Reviews for The Reporter
Intent on finding his career path, a rookie reporter struggles to become a journalist at an Indiana newspaper in 1973.
I really enjoyed this book, finding the style easy to relate to and the content to be fast moving with appropriate twists and turns to maintain interest and the desire to find out what really happened. I loved how its set in 1973 and getting a view to see and feel what it was like for journalist in that time! Great story, interesting characters with lots of problems to solve. This is one stimulating book.
– Rubie Clark, NetGalley
Reviews for The Hitchhike
“
I enjoyed reading this account of Mark Paul Smith’s hitchhiking adventure through Europe in 1972. I remember around that time reading Michener’s “The Drifters” and Smith’s account is the real-life version of the novel. Recommended.”
– Len Joy, author of Everyone Dies Famous and Dry Heat
5 stars. “I loved traveling Europe in the early 1970s with Mark Paul Smith in his book, “The Hitchhike.” No, I wasn’t with Mark in person, but it felt like it. Thanks for the adventure. This is an easy and very entertaining read. I recommend it.”
– Donna O’Donnell Figurski, author of Prisoners Without Bars
“The Hitchhike by Mark Paul Smith is a captivating and inspiring read that is perfect for anyone seeking a transformative travelogue that explores the universal human desire for peace and understanding, and will resonate with readers who appreciate stories of self-discovery, cultural immersion, and the power of human connection.”
– Kate Anthony, bookseller
Reviews for Honey and Leonard
“Smith (Rock and Roll Voodoo) takes on the topic of love in one’s twilight years in this uplifting tale. Widow Honey Waldrop and widower Leonard Atkins begin the novel happily in love despite Leonard’s battle with the early stages of Alzheimer’s and his scheming niece Gretchen’s insistence that she keep power of attorney over him. But when Leonard’s blood work shows an unusually high level of arsenic, Honey becomes a person of interest for allegedly poisoning him. The couple flees the law in favor of a romantic trip to Paris, insisting that the arsenic is from Leonard’s years of working with pesticides on farms, and their story becomes international front-page news, billed as “the Bonnie and Clyde of love.” Their love grows as they navigate newfound fame, failing health, and a foreign city; memory lapses and greedy heirs vying for inheritance money add depth. Though the prose is somewhat stilted, the premise is refreshing enough to keep readers engaged. Smith imbues his story of elders in love with plenty of rakish charm.”
“The story of Honey and Leonard was beautiful. It is a story of love and its importance on every level of life. The portrayal of the condition of Alzheimer’s disease was very eye opening. I enjoyed reading this book.”
– Laurice McClung, for NetGalley
“This was such a beautiful story. It was a reminder that love is all important…through everything. It was an eye opener re: Alzheimer’s and all the effects.”
— Lisa Garrett, for NetGalley
5 stars. “Honey and Leonard are in their seventies when they fall in love. Leonard is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and Honey thinks her love will cure him. This was a great book and I highly recommend reading this book.”
— Megan Rivera (Educator), for NetGalley
Reviews for Rock and Roll Voodoo
– Belinda Knight for NetGalley
“It was quite an interesting book, well written and engaging. I liked the style of writing and the plot even if I had some issues in connecting to the characters. Recommended.”
– Anna Maria Giacomasso for NetGalley