Review of In Lieu of Flowers

Post by **Ukaegbu Confidence** » 10 May 2024, 07:19

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "In Lieu of Flowers" by Keith Steinbaum.]

5 out of 5 stars

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In Lieu of Flowers by Keith Steinbaum is a work of fiction that tells the story of a stolen Romanian/Jewish child. Are the events in life predestined or heavily manipulated by unknown forces? Do dark forces even exist? Are these forces capable of influencing the entire life of a human being? These are some questions I had while reading this book.

In 1920, in Bucharest, a man, Gunari, lived there. He was a cobbler struggling to get by the day, providing for himself and his family. He had an old, tardy horse that caused his work delivery to be anything but smooth, causing his clients to threaten to pursue another person's services. Thinking of how he would survive with no money to upgrade his services, Gunari was approached by a man who claimed to have a deal to interest him in making some money. In this desperate state, he decided to indulge him and know what offer he had for him. This offer required Gunari to steal a particular baby and deliver it to the man in exchange for a lot of money. The innocence in him reacted, claiming he could not perform such an act; however, desperate times call for desperate actions, and he finally accepted the man's deal. He succeeded in stealing the baby on the day of the theft; however, a series of events followed, and he did not meet his end of the bargain. Fast forward to July 31st, 2017; it is just a day before the 74th anniversary of Petre's death, and strange things are happening all over the place. Could this be a prophecy working to fulfil itself? Was it solely a coincidence that it had to be Petre Levy who needed to be stolen? If you want to know what transpired that caused this deal to fall short and the following events, grab a copy of this book.

I found it ironic that Gunari agreed to steal a child. As someone whose wife was expecting a baby, you would think that his first instinct would be to protect children, as he was expecting one, but seeing him accept that deal amazed me. I understood that people would do anything if food was put on their table or if it gave them a remotely better life than they already had. On the day he conducted the theft, Gunari prayed to God for help, and I remember screaming, "How on earth do you pray to God to help you successfully inflict such grief on someone else?" I felt pity for Naomi, Petre's mother. I kept asking why it had to be her son that all of the events in this book happened to, from being stolen as a kid to becoming an airman and dying on duty. This book was well written. With each line read, I could feel the emotions of the characters. It was as if I was living through these emotions with the characters. When Naomi received a prophecy that her child would be stolen two more times, she felt devastated. This is excellent writing on the author's part. The anxiety she felt and the flight reaction were excellently expressed with words.

The author's concise writing will be gripping to anyone who picks up this book. Even if you are not a fan of the genre, the start of the book was gripping, and there were no dull moments in reading it. There was always something to look forward to. I found nothing to dislike about this book. I loved how the spelling of Petre's name changed when they changed locations. It shows that every aspect of the book was carefully thought out. I give this book a perfect five-out-of-five-star rating. The book had good editing; I only found one error.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the fictional genre. If you also love stories about airmen, there is something for you. If you believe in prophecies, there is also something for you. Readers should be informed that this book contains racism.

******
In Lieu of Flowers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 22 May 2024, 15:11

I have mixed feelings about supernatural thrillers after some bad experiences but this one seems well developed in a story that is effective in channeling the characters' emotions, which make the reader feel immersed in the story. Thank you for your great review!

Post by **Loner Pen** » 28 May 2024, 11:20

Hey there! Just read your review of "In Lieu of Flowers" by Keith Steinbaum. It sounds like a captivating read that delves into the themes of fate, manipulation, and dark forces. Your thoughts on Gunari's conflicting decision to steal a child while expecting one himself intrigued me. The author seems to have done a great job in portraying the characters' emotions, and the overall writing style appears to be concise and gripping. I appreciate your recommendation, and I'll definitely consider giving this book a shot. Thanks for the insightful review! Compelling drama, unfolded with intensity and depth.

Abhishek3m4 · Post by **Abhishek3m4** » 23 Jun 2024, 04:49

This review captures the gripping and emotionally evocative narrative of "In Lieu of Flowers" by Keith Steinbaum, highlighting the moral dilemmas and intense character experiences that make the story compelling. The detailed praise for the author's writing and the book's thoughtful construction underscores its appeal to a wide range of readers.

Timothy Rucinski · Post by **Timothy Rucinski** » 23 Jun 2024, 05:38

From the pages I sampled, the author exhibited a fine writing style. Based on the review, I know this is a terrific book. However, I stay away from books that deal with anything that features harming children, such as baby-napping, so I would have a very difficult time reading this based on the subject matter. Congrats to the author for tackling an interesting subject and for earning BOTD honors.

Post by **Ajain12** » 23 Jun 2024, 05:44

"In Lieu of Flowers" by Keith Steinbaum offers a gripping tale of destiny, desperation, and dark forces, with well-developed characters and emotional depth, earning a five-star recommendation.

Post by **Magdalyne chebet** » 23 Jun 2024, 05:47

"In Lieu of Flowers" by Keith Steinbaum follows the story of a stolen Romanian/Jewish child, exploring predestination and dark forces. Set in 1920 Bucharest, it raises intriguing questions about fate and manipulation. I’m adding this captivating book to my future reading list. Thank you for the review.

Isaac Ozo-okafor · Post by **Isaac Ozo-okafor** » 23 Jun 2024, 05:55

The name "In Lieu of Flowers" sparks a feeling of excitement and expectations within me, realizing the storyline is somewhat engraved in slightly unpleasant moments, even makes it more interesting

Hazel Arnaiz · Post by **Hazel Arnaiz** » 23 Jun 2024, 06:36

Moral obligation and predestination appear to be subjects addressed in the story. The dilemma of justifying a twisted deed if it advances a higher good appears to be explored in the book.

Post by **Priya Murugesan** » 23 Jun 2024, 06:56

Based on the review, I believe that this book is well-written and the plot is well-developed. I love to read supernatural thrillers and I think I will enjoy reading this.

Bassey Anthony Akpan · Post by **Bassey Anthony Akpan** » 23 Jun 2024, 07:08

In Lieu of Flowers" by Keith Steinbaum tells the story of the conspiracy that led to the stealing of a Romanian Jewish child. Plagued by poverty and inability to meet his needs and that of his client, Gunari agreed to steal and deliver the said baby after a man approached him with a juicy deal. The lesson here is that despite his desperation, he could not finalize the deal.

Post by **Rebecca De Figueiredo** » 23 Jun 2024, 07:24

In recent years the paranormal and supernatural have increased in popularity, with many TV shows captivating audiences. Keith Steinbaum is fitting in nicely with this new found acceptable of things happening outside of our realm and mixed with what seems like a captivating story, this book must be very readable.

Shiru Elizabeth · Post by **Shiru Elizabeth** » 23 Jun 2024, 07:28

This book, which explores the themes of fate, manipulation, and evil forces, sounds like a compelling read. Congrats on BOTD.

Tomi Ahmed · Post by **Tomi Ahmed** » 23 Jun 2024, 07:29

In Lieu of Flowers by Keith Steinbaum is a compelling and thought-provoking work of fiction that delves into themes of destiny, dark forces, and the moral dilemmas faced in desperate times. The story of Gunari, a cobbler in 1920 Bucharest, who is coerced into stealing a baby for financial gain, challenges readers to ponder the nature of fate and the influence of unseen powers. The emotional depth and intricate plotlines, including the tragic fate of Petre Levy, are skillfully portrayed, making it a gripping read from start to finish. The book's exploration of profound questions, its well-developed characters, and the seamless narrative style earn it a well-deserved five-star rating. I highly recommend this book to fans of fiction, historical narratives, and those intrigued by the complexities of human choices and destiny.

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 23 Jun 2024, 07:55

Ukaegbu Confidence wrote: ↑10 May 2024, 07:19 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "In Lieu of Flowers" by Keith Steinbaum.]

5 out of 5 stars
Share This Review

In Lieu of Flowers by Keith Steinbaum is a work of fiction that tells the story of a stolen Romanian/Jewish child. Are the events in life predestined or heavily manipulated by unknown forces? Do dark forces even exist? Are these forces capable of influencing the entire life of a human being? These are some questions I had while reading this book.

In 1920, in Bucharest, a man, Gunari, lived there. He was a cobbler struggling to get by the day, providing for himself and his family. He had an old, tardy horse that caused his work delivery to be anything but smooth, causing his clients to threaten to pursue another person's services. Thinking of how he would survive with no money to upgrade his services, Gunari was approached by a man who claimed to have a deal to interest him in making some money. In this desperate state, he decided to indulge him and know what offer he had for him. This offer required Gunari to steal a particular baby and deliver it to the man in exchange for a lot of money. The innocence in him reacted, claiming he could not perform such an act; however, desperate times call for desperate actions, and he finally accepted the man's deal. He succeeded in stealing the baby on the day of the theft; however, a series of events followed, and he did not meet his end of the bargain. Fast forward to July 31st, 2017; it is just a day before the 74th anniversary of Petre's death, and strange things are happening all over the place. Could this be a prophecy working to fulfil itself? Was it solely a coincidence that it had to be Petre Levy who needed to be stolen? If you want to know what transpired that caused this deal to fall short and the following events, grab a copy of this book.

I found it ironic that Gunari agreed to steal a child. As someone whose wife was expecting a baby, you would think that his first instinct would be to protect children, as he was expecting one, but seeing him accept that deal amazed me. I understood that people would do anything if food was put on their table or if it gave them a remotely better life than they already had. On the day he conducted the theft, Gunari prayed to God for help, and I remember screaming, "How on earth do you pray to God to help you successfully inflict such grief on someone else?" I felt pity for Naomi, Petre's mother. I kept asking why it had to be her son that all of the events in this book happened to, from being stolen as a kid to becoming an airman and dying on duty. This book was well written. With each line read, I could feel the emotions of the characters. It was as if I was living through these emotions with the characters. When Naomi received a prophecy that her child would be stolen two more times, she felt devastated. This is excellent writing on the author's part. The anxiety she felt and the flight reaction were excellently expressed with words.

The author's concise writing will be gripping to anyone who picks up this book. Even if you are not a fan of the genre, the start of the book was gripping, and there were no dull moments in reading it. There was always something to look forward to. I found nothing to dislike about this book. I loved how the spelling of Petre's name changed when they changed locations. It shows that every aspect of the book was carefully thought out. I give this book a perfect five-out-of-five-star rating. The book had good editing; I only found one error.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the fictional genre. If you also love stories about airmen, there is something for you. If you believe in prophecies, there is also something for you. Readers should be informed that this book contains racism.

******
In Lieu of Flowers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords

From the looks of it, this book deals with mysteries, moral dilemmas, and dark forces beyond the control of man. The beginning had me hooked and eager to find out what happens next. A well-deserved Book of the Day.