Book Review: Circumstances of Childhood by John W. Howell

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Circumstances of Childhood
John Howell
Print Length: 299 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Keewaydin Lane Books (October 1, 2017)
Publication Date: October 1, 2017
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B075SKWHCR

BLURB:  When a former pro football star and broadcaster, now a Wall Street maven, is accused of insider trading, will he be able to prove his innocence and expose those who are guilty?

Greg and his boyhood pal had dreamed of big success in professional football and then later in business. Greg was the only one to live the dream. Now the founder of an investment fund Greg is faced with a routine audit finding by the SEC. The audit points to irregularities and all the tracks lead to Greg. The justice department hits him with an indictment of 23 counts of fraud, money laundering, and insider trading. His firm goes bust, and Greg is on his own.

His best friend knows he is innocent but has been ordered under penalty of eternal damnation not to help.

REVIEW: This is an engaging story of friendship and brotherhood, and I really liked the way the reader meets Greg in the opening pages. We get a strong sense of his disappointment and embarrassment at the downward turn of events in his life. One day on top of the world, the next in a bar trying to remain unrecognized. This is even more of a poignant tale, knowing that parts of it are based on experiences in the author’s life. He had a good friend who played football with him in High School, and the two hoped to be able to play pro ball.

Keith’s character was also deftly presented, and I had to smile at his bumbling attempts to get his ghostly feet under him. Keith is a newly-minted ghost, and it takes a while for him to figure out just how a ghostly creature can move around. And he really wants to stay as close to Greg as he can, especially when things really start to heat up in Greg’s life.

While the story opens with Greg in the bar after his downfall, it quickly goes back to his childhood with his friend, Keith, and goes forward from there. The reader meets the family that takes Greg in after his father died and his mother went off the rails. Greg learns what a close, loving family can be, and that set him up for success instead of failure.

I liked the direct way the story was laid out with simple sentences and a straightforward story line. I’m not fond of stories that meander, taking the reader down extraneous paths, sometimes leaving them there which adds an element of confusion. There was none of that in Circumstances of Childhood, and it makes for a very satisfying read.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  John Howell began writing as a full-time occupation after an extensive business career. His specialty is thriller novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. His first book, My GRL introduces the exciting adventures of the book’s central character, John J. Cannon. The second Cannon novel, His Revenge, continues the adventure, while the final book in the trilogy, Our Justice, launched in September 2016.

A stand alone novel, Circumstances of Childhood was published October 1st, 2017.  The Contract is written with Gwen Plano and released June of 2018. All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in Lakeway Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

You can find out more about John by visiting his WEBSITE and AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE * meet him on FACEBOOK  * GOODREADS * LINKED IN * and follow him on TWITTER

Come back on Wednesday when John will be my guest with some advice for new writers. Even us seasoned writers can use a refresher now and then, so I hope you will join us. Until then, be safe, be happy.

24 thoughts on “Book Review: Circumstances of Childhood by John W. Howell”

  1. John W. Howell – South Texas Gulf Coast – I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.
    john howell

    Thank you, Maryann, for taking the time to read and provide this thoughtful review of Circumstances of Childhood. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. I’m looking forward to being with you on Wednesday.

    Reply
    2. John W. Howell – South Texas Gulf Coast – I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.
      john howell

      Thank you, for the visit Dale. 😁

      Reply
  3. Darlene – British Columbia, Canada – Writer of children's stories, short stories and travel articles. https://twitter.com/#!/supermegawoman http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=201634059868404&id=631897250&ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/pages/Darlene-Foster-Writer/362236842733
    Darlene Foster

    A great review of John’s book.

    Reply
    2. John W. Howell – South Texas Gulf Coast – I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.
      john howell

      Thank you, Darlene 😊

      Reply
  4. GP – Everett Smith served with the Headquarters Company, 187th Regiment, 11th A/B Division during WWII. This site is in tribute to my father, "Smitty." GP is a member of the 11th Airborne Association. Member # 4511 and extremely proud of that fact!
    GP Cox

    I enjoy talking to John on his blog. I’m always harassing him for have a far better imagination than I do! He’s quite a writer, as you can attest to.

    Reply
      1. John W. Howell – South Texas Gulf Coast – I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.
        john howell

        It was great meeting you as well, Maryann. Hope to do it again.

        Reply
    2. John W. Howell – South Texas Gulf Coast – I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.
      john howell

      Thank you for the visit, GP

      Reply
  5. coldhandboyack – Idaho – Just a fiction writer, trying to reach the world. I write fiction with a strange bent. I live in the world of science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal. Check out my novels: Wild Concept (science fiction) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IIWQ10A Panama (paranormal) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K7Q949A Arson (science fiction) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LQ99QN6 The Cock of the South (fantasy) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P4H37WC
    CS Boyack

    Wonderful review of a story I thoroughly enjoyed.

    Reply

  7. Pingback: Five Things to Remember as a New Writer – Maryann Writes

  8. Author Jan Sikes – Texas – I am an award-winning author. I love creative writing and I love music. I've published four books that are true stories written in fiction format. They are entertaining like fiction, but everything did actually happen. I've also published a book of poetry and art, nine fiction short stories, and a paranormal romance series (The White Rune Series). I enjoy promoting other authors and Texas music artists!
    Jan Sikes

    What a fantastic review of John’s book. You nailed it, Maryann!! I haven’t seen you in years and it’s great to connect through your blog!

    Reply
    1. John W. Howell – South Texas Gulf Coast – I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.
      john howell

      Thank you, Jan. We met at the Mckinney book fair and Maryann kindly suggested a review. Thanks for stopping by,

      Reply
    2. mcm0704
      mcm0704

      Thanks for the kind words about my review, Jan. I, too, am happy that we have social media outlets with which to stay connected to friends that we don’t see in person often enough.

      Reply
  9. patriciaruthsusan – India – I'm an American citizen married to an Indian citizen and living in Pune, India. My husband was retired and wanted to move back to India. Our two children, a son and a daughter, were working and indepentdent so I quit my job and we moved. I had been a primary teacher for some years and also worked in offices and at call centers. My husband had been an engineer and worked in R&D. We have been living in India since 2000. My husband has owned a flat (apartment) here for some years and we have many family members and good friends here.
    patriciaruthsusan

    Congratulations, John, on this great review by Maryann. A lovely review, Maryann. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Reply
    2. John W. Howell – South Texas Gulf Coast – I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.
      John howell

      Thank you, Suzanne. Thank you for stopping

      Reply

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