Readers are talking…
…about The Good Shepherd!
4 out of 5 stars from Tiffany Ferrell for Reader’s Favorite!!!
The Good Shepherd: Werewolf Warden Series, Book One takes place in the early 1900s in Massachusetts. Leona Schaeffer is the daughter of two Wardens, which is a group of gifted people with abilities that help them protect humans from werewolves and help lycanthropes who are without a pack to live normal lives. Her family is killed in a fire the summer of 1903, shortly after assisting a lycanthrope boy to a sanctuary for his first change. Without a family or guidance, Leona wanders the wilderness and towns until she is taken in by a wealthy widower in Framingham. Two years later after a failed attempt to help a werewolf and having to kill him for the two lives he took, Leona gets a telegraph from a Jacob Goldberg (also a Warden) to come to her Uncle Ezra at once in Boston. Hoping to be trained in the Warden Code, she departs for the city, a very different environment from her own. She meets her Uncle Ezra, only to be disappointed that not only will he not teach her the Warden Code (which her parents never had a chance to do), but that he has become normalized and lives the life of a lawyer with a wife and uppity stepdaughter.
I really enjoyed reading The Good Shepherd! D. Marie Prokop writes the characters so well that it’s hard not to like them. Except for Clementine; it took me a while to warm to that brat. The whole plot of the story was amazingly written. I have always had a love of lore and myth so I was on board with werewolves and wardens that shepherd them, yet will take them out if they pose a threat to humankind. I’m really excited to see that this is going to be a series because after the bomb that was dropped about Leona towards the end, I’m dying to read on and find out where life will lead her, and surprisingly wondering if Clementine will change her ways and outlook on life.
…about the Days of the Guardian Trilogy!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Red String from start to finish. Fast paced and engaging, D. Marie Prokop’s writing style holds the readers attention throughout. With diverse, complex and relatable characters, the Red String is a delight to read, providing a story that not just young adults, but adults of all ages can enjoy. Can’t wait to read the next installment! -Kyle D. Garrett, author of Coma, California
The story has a lot of different elements to explore in it: music, a good helping of neuroscience, and yes, even knitting. But it gets way deeper than that, with plenty to discuss in regards to sacrifice, free will, the true cost of a power. There narrative is peppered with literary quotes that lend an air of credibility to the topics explored. -Ethan A. Cooper, author of What Happened On My Space Vacation
I was hooked from the very beginning as events in Ainsling’ s life promised to change her world forever. The characters come alive in this high-tech medical futuristic novel with twists sprinkled throughout its pages. From the very beginning of this book, my interest was captured; my curiosity piqued. Great book, Ms. Prokop. I will be watching for the next one. -Anonymous
This book was so engaging that I nearly stayed up all night reading it. I finished reading the book a couple weeks ago and am still marveling over the way the author brought neuroengineering, human subjects protections, and Christianity into an intriguing story. She even brought into play her other interests, knitting and guitar. Previously, I worked with a group of clinicians and researchers in a neuroengineering collaborative. Now my job is in management of human subjects protections. The author captured those topics beautifully and as if she was a long-time pro even with names of key figures in neuro research. Impressive. Looking forward to the next book. -Cathy H.
The first book in the series was an enjoyable read, but things seem to wrap up so nicely, I almost didn’t read the second. I am glad I did! The plot in the second book took some twists and turns and got more complicated and captivating. Since I was reading on my kindle and not paying attention to my progress, I was disappointed to find I had reached the end (a total cliff hanger). I can’t wait to read Volume 3! -W. Knight
…and The Shorter Things Collection!
Five Star Review!!
Reviewed by Sherri Fulmer Moorer for Reader’s Favorite…
Are you looking for a good, quick read that has a variety of stories and poems filled with suspense and intrigue? Look no further than The Shorter Things Collection: Poems, Flash Fiction, and Short Stories by D. Marie Prokop. This wonderful anthology includes a wide variety of adult pieces under five thousand words that will appeal to most types of readers, from sci-fi to fantasy to mystery to poetry. This imaginative compilation of stories inspired by writing prompts and workshop exercises contributes to a fascinating read filled with imagination, intrigue and the mixed emotions that make up this thing we call life.
I really enjoyed The Shorter Things Collection: Poems, Flash Fiction, and Short Stories because the pieces resonated with me. They were imaginative and fun but also filled with meaning that connects with readers at a personal level. Every one of the poems and stories resonated with me in some way that I could personally identify with. D. Marie Prokop does an excellent job not only of channeling meaning and emotion into her stories but reaching readers so they can take a deeper meaning from each piece. These weren’t just random pieces but are linked through the search for greater meaning. I found them highly relatable and inspiring. Prokop is an excellent writer with a talent for creating imaginative characters and tales from real-life emotion. Very well written and well done. I highly recommend this book to add to your personal collection of great stories that will live on long after you finish reading them!
Loved this collection. It is dark, but in a very beautiful way. The flash pieces pack an incredible punch in a succinct package, the poetry is emotional and beautiful, and the longer pieces are intriguing and satisfying. The writing style borders literary prose as it is quite artistic and lyrical. A pleasure to read. -Jae M.
I was struck by the intensity of the poetry, enough that I want to go back and read again. I’m personally not a fan of flash fiction or short stories as they frequently leave me wanting. However, I kept finding myself wondering what was going to be next as the breadth of topics varied significantly. I found myself curious to see what each next story would be, so read longer than intended on multiple occasions. Looking forward to see what the author does in the next iteration! -Joy R
…and The Baiji!
Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers’ Favorite
The Baiji by D. Marie Prokop is a short children’s story about the culture of China, the environment that the Chinese people live in, particularly along the Yangtze River, and a friendship found and lost. I love how D. Marie Prokop is so engaged in the education process for children that not only are questions asked for comprehension, but immediately the reader is given the pronunciations of Chinese words associated with reading The Baiji. If you want your child to learn about other cultures, begin with The Baiji by D. Marie Prokop.
…and Tigress!
Tigress is an entertaining and heartwarming read. I enjoyed how the two stories connected to one another and I liked all of the characters. -Amber Z
A great short read. Funny and action-packed with a nice story-within-a-story twist. Really enjoyed this piece! -Anonymous