometimes essential in helping Eve make it through from one page to the next. Honest to crackers, y’all–it’s as if Brittney Spears read A Woman Like Eve then used it as a blueprint for her post-conservatorship existence.
The story is one of the heftier offerings in the Em Suite Series–but by means is it anything but a slow read. I read before bedtime as a rule and digest about 15-20 pages before shutting down, normally. A Woman Like Eve had me chomping down 35-40 pages each night until I put that additional “Dun-zo!” notch on my bedpost in under two weeks.
Shellam remains creatively spry with the Series and hones her craft to lethal, penetrating depths with each new offering. I don’t know if she has a sixth book planned for the ESS, but she’s already created a nifty, five-galaxy, verbose universe for us to escape to if she doesn’t.
I’ll revisit aplenty!
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Great read! (Nom de Plume)
by Brenda F Wilder
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2023 Verified Purchase
Loved it! Nom de Plume
by Susan Emerson
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2021 Verified Purchase
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by Jerry November 3, 2020 Verified Purchase
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by Juan La Deuce on October 24, 2020
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Wow! Tell me more! (Nom de Plume)Authenticby Cindy on 20 October 2020
I found it (Nom de Plume) Authentic, deeply touching, highly engaging, and just the right amount of mystery to keep one guessing. This book had perfect flow, just enough regional “flavor” and a great storyline. I ADORED this! I wanted to know more about her personal journey in life. I can’t say enough good things about this book. My only letdown was that it ended.
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Like a Rollercoasterby Tami 9 October 2020
Like a rollercoaster, Nom de Plume has many twists, turns, highs, and lows. Mystery, sorrow, laughter, and warmth all wrapped up into an amazing novel. One of your best, Djuna!
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Enjoyable, interesting, and moving (Nom de Plume)* * * * * * * * * *
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Fan-freaking-tastic! (Nom de Plume)Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2021
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Great Read! (The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood)
By Jerry on October 11, 2020. Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2020
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Brace yourself! It’s all coming together… (Dot in the Weeds)
By Jaycee on August 28, 2019
Brace yourself for Shellam’s latest composition in the Em Suite.
Dot in the Weeds, the fourth book, continues the tale of a family of friends. It propels the reader to the past- uncovering the backstories, romantic and humorous, but also tragic. I was intrigued when reading scenes, I recognized from the previous novels, told from a different perspective. While the story is set in the recent past, the flashbacks were so rich and gratifying, I kept wanting for more. The more I learned about the secrets and experiences that shaped these women, the more I rooted for them.
I already miss Em, Eve, Dot, and Prairie and can’t wait to catch up with them in the next installment. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good-hearted, fast-paced story with just the right mix of romance and drama. Happy reading!
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On The Edge of My Seat! (Dot in the Weeds)
By Julie on January 4, 2019
I’m halfway through “Dot in the Weeds” and can’t put it down. I was looking forward to reading this book through the holidays and it did not disappoint. I fell In love with the characters and you will too.
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Treat Yourself! (Dot in the Weeds)
By Juan L. on January 3, 2019
Dot in the Weeds
It is the fourth installment in the Em Suite series from Djuna Shellam. If you haven’t filled the bases of your brain with the first three, don’t worry, as “Dot in the Weeds” will bring it all home with a grand slam.
We learn a great deal more about the enigmatic Dot Baverstock (sic) since she first appeared in the series. There may have been huge, chunky puzzle pieces missing in the past, but Shellam deftly pops them all into place to complete the image. Revelations about what makes Dot tick are meticulously detailed all the way back to her youth and up to present-day Dot.
Surrounded by the people she’s known and loved for many years, everyone pitches in when Dot is in need at a very critical time. The proximity of the others in the comfortable confines of Dot’s digs pollinates relationships from top to bottom. Shellam handles each coupling with surgical precision and just the right amount of angst and levity. You’ll love reading about others falling in love as much as you might fall in love one day yourself.
All is not smooth as a baby’s backside in Dot’s world, however, as loose lips, nefarious shadowy thugs, and the always intrusive gub’ment laws swirl overhead threatening to bring a darkness to the little bit of desert heaven she has carved out for herself.
Em, Eve, and Prairie are there to help guard the castle–but they’ve each got something on their own plate to deal with; will they be able to help Dot in time? There won’t be any “gimme’s” as far as Karma is concerned–everything will have to be earned.
NASA had a moon rocket. Picasso had a paintbrush. Shellam has a typewriter.
Enjoy!
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Romp in The Weeds! (Dot in the Weeds)by Gail B. Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2019 Verified Purchase
An intriguing story with breathtaking action (Mackenna on the Edge)
After completing the first installment of Shellam’s Trilogy, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book in Em Series (Mackenna on the Edge). Mackenna on the Edge begins seventeen years after the breathtaking conclusion of the first novel. We catch up with Em whose haunting past has her spiraling into an abyss. Cleverly woven backstories fill in the missing pieces for the reader and give detailed insight into how the characters have evolved. This emotional, teeth-clenching, enduring love story had its grip on me. I finished reading it in three days and can’t wait to begin the third book in the series. Great job Djuna Shellam!! Keep Writing!
The love story between MacKenna and Alice is gentle (The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood)
By jaycee February 24, 2018
I adore this book. It is a touching and emotional story. The author grapples with social issues of the time, such as gays in the military and sexual harassment. The love story between Mackenna and Alice is gentle, perilous, and at times, humorous. It is a heartwarming journey of two women in love in a world unaccepting. Definitely gets 5 stars from me.
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Well-written, detailed, and enthralling story! (The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood)
By Karen C on November 29, 2017
I so very much enjoyed this (The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood) book! Exceptionally well written. The author dives deep into the characters and brings out their believability. The story is incredibly detailed, putting me right in the setting along with the characters. I loved the characters, got mad at the characters, hurt, and rejoiced with the characters. Bravo! Well done!
I can’t wait to finish reading the next book Makenna on the Edge Book 2.
You HAVE to read this book! (Prairie Fire)
By Patty R on May 13, 2016
Djuna Shellam’s interwoven tales in “The Em Suite” just keep getting better and better! The characters are so well drawn that you will find yourself, in turn, cheering for them and getting absolutely infuriated with them. One thing you will not be is bored, as the stories of Em, Dot, and, of course, Prairie Fire, further unfold. If you read this book and love it as I did, then you must go back and read “The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood” and “Mackenna on the Edge.” You will enjoy a very good read as these books continue the stories of the wonderful “Em Suite” women in a non-sequential and extremely interesting way.
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Excellent story (The Incredible Transformations of ALICE HOLLYWOOD)Wow, what a story. The writing style is seamless, the story engaging, characters interesting. Enjoying the series 🙂
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Shellam’s Hat Trick! (Prairie Fire)“Prairie Fire,” the third book in the Em Suite series from master syllable crafter, Djuna Shellam, burns, churns, yearns, titillates (heavy emphasis on titillates), and once again, dangles a juicy carrot for what is yet to come.
The phrase “oh what a tangled web we weave” doesn’t begin to cover the subject matter throughout — though deception isn’t necessarily intentional, just a byproduct of everybody’s sweatpants getting torn off on whatever day contains a “y.”
Once again, Shellam takes the exposition of character to unparalleled proportions. We know everything about everyone, and then we don’t, but then we do even more so.
Though my mental incapacities preclude me from absorbing too many stimuli in one reading sitting, I clipped through “Prairie Fire” at a torrid pace thanks largely to the multi-textured time shifts and timeless titillation. Did I mention the titillation yet?
You’ll enjoy the dickens out of Em, Eve, Prairie, Fiona, Dot, and the whole damn gang. De-lish!
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Another fascinating book from a talented author (Mackenna on the Edge)Wow, what a story. It meanders through different periods in time seamlessly, all the time answering questions that have been simmering in the background. It builds nicely to a conclusion but still leaves plenty for the next book in the series to explore. Very entertaining.
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Great character creation! (The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood)
By “Luvagoodread” February 4, 2014
This was a well-thought-out storyline. Shellam’s phrasing is so entertaining and the story of Alice unfolds in a most interesting and in-depth manner. I loved this book! It is not your usual fly-by-night lesbian romance. A delight for all readers!
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Shellam Reloads, Unloads, Obliterates Target (Mackenna on the Edge)Far be it from me to not in some way make everything about myself, but here we are. I am a slow reader. The reasons are many (slow-witted, lazy, distracted by catnip frogs, binge eater, etc.).
That being said, I ripped through “Mackenna on the Edge” faster than its predecessor, “The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood” (which I had already given high marks to), because the story grooved along so naturally, so invitingly, and winking all the while as if to suggest I might be getting lucky on every forthcoming page.
If there’s a “series” of anything, I will not get involved without starting at the very beginning. But Shellam so deftly crafts her stories and characters, that each book could stand on its own merit and be enjoyed being read first or second.
Shellam takes her characters so deep, that she might get called before Congress over juicing allegations. Many minor characters are introduced along the way and, in just a page or two, take on a remarkable backstory all of their own. Without giving anything away, a happy seaman ascends at “Mackenna’s” end as a reward for a good deed.
I’m about to embark on the third book in the series, “Prairie Fire,” and am certain Shellam will again not disappoint pushing me to emotional depths I simply don’t have the ability to reach on my own in the three-dimensional world.
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Format: Kindle Edition
Keen details galore infused into deep characters thrust into fantastically difficult situations . There’s something for everyone—love, humor, fear, hope, and tactical hanky-panky. It was easy to get sucked into Shellam’s wonderfully descriptive settings and exchanges of fanciful dialogue shared between friends and enemies, masters and subordinates, and the sober and un-sober. If you were only going to read one more book, make it this one.
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A vivid tale! (The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood)This is a truly unique and moving story of two most interesting women. You don’t have to be a lesbian to enjoy this tale involving homophobia in the military in the seventies. (As a side note, I have a lesbian sister who was in the military slightly later in time, and I think she went through a lot of what Alice and Em experienced. This book made me appreciate more fully how difficult it must have been for her.) Djuna Shellam makes her characters come alive and writes in such a way that you feel you are watching the events unfold in front of you. Read this book before you read “McKenna on the Edge,” which is the sequel. And then let’s hope Djuna continues to write more!
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Even better than the first! (Mackenna on the Edge)
By Patti R—July 14, 2014
This sequel to “The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood” does not disappoint! In fact, I liked this continuation of the story of Alice and Em even better than the first book. Djuna Shellam’s ability to create vivid characters and scenes is still present, and the story builds throughout the book to a shattering conclusion. Keep ’em coming, Djuna!
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A strong book (The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood)
By Anne E (Norway) May 19, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I found the start a bit slow, and with too many details. I was impatient and wanted the main characters to open up for their relationship. After I while I liked the details, and the “movie” in my head was very clear. I must say it was increasingly more difficult to close the book, as I needed to know what happened next. Throughout the book, new stories unfold, and really incorporated into the main story. I found the language of Alice rather strong, but all in all: I really liked the way the stories were nested together. A good “plot”. And I loved the end to be “the beginning”.
The story is from the mid-70s, and the book can also be read like a history book of how homophobia could be life-threatening and ruin people’s lives.
The title could have been “The decisive moment”, this book has many decisive moments.
Djuna Shellam, I look forward to your next book!
Via Goodreads
by Nicole H (South Africa) May 26, 2019 (The Em Suite)
It was amazing…
Do yourself a favour and get this book and the rest that follow! Brilliantly written, and fantastic storyline. I couldn’t put the books down. There are so many positives, the characters have depth and I loved them all.
All the books were easy to read and follow, great storylines. I was never bored and even stopped watching TV so I could make time to read. Worth the read.
Dot in the Weeds
It was amazing…
Already wrote a review of the first book, please go read it. All the books are brilliantly written and put together. Couldn’t put them down. Enjoyed every minute that I spent reading, so sad to have read the last book as I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends that I had come to know so well.
Via Magnhild Press Facebook Page
by Wenley O (The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood)
Expect to put off a few things you intend to do when you pick up a book by Djuna. In Alice Hollywood, Djuna will introduce you to a few women you will find difficult to walk away from. Share the experience with your partner or selfishly turn the pages yourself.
The characters easily become familiar and their ability to reach you and keep you entertained is what a reader expects when opening a book by Djuna. You will flirt with fantasy and indulge in forgotten passions and you WILL want more. MacKenna on the Edge will remind you, love is its most precious when it is given willingly without regret.
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Awesome book (The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood)I was recommended to read this by a friend so I did not know what to expect. Starting the book I found it a little slow, but as I read I started to get more captivated by it. This book is about Alice her point of few, but you can soon tell who the main character really is. And I was soon just reading to figure out what happened to her. This book has a roller coaster of plot twists and will keep you interested. The author does a fantastic job in the telling of the story. And I will definitely be reading the next one.
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Via Email (because of Amazon’s narrow criteria for paying readers to post reviews)
by TM
August 28, 2019
Dot in the Weeds
DITW included a treasure trove of emotions, old friends, and surprises! Djuna’s words led this reader down a path of tears, belly laughs, suspenseful moments, and mushy-gushy feelings of love!! It’s a delightful tale and a true page-turner!
by TM
May 31, 2018
The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood and Mackenna on the Edge
I’ve been an avid reader for most of my life and I’ve easily read a few thousand books. After awhile, many books begin to sound the same and, I must admit that I get bored with them. Then you hear about a different author and decide to check out her craft. I was blown away when I read Djuna Shellam’s first book in the Em Suite series. It was called The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood and it was a page-turner from the very beginning until the end. As I read this book, Djuna introduced me to Alice, her sister, Eve, Mackenna, Dot, and so many other colorful characters. Djuna has the rare talent of being able to bring her characters off the page and into our hearts. Her writing is pleasantly descriptive and very magical at the same time. Well, I must admit that Mackenna, also known as Em, was my favorite character in this wonderful novel. So I decided to read the next book in the series which is Mackenna on the Edge. In this second novel, I really got to know Em much better and found out that she’s just like the rest of us. She’s known sadness, fear, love and so many other emotions throughout her life but has become a stronger woman because of these hurdles. She finds love, peace, and, a new kind of, happiness as the book progresses while she faces a few demons along the way as well. I will continue to read Djuna’s other books as her writing makes me laugh, cry, and fall deeply in love with her new and old characters. Thank you, Djuna, for exceeding my expectations throughout your writing and I can’t wait to read your next book, Prairie Fire!
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by IMS
Almost from the beginning of this story, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The characters, slowly developed, and really grew on me to a point where I felt I knew them and actually cared about what happened to them. Yes, the beginning is a bit slow, but I actually didn’t mind that. It’s like a sloooow burning ember that suddenly erupts into a raging fire. Sometimes books just jump into the “good stuff” so quickly you almost don’t even care. By the time this story’s smoldering embers got hold of me, I was hooked and happily swept up into the flames.
To me, Alice is a complex and somewhat tortured character, but even though the story is about her, it’s so much more which is something I really liked about the story. The rest of the cast of characters add so much to the ever-churning plot. And what I liked the most about the story, is that unlike too many books in this genre, it wasn’t a one-dimensional story with one-dimensional characters. There are so many luscious layers that give the story so much depth. I also enjoyed the organization of the story, which I suspect is what kept me turning those pages. Chapters didn’t just go from one scene to the next obvious scene. Some people may not like the suspense that creates, but I do.
The Incredible Transformations of Alice Hollywood is not just a love story. It’s a comedy, a tragedy, a suspense-filled mystery, and yes, a love story. Some scenes made me laugh, some had me holding my breath, and I will even reluctantly admit to crying. By the end, all I could think was, what? It’s over!? I truly enjoyed it, and I think I’ll read it again—after I read Shellam’s next book, that is. I’m dying to see what happens next!
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