Book Reviews

"The Written Word is my Vocation and my Passion."

Donna Russo Morin's review experience spans almost two decades, multiple genres, the ecstasy of magnificent literature and the agony of trash. She believes that a reviewer's job is to inform the reader of what to cherish as treasure and what to bury in the backyard where only rabid animals may find it. The following is a complete listing of her reviews, providing links where available.

ForeWord Magazine (current staff reviewer)

Million Dollar Baby -Amy Patricia Meade, Midnight Ink Review

A Dream of Drowned Hollow -Lee Barwood, Double Dragon Publishing Review

The Drowned Violin -Mel Malton, Napoleon Publishing Review

A Writer's San Francisco: A Guided Journey for the Creative Soul -Eric Maisel, illustrations by Paul Madonna,
New World Library Review

Melody of Vengeance -Michael A. Black, illustrations by Tim Faurote, Echelon Press Publishing Review

Obit -Anne Emery, ECW Press Review

Blood and Circuses -Kerry Greenwood, Poison Pen Press Review

Maiden Rock -Mary Logue, Bleak House Review

Fiddle Game -Richard A. Thompson, Poison Pen Press Review

The Book of Beasts -Bernice Friesen, Coteau Books Review

River Ghosts -B. R. Robb, Five Star Review

The Outsider -Ann H. Gabhart, Revell Books Review

The Ruffian on the Stair -Gary Newman, Soho Constable Coming Soon


Novelspot (www.novelspot.com; current staff reviewer)

Lisey's Story -Stephen King, Scribner Review

Abundance, A Story of Marie Antoinette -Sena Jeter Naslund, William Morrow Review

Jack's Wife -Eve Pollard, William Morrow Review

Cell -Stephen King, Scribner Review

Back to Wando Passo -David Payne, William Morrow Review

Memnon -Scott Oden, Medallion Press Review

Angels and Demons -Dan Brown, Pocket Star Review

The Icon -Neil Olson, Harper Collins Publishing Review

A Breath of Snow and Ashes -Diana Gabaldon, Dell Review

The Fiery Cross -Diana Gabaldon, Dell Review

Drums of Autumn -Diana Gabaldon, Dell Review

Voyager -Diana Gabaldon, Dell Review

Dragonfly in Amber -Diana Gabaldon, Dell Review

Outlander -Diana Gabladon, Dell Review

The Price of Peace -Jennifer DiCamillo, Publish America Review

The Contrary Contessa -Susan Marie Knight, Awe-Struck, E-books Review

Skylark -Jo Beverly, Signet Review


The Milwaukee Journal

Outerbanks -Anne Rivers Siddons, Harper Collins (book jacket quote)

Midnight -Dean Koontz, Putnam

The Night of the Moonbow -Thomas Tryon, Knopf

He, She, and It -Marge Piercy, Knopf


Hartford Courant

Koko -Peter Straub, Dutton


The Providence Journal

Alaska -James Michener, Random House


Inside Books Magazine

In Country -Bobbie Ann Mason, Harper and Row

Inheritance -Judith Michael, Pocket Books

A Slipping Down Life -Anne Tyler, Berkeley

The Ninth Budda -Daniel Easterman, Doubleday

Silk Road -Jeanne Larsen, Henry Holt

Picture This -Joseph Heller, Ballantine

Call Down the Moon -Joyce Thies, Pocket Books

From This Day Onward -Elizabeth Kary, Jove

Insult to Injury -Bernard L. Raizner, Avon

Dr. Snow, How the FBI Nailed an Ivy League Coke Ring -Carol Saline, New American Library

Hustle, Sweet Love -Maggie Davis, Paper Jacks


Mystery Notebook

A Cold Red Sunrise -Stuart M. Kaminsky, Scribner

Carolina Skeletons -David Stout, Mysterious Press

The Telling of Lies -Timothy Findley, Dell

In Broad Daylight -Harry N. MacLean, Harper and Row

Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, Then You Die -Franics M. Nevens, Jr., Mysterious Press