This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Denver Michaels is an author with a passion for cryptozoology the paranormal, lost civilizations, and all things unexplained. At age 42, the Virginia native released his first book People are Seeing Something—a culmination of many years of research into the lake monster phenomenon. Since then, he has gone on to write Water Monsters South of the Border, Wild & Wonderful (and Paranormal) West Virginia, and Detours into the Paranormal: Atlantic City Road Trip.
Michaels works full-time as an engineering technologist and is married with three children. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors and traveling, and he continues to perform research and writing for future works.
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Water Monsters South of the Border by Denver Michaels dives into the fascinating field of Cryptozoology by examining the folklore and myths surrounding lake monsters in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico. Various reported sightings, theories, and all the possibilities behind these supposed creatures range from serpent beasts to mermaids to water tigers. Is it possible these water monsters are actually living dinosaurs? Do the myths of the past carry truth? Are these monsters still being sighted today? Is there a logical explanation for what people have seen? Or are these all a hoax? Michaels addresses every one of these possibilities and more.
Many people have heard of lake monsters, mermaids, and maybe even water tigers, but Denver Michaels opens up a whole new world with thorough accounts of several of these well-known cryptids. The book is well-organized, with a fine balance of sighting reports, history and myth origins, as well as an easy to understand writing style. Most of the sightings can be shrugged off as logical explanations from large fish to monk seals to lurking big snakes, but is it possible that there's more out there? Michaels provides several viewpoints and personal opinions that suggest this possibility is true, but the book doesn't sway you into a certain perspective. It leaves the belief in lake monsters up to you to decide while being clear on what Michaels personally believes is the truth behind each sighting. So much is gained and every chapter just builds on the previous ones.
What stood out most is the fascinating story behind the Ica Stones and Acambaro figurines. Both of these sets of relics clearly depict dinosaurs, but that's not the astonishing part. The Ica Stones clearly show dinosaurs alongside advanced technology, which doesn't fit with what science knows, while the figurines were created over 3,000 years ago which doesn't coincide with the date we know that dinosaurs went extinct. This was a truly fascinating read that I couldn't put down and I loved every minute of it. For those with an obsession with cryptozoology and specifically lake monsters, Water Monsters South of the Border is an intriguing and well written study of lake monsters and shouldn't be missed!
