Brainrush - Richard Bard

Publisher:  CreateSpace

Pages:  312

Genre:  Thriller, Science Fiction

Source:  Review copy from Bostick Communications

Every now and then, a book comes along that you just can’t put down.  I tell my students that if they find a book that takes them on a visual trip as well as an emotional rollercoaster, then they have truly found an awesome book.  That pretty much describes this book.  This is one of those books that once you start reading you can forget about obligations to your family because you won’t be able to put it down.  It has a bit of science fiction tied into a military thriller, along with just a touch of romance to make this a well-rounded book.

Jake Bronson only has a few weeks to live.  He is having an MRI done when an earthquake happens.  To me this was terrifying.  The last MRI that I had needed to be done in two stages.  After the first stage, they went looking for me afraid I had left.  I have claustrophobia and felt as if I could not breathe.  I was able to relate to this character a little too much in this instance.  When they are finally able to get Jake out of the machine he discovers he has enhanced powers.  He is determined to use these powers; in whatever time he has left to stop a terrorist attack.  Throw into all of this the rescue of Francesca, a psychologist who works with autistic children and to whom Jake is romantically attached and you can see the plot thickening.  The characters are very believable.  The descriptions as you travel with Jack from California to Italy and other destinations are so vivid that you feel as if you are right there with him.  I’ve not traveled out of the country yet I feel I have traveled to these destinations.  It is obvious that the author has done major research on weaponry, maybe drawing on his own background experiences.  I didn’t feel like I was in over my head in that area.  I actually enjoyed it. 

For me if you are going to have a wonderfully fleshed out protagonist then you must have an equally wonderful antagonist.  Luciano Battista is that person.  To me his name even made me feel like he was evil.  His character was a great opposite to Jake’s character.  It kept the pace going.  There were areas where the imagination had to be stretched a little.  I am one of those rare people that says bring it on.  I grew up stretching my imagination, as a child so there is no reason not to continue that.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone I know.  I believe it has something for everyone.  This is an author to watch for.  His second book in the series comes out in December so just take a deep breath and tell yourself that you can wait for it, because after all you don’t really have a choice.

About the author

As a young Air Force pilot, Richard Bard was faced with some scary news: he had cancer and learned he had only a few months to live. Thirty-six years later he's still going strong. He earned a management degree from the University of Notre Dame and after leaving the Air Force he ran three successful companies involving advanced security products used by U.S. government facilities worldwide. Book 2 will be published in December.


Find more about Richard Bard at his website