Double Header by Joel M. Andre

Kill 4 Me – Joel M. Andre

Publisher:  Darkcountry Publications

Pages:

Source:  review copy for tour

Genre:  Adult, Horror, thriller, Mystery, Suspense

Synopsis:

Casey Dwyer is haunted.

After a horrific car accident that claimed the life of her sister, she has struggled to return to a normal life.  But on a cold winter day what seemed like a harmless text on her cell phone changed everything.

Now Casey will try to do anything to protect her and her family and friends against a vengeful spirit.  Even kill.  Who is the spirit stalking Casey and how far will it push her into the darkness of madness?

Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH-8-O7q1hw

My Thoughts:

This was a great book.  It had just the right amount of creep factor for me.  Casey was every parent’s dream daughter.  She  was the one who always tried to do the right thing.  She witnessed her father’s death years before.  She constantly tried to cover for her rebellious sister.  Her mother knew her youngest daughter was a problem.  She was also aware that Casey tried to cover for her sister.  On the night that Casey has to once again rescue her sister, they are involved in a horrific car accident.  Many people died including Casey’s sister.     Shortly after she returns homes she starts receiving mysterious messages on her phone and computer.  This strange being who has begun to haunt her wants her to kill for it. 

Just about the time I thought I had figured out who was haunting Casey and why, the story takes another strange turn.  I honestly never saw the ending coming.  This is a book that you must read. Find out what this spirit wants from Casey and what it is willing to do to get it.  Find out the twisted end that will leave you scratching your head.  You won’t see it coming.

Tea With Death – Joel M. Andre

Publisher:  Darkcountry Publications

Pages:  10

Source:  review copy for tour

Genre:  Adult Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Synopsis:

In this dark, philosophical tale of horror, a man has the opportunity to sit down with Death.  What he discovers is that the dying process is a little more complex than he imagined and that making a deal with the Grim Reaper comes with a price.

My Thoughts:
This was a very interesting short story.  The idea that someone would invite death to have tea with them made me think that the person was a little bit off in the head.  As you read you find that the main character has more on his mind than just asking Death some questions.  This was a quick and interesting read.  It worked great with Kill 4 Me.

About Joel:

Joel M. Andre was born January 13, 1981. At a young age he was fascinated with the written word. It was at fourteen that Poe blew his mind, and Andre began to dabble with darker poetry.

Between the years of 1999 and 2007 Joel was featured in various poetry anthologies and publications. In 2008 he released his first collection, Pray the Rain Never Ends.

Knowing there was something deeper and darker inside of his soul, Joel decided to take a stab at commercialism. Releasing the dark tongue in cheek, A Death at the North Pole, created a dark world among the death of Kris Kringle. Ultimately providing a tale of redemption.

October of 2008 saw Joel release his second book, Kill 4 Me. A tale in which a woman is haunted by a vengeful spirit through text messages and instant messaging.

Taking some time off and doing a lot of soul searching, Joel took things in a new direction and dabbled in the Fantasy Genre with, The Pentacle of Light. The tale dealing with five major races battling for control of Earth, and the acceptance of their God.

Finally, after missing his detective Lauren Bruni, he released the book The Return in October 2009, this time moving the action from the North Pole and placing it in the small Arizona community he was raised in.

Andre’s latest book is The Black Chronicles: Cry of the Fallen about a dead man who seeks revenge on the woman that tormented him in peaceful Northern Arizona.

Currently, he resides in Chandler, AZ.

You can visit his website at www.joelmandre.info

Voices of the Dead - Peter Leonard

Publisher:  The Story Plant (1/17/12)
Pages:  300 pages
Source:  Partners in Crime supplied an ebook in exchange for an honest review
Genre:  Suspense

Synopsis:
The year is 1971.  The place is Detroit.  Harry Levin a scrap metal dealer and Holocaust survivor, has just learned that his daughter was killed in a car accident.  Traveling to Washington, DC to claim the body, he learns that the accident was caused by a German diplomat who was driving drunk.  This is only the beginning of the horror for Harry, though, as he discovers that the diplomat will never face charges - he has already been released and granted immunity.  Enraged and aggrieved, Harry discovers the identity of his daughter's killer, follows him to Munich, and hunts him down.  What Harry finds out about the diplomat and his plans with explode his life and the lives of everyone around him.  Brimming with action and dark humor, Voices of the Dead, firmly positions Peter Leonard as a writer every suspense fan needs to read.

My Thoughts:

This was an absolutely wonderful book.  All of the characters are very well defined and  come to life so that you have a well rounded picture of all of the characters.  Traveling from the United States to Germany, and then back to the United states is not confusing for the reader.  The settings are so well laid out that you feel as if you are on a physical journey with the main character.  When Harry  was in Germany and the memories resurfaced,  of what happened to him the night his parents were killed, I felt like I was there with him.  I felt his anguish and survivor's guilt.  I've listed to survivors talk of their escape and what it was like.  I had the same feelings while reading this book as I had listening to those survivors tell their story.  When trouble followed Harry back to the United States I kept wondering why the  police couldn't put two and two together.  I realized in cases such as this that there are people savvy enough to get in and out of the country under an alias and commit crimes.  The research that had to have gone into this book would, in my opinion, made this a story that had to be told.  I commend the author.

I love thrillers and to have it bounce back and forth through memories or flashbacks to a historical period I love learning about, made it all the more interesting.  Although this was my first book by this author it will not be my last.  He definitely has my recommendations for his works.  I will proudly recommend this book to my friends.

Author Bio:
Peter Leonard's debut novel, Quiver, was published to international acclaim in 2008 (A spectacular debut...you will be holding your breath until the final page." - The New York Sun).  It was followed by Trust Me in 2009 (TRUST ME is fast, sly and full of twists." - Carl Hiaasen, New York Times bestselling author).  The Story Plant will publish Leonard's newest novel, ALL HE SAW WAS THE GIRL, in the spring of 2012.





Excerpt:
Hess found out the woman lived on P Street in Georgetown, not far from the consulate.  He told the ambassador he was having dinner with potential clients, and wanted to drive himself.  It was unorthodox, but plausible.  He had been issued one of the embassy's Mercedes sedans.  He stopped at a bookstore and bought a map of the area, and located P Street.  He drove there and saw the Goldman residence, a federal-style brick townhouse.

Hess went to a restaurant and had dinner and a couple drinks.  At ten o'clock he drove back, parked around the corner on 32nd Street between two other vehicles so the license plate was not visible to anyone driving by.  He walked to the Goldmans', stood next to a tree in front of the three-storey townhouse.  There were lights on the first floor.  He walked to the front door and rang the buzzer.  He could hear footsteps and voices inside.  A light over the door went on.  Hess stood in the open so whoever it was would see he was well dressed.  The door opened, a man standing there, assumed he was Dr. Mitchell Goldman, dark hair, big nose, mid-forties, top of the shirt unbuttoned, exposing a gold chain and a five-pointed star.  Hess smiled.  "My car is on the fritz.  May I use your phone to call a tow truck?"

Dr. Goldman stared at him with concern.

"I am staying just down the street at the consulate," Hess said, smiling.  Now the door opened and he stepped into the elegant foyer, chandelier overhead, marble floor.

"Mitch, who is it?" a woman said from a big open room to his right.

Dr. Goldman looked in her direction.  "Guy's having car trouble, wants to use the phone."

"It's ten o'clock at night."

"He'll just be a minute," the dentist said.

Hess could see the woman sitting on a couch, watching television.

"The phone's in here." The dentist started to move.

Hess drew the Luger from the pocket of his suit jacket, and aimed it at Goldman.

The dentist put his hands up.  "Whoa. Easy."

"Who is in the house?"

"Just the two of us."

"Are you expecting anyone?"

He shook his head.

"Tell her to come in here,"  Hess said.

"What do you want?  You want money?"  He took his wallet out and handed it to him.  "There's eight hundred dollars in there."

"Call her,"  Hess said.

"Hon, come here, will you?"

"I'm watching 'All in the Family.' Can you wait till the commercial?"

Hess could hear people laughing on the television.

"Just for a minute," the dentist said.

Hess saw her stand up and step around a low table in front of the couch, moving across the room, still looking back at the television.  She turned her head as she entered the foyer and saw him holding the gun.  Her hair looked darker in the dim light but he had only seen her briefly that day.

"Oh-my-god," she said, hands going up to her face.

"We're reasonable people," the dentist said.  "Tell us what you want."

"The pleasure of your company," Hess said.  "Where is the cellar?"


Author Sites:
Website:  http://peterleonardbooks.com/
The Story Plant:
Website:  www.thestoryplant.com

The Consuming – Todd Boyer

Publisher:  Outskirts Press

Pages:  230

Source:  Received a review copy

Genre:  Adult, Christian, Fantasy, Thriller, Suspense

Don’t let the genre “Christian Fiction” through you off.  This will appeal to both Christians and non-christians.  The was interesting.  What would happen if a demon were “trapped” in a human body while they tried to possess it?  This is what happens to the demon Ike in this story.  To make it interesting Max, another demon, decides to save his demon friend.  It is during his mission  to help his friend that he learns about a demon named Garrock.  Garrock is a warrior and is making plans to do away with Lucifer and bring on the apocalypse.  It was at this point my mind started racing.  As a Christian I kept thinking, “wow, I wonder how Lucifer would feel having the tables turned on him?”  To stop Garrock, Max has to become friends with Jack, the possessed man.  Then the three of them must stand together to try to stop Garrock.  I let my mother read this first.  She didn’t like it.  When I asked her why she said it was to much fantasy for her.  I knew then that I was going to love this.  Anytime you can mix all the genres I love together we have a win-win situation.  I was right.  I did love it. 

I also loved when the demon’s eyes were opened to the truth.  There is so much to love here on so many levels.  The characters were well thought out.  For me the story flowed so smoothly it kept me reading from beginning to end.  This is a must read for all fantasy, thriller, suspense lovers out there.  I guarantee you there is something for everyone in this book.  This is just the first book.  I can hardly wait for the second one to come out.

Facing the Son - M.L. Rudolph

Pages:  231

Source:  Review Copy 

Genre:  Adult, Suspense

From Goodreads:

American Matt Reiser travels to The Ivory Coast on a mission to locate his estranged son. His only guide is a three-year old postal address. Fighting cultural vertigo and disorientation at his arrival at the Abidjan airport, he relies on a glib and persistent limo driver who speaks just enough English to gain Matt's trust.

The next morning, Matt wakes up drugged, robbed, and dropped into a grim city slum. Without ID, without money, and with no idea where to turn, Matt forges unlikely alliances which take him on a perilous journey out of the city and through the backcountry as he strives to continue his search for his son

My Thoughts:

This was a great book.  From the very beginning the reader is grabbed and held in suspense.  Matt Reiser has been sent on a mission to Africa to find a son who obviously doesn’t want to be found.  It has been three years since Karl last communicated with his parents.  His mother’s dying wish is to see her son before the cancer takes her life.  When she contacts Matt, her ex-husband, and asks him to fly to Africa and track him down, he doesn’t want to.  Matt and Karl have not had the best relationship for several years. 

Matt steps off of the plane and into a corrupt world unlike anything he has ever seen.  He is mugged, robbed of his money, passport, and the letter his ex-wife sent for their son.  They even took his shoes.  He doesn’t know who to trust.  Then he meets Jean-Louis, the concierge at the  hotel.  What starts out seeming like help drives him deeper into the corrupt world around him.

This book is so much more than just a good read.  In this book you are transported to places you may never see.  You are thrown into a world we have only heard exists.  You have to ask yourself if you would survive the ordeals the protagonist goes through.  You will end up taking a look at all you hold dear, all you value and asking yourself if you have done all that you can for the people you love.  You must read this book to see if he finds his son.  You must read this book to take a look at the corruptness of a country we know so little about.  You must read this book to find yourself.

I will most definitely recommend this book.  I was unable to put it down from the minute I started it.  It is not a really long book.  However, it will grab you and hold you from the first pages.  I had not heard of this author but I will most definitely look for more from him.

Author Bio from Goodreads:

M L Rudolph has worked for CNN, HBO, and Playboy among other American and British television companies around the world.  He has written for general intereste and trade publications.  He has a bachelors degree in English Literature, and an International MBA.  Rudolph is a dual US/UK national and lives in Pasadena, CA.

You may find him here:

http://markrudolph.wordpress.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/mlrudolph

A Walk Across the Sun – Corban Addison

Publisher:  Sterling Publishing

Pages:  384

Source:  Received a galley copy from publisher

Genre:  Adult Thriller

From Goodreads:

Corban Addison leads readers on a chilling, eye-opening journey into Mumbai's seedy underworld--and the nightmare of two orphaned girls swept into the international sex trade. When a tsunami rages through their coastal town in India, 17-year-old Ahalya Ghai and her 15-year-old sister Sita are left orphaned and homeless. With almost everyone they know suddenly erased from the face of the earth, the girls set out for the convent where they attend school. They are abducted almost immediately and sold to a Mumbai brothel owner, beginning a hellish descent into the bowels of the sex trade. Halfway across the world, Washington, D.C., attorney Thomas Clarke faces his own personal and professional crisis-and makes the fateful decision to pursue a pro bono sabbatical working in India for an NGO that prosecutes the subcontinent's human traffickers. There, his conscience awakens as he sees firsthand the horrors of the trade in human flesh, and the corrupt judicial system that fosters it. Learning of the fate of Ahalya and Sita, Clarke makes it his personal mission to rescue them, setting the stage for a riveting showdown with an international network of ruthless criminals.

My Thoughts:

Those of us not familiar with the sex trade, me being one of those, usually think of it as happening “someplace else”.  The reality is that it happens all over the world, including right here in the United States.  Children are sold for drugs, prostitution, kidnapped right off of the street.  Before you go any further in this review you need to know that this is not a feel good topic.  It is repulsive and hard to read.

We start off the story with two innocent girls whose life is decimated due to a tsunami.  They try to get to their school where the sisters will take care of them.  Things go wrong and they find themselves where no young person should ever be, in the sex trade.  Thomas Clarke is a lawyer who has lost so much already.  He witnesses a kidnapping of a young girl in a park and this sets him on his mission to work against these traffickers.  

This story moves along smoothly carrying the reader from one heartbreak to another.  It is a very emotional book to read.  It lets you see inside the head and heart of these people who sell children for sex.  I think it was best said when one of the characters said to the young girl he had with him, “You are not here because I enjoy the sale of sex. You are here because men enjoy the purchase of it.” (page 329)

I thought about that remark.  If we could get rid of all of the people who were willing to pay for this service then we would not have the sex trade. 

As the author took us across India we get a look at the different caste systems and the way they treat people.  Both of these girls were middle class students who knew English.  This made them more valuable than many others.  The author doesn’t leave the reader in a depressive state.  He definitely wanted to give the reader hope that this situation can change in the future.  This is a must read book.  If nothing else you as a parent should read it to see what you need to protect your children from.

Corban Addison is able to give a voice to the victims of human trafficking.  Without that voice people like me know nothing of it.  We live in our safe little world.  After reading this book my world doesn’t feel so safe anymore and it isn’t as small as it once was.

Meet the Author:

Corban Addison holds a degree in law and engineering from the University of Virginia and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. After completing a federal clerkship, Addison began his career specializing in corporate law and litigation. He has an abiding interest in international human rights, and is a supporter of numerous causes, including the abolition of modern slavery. He lives with his wife and two children in Virginia. A Walk Across the Sun is his first novel.

Watch the Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DzA-4-qtg8

Links:  CorbanAddison.com, facebook.com/CorbanAddison

Multiple Reviews: Random Souls, Scored, The Goodbye Man

It is my hope and desire that I can read and post 2 - 3 book reviews throughout my winter break.  My family has given me the gift of quiet.  They are leaving me alone to do what I love best.  Read and write.  So here are three more books that I have read and reviewed. As you can see, I am a very eclectic reader.

Random Souls - Deanna Rutledge

Publisher:  WestBow Press

Pages:  320

Source:  Review copy from author

Genre:  Adult, Christian, Realistic Fiction

In This Day and Age, it is not uncommon to turn on the television and find a scandal involving a church or members of its staff.  So it is with "Random Souls".  Aloha Community church is no stranger to scandal.  This tends to make the congregation stay alert.  Then we have Miss Lottie.  She seems to always be on the lookout for the negative or evil that may or may not exist.  She isn't content to look for trouble, she gossips about what she "thinks" is happening.  When Pastor Jason makes a mistake in the way he handled a situation with a woman he was counseling, Lottie sees it, puts her own spin on it and then her tongue goes to wagging.  God uses Pastor Jason and the events that threaten to destroy this church to actually begin the healing process.  Lives are changed because God shows that love conquers all.  Love for fellow man and church.  This was a wonderfully written book.  It demonstrates how rumors can ruin a church.    I whole-heartedly recommend this book.

  

Scored – Lauren McLaughlin

Publisher:  Random House Books for Young Readers

Pages:  240

Source:  I received a copy from The Picnic Basket for review

Genre:  YA, Dystopian

From Goodreads:

Set in the future when teenagers are monitored via camera and their recorded actions and confessions plugged into a computer program that determines their ability to succeed. All kids given a "score" that determines their future potential. This score has the ability to get kids into colleges, grant scholarships, or destroy all hope for the above. Scored's reluctant heroine is Imani, a girl whose high score is brought down when her best friend's score plummets. Where do you draw the line between doing what feels morally right and what can mean your future? Friendship, romance, loyalty, family, human connection and human value: all are questioned in this fresh and compelling dystopian novel set in the scarily foreseeable future.

My Thoughts:

As a teacher, I’m always trying to get my students to work hard.  We all know that the state test scores determine so much for a student.  It looks like someone finally wondered what it would be like if we went to the extreme and came up with this awesome book.  Imagine a world where you are continuously watched and judged.  Imani is a teenager who has bought into the whole ScoreCorp garbage.  Why?  She has a high score.  Everything affects your scores,  who you are friends with, who you date, who you work with or help in school.  There is no privacy.   Step out of line and you could ruin your whole life.  Of course, isn’t it funny that ScoreCorp is the one in control?  Only the rich can afford to go to college.  If you want a chance then your parents must agree to have you scored.  Imani’s score drops.  She is paired with Diego to complete a project.  Diego doesn’t have a score because his family is filthy rich.  This pairing up opens Imani’s eyes to many things that are going on around her.

I have to say this would be a wonderful book to read together in class.  The debates that could occur would be great.  I could see picking an issue from the book and using Socratic circles to discuss those issues.  I guess I see it this way because I am a teacher and we see so much pressure put on teachers and students about test scores.  I think this is a book that parents, teachers and students will enjoy.

I hope there is more from this author on this topic.  If not I look forward to reading more of her work.

The Goodbye Man – Chad Barton

Publisher:  AuthorHouse

Pages:  220

Source:  I received a review copy from his publicist

Genre:  Adult Thriller

From Amazon:

As more people filled the packed church, Jack was forced to move down the wall toward the front, until he was very near the altar. From that vantage point, he could see the young mother's face. He found himself staring at her, unable to look away. He didn't know why. Perhaps it was the terrible sadness in her face. He watched her intently as she clutched a little brown teddy bear and a picture of her daughter, who now lay only feet away in a small casket. The size of it made him wince. Jack felt the anger rise within him At sixty years old, Jack Steele has long since retired from putting criminals-especially those that hurt children-in prison. Following his retirement from law enforcement, he built a successful multimillion-dollar company, allowing him financial freedom in his golden years. Following the unexpected loss of his wife, Sarah, however, he withdraws into himself. He becomes a loner whose only companion is his German shepherd, Sadie. Sick of a court system that lets monsters out of prison to torture and kill again and again, he decides there is only one way to stop them. Using his own resources, his credentials as a retired police officer, and his .380 Walther, he and his dog begin to hunt-bringing justice to those whom the system cannot control. After all, enough is enough.

My Thoughts:

The Goodbye Man is one of those books that makes you think about heinous crimes and vigilantes.  As I read about Jack Steele who takes justice into his own hands I thought back to all of the Charles Bronson movies I watched when I was younger.  I understood why he exacted justice, yet I did not completely agree with it.  If we let vigilantes rule the world we go back to the beginnings of the Old West days when people exacted their own justice. In the book, I understood the Jack’s feelings.  Let me give you a personal example. 

I graduated with a young man who was nice looking, extremely polite, expected to marry his high school sweetheart and become a success.  He did all of that.  His wife, also a girl I graduated with was best friends with a family with whom I attended church.  This young couple often babysat the niece of this family.  When this man’s marriage began to fail, his wife temporarily moved in with her friends.  Out of anger and revenge toward his wife, he picked the young girl he had babysat up on her way home from school.  No problem for her, no fear, she had been picked up by him before.  This six foot two, 280-pound man raped, murdered and cut up the body of this sweet little seven year old.  I was devastated when she went missing as we had lost a young girl who lived at the end of our street the year before. They hunted for her.  The parents who were in the Bahamas trying to reconcile their own marriage flew back.  A month later hunters found the girls body.  When the young man was convicted, I danced around the room.  We had the electric chair at that time and I watched for years as he sat on death row waiting his turn.  When it finally came, I was glued to the TV because I wanted to know it was over.  The funny thing is, I was not thrilled like I figured I would be.  My heart ached because another family had lost a child.  True it was due to  his own fault.  The young girl’s family had met with this young man on several occasions and let him know that they forgave him.  They were vilified for doing such a thing.  As a Christian, I understood why they did so, and understood why I felt so bad about my own feelings.  Do I believe in capital punishment?  You bet I do.  However, I have known of several cases where people were wrongfully convicted, served time and released and then the courts system comes back and says, “Oh yeah, we found the guilty party but didn’t have enough evidence at the time and someone had to pay.”  That was a true story.  That person’s life was ruined.  His reputation was ruined.  It didn’t matter what the law said, because they had been convicted, so there had to have been some element of truth to the matter.  On the other hand, I have seen people go free on technicalities or lack of good evidence only to repeat the same offence.  We all want to see justice done.

Now that I’ve gotten off my high horse let me finish my review.  The characters were well fleshed out and it was an on the edge of your seat read for me.  It kept emotions flowing throughout.   I did enjoy it for that very reason.  I enjoyed it because I know the difference between fiction and reality.  I can justify reading something like this because we all feel like Jack Steele at times.  It gives us an out for those feelings.  Would I recommend this book?  You had better believe it.  If I didn’t like crime novels like this, I wouldn’t read them in the first place.  This was a very good book and I will definitely read anything else this author writes.  I highly recommended it.

Day Two of Catch Up Reviews

Last Night I was looking for an empty sheet of paper to write notes on.  I pulled out a notebook I had not used at home or school for at least a month and a half.  I worked my way back toward a blank sheet and suddenly found some reviews I had previously written. I went to my blog to see if I had already posted them and lo and behold I had not.  My husband stood in the doorway to my office chuckling.  He thought it was funny that I had misplaced eight book reviews.  I kept thinking I was losing my mind.  I knew I had read the books but couldn't find the book reviews.  This is what happens when you have so many different notebooks for different purposes.  You know, one for each of your WIPs, one for school, one for reviews.  Then when that student who has no paper comes up and asks for some, you grab the first notebook you can get your hands on and then forget what you had done.  So today we will start off with four of the eight reviews I had written.  I know the authors will be happy.  They must have thought I had forgotten them.  I am trying to get things caught up and organized so that I can start the new year fresh.

Tithing and How to Get There - Paul Stephensen
Publisher:  Lulu.com
Pages:  66
Source:  Review copy from author in exchange for review
Genre:  Religion, Financial Planning


This was very appropriate for this time of year.  I know God allows things to happen for a reason.  We look at Christmas as a time for giving.  We give to others all the time but, how often and how much do we give to God.  In this book the author takes us on a short course of tithing.  He started off defining stewardship and giving examples.  God promises to bless us.  There are examples all throughout the Bible of God doing just this.    The author points out that tithing is a privilege and that it is a symbol of total service to the Lord.  It show our willingness to serve him wholly.  For me Chapter 6 was the most important in the entire book.  It was full of budgets, and worksheets and all the things I truly need to get myself back on track.   I have no credit cards.  My philosophy has always been if I didn't have the cash then I didn't need it.  Unfortunately this book made me look at my spending habits.  When I got paid the first thing I would do is buy books.  It didn't matter that I had 300 unread books on my shelf, I always bought more.  I would buy 2-4 books a month.  That may not seem like much but when you have nothing to start with and you are spending what you don't have it adds up.  This is a book I will definitely recommend to friends.  It is a book that Christian and Non-Christian alike can benefit from.  I am thankful the author sent me a copy for review, even if I did lose the review.

Flashes From the Other World – Julie Ann Weinstein

Publisher:  All Things That Matter Press

Pages:  160

Source:  Received a copy for review

Genre:  Short Stories

Product Description:

Magic without the hocus pocus, these stories explore the ethereal blur between reality and not, between dream and sleep, between love and 'other than' love. They present relationships with a tender wackiness. Tossed into the mix are mischievous ghosts, who give the talking plants and even the seductive and vocal grains of sand a run for their money. Quirky and offbeat, these stories will touch your heart, although they may tug at your funny bone first.

About the Author

Julie Ann Weinstein has published over ninety short stories and is a Pushcart Nominee. She is an editorial consultant and a flash fiction workshop leader in the Southern California area. Julie is also published under the name Julie Ann Shapiro. She currently lives in Encinitas, California, where she is working on future short story collections.

My Thoughts:

This is metaphorical writing at its best. The author has divided her book into three parts.  Part one is a collection of paranormal stories.  The are very short and bizarre.  Not bizarre in a bad way.  Bizarre in the sense they make you think.  They have a depth to them that makes you wonder if there is a deeper meaning, a hidden meaning.

The second part of the book is called relationships.  The first story grabbed me and made me hold on.  Maybe it is because my mom has to live with me now that I could see parallels between the relationship the daughter had with her mother and my own.  It takes great talent to write from the heart and attain such a deep meaning that will be read and interpreted differently by each reader.

The third part of the book is called Surreal.  I enjoyed “Blue Moon Carbs”.  This is a book where the reader is free and encouraged to make all kinds of connections.  As I try to lose weight this one story stood out.  It felt like I was reading the battle that goes on in my head every time I eat something that could potentially cause me to gain weight.  I loved it.  My favorite part of this book was actually in the back where the author explains what inspired her to write each of her stories.  Her explanations made me go back and re-read some of the stories as I looked at them through the eyes of what inspired her.  It put a truly different spin on it.  This is not an easy book to describe.  I will recommend it.  Just don’t pick it up for a quick read because that is the one thing it is not.

Justifiable Oregon – Pamela Wright

Publisher:  Reaction Press

Pages:  296

Source: Review copy from publisher

Genre:  Adult Thriller

Have you ever wished something bad would happen to someone evil because God and the law took too long? There are those that risk it all for the rest of us. This novel is about those few and the risks they take on our behalf, and the bystanders that unwittingly get caught in the fray. Duplicity, is the exquisite yacht manned by such men. Men intent on luring the world’s wealthiest human traffickers out of their million’s and into their final moments on earth inside Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.

My Thoughts

After reading the first few chapters  the “Dexter” series came to mind.  In case you don’t remember it, or you’ve never seen it, Dexter was a cop who worked in the police lab.  His specialty was blood.  At night he hunted down and killed those who managed to get off for some technicality, and justice was served.

Often we hear cases of criminals getting off scott free.  What if there was a force that took care of those criminals that were put back on the street?  In Justifiable Oregon that is just what happens.  There is a group of people who take those very criminals out to the Tilamook Rock Lighthouse  in Seaside Oregon.  There the criminal arrives drugged up.  As they come to they are tortured and then their bodies are cremated.  Who are these criminals?  They are members of a drug cartel, and those who traffic in humans.  Want to know more?  Read the book.  Be forewarned that this is not a book you can start and stop at will.  This is a book that demands to be read from beginning to end.

Fury – Elizabeth Miles

Publisher:  Simon Pulse

Pages:  384

Source:  Received a review copy from publisher

Genre:  Young Adult, Paranormal

From Goodreads:

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

My Thoughts:

The setting of this book sets the over all tone or mood.  It is freezing cold, and snowy.  That is exactly how this story leaves you feeling, cold and empty inside.  You have Emily who is best friends with Gabby.  But what kind of friend flirts with your boyfriend?  Emily does.  She is sure that she and Zach are made for each other.  First reason to hate a character in this book.  Emily is selfish and so full of herself.  Then we have Chase who is not financially in the same league as the rest of his friends.  He tries to make up for his past by becoming something he really isn’t.  He tramples on people to get where he wants to be.  To make Emily and Chase pay for what they have done to others the three furies Ty, Meg and Ali pay a visit.  Ty is so hot that she has Chase fawning all over her.   Can you say revenge.  The job of the furies is to seek revenge for those who they feel need it against those they deserve it.  This  whole book has a creepy movie feel to it.  I could actually see it come out on the big screen.  Although the characters so so many wrong things and justify it to make you hate them they are so wonderfully developed you can’t help love them.  This is the first book in this series and it will definitely not be the last one I read.  The ending definitely leaves you hanging for more.  Definitely one to recommend to all of your friends who like creepy, paranormal, mythical type things.

No Holly For Christmas - Julie N. Ford

Publisher:  Whiskey Creek Press

Pages:  390

Source:  Received a copy for review

Genre:  Adult, Romance, Suspense

Here is the excerpt:

Widowed, practically penniless, and banished to an Alabama rural community, ex-socialite- turned social worker Holly Cavanaugh Winter is dreading the approaching holiday season. However, her angst is not due to her husband's untimely death last December 25th, but because of a secret, one she keeps locked deep in her heart, that could reveal itself unless she can find a way to avoid Christmas.

On special assignment for the DA, defense attorney, Brian McAlister has all but given up on relationships when his path unavoidably crosses Holly’s. However, love at first sight quickly turns frigid when Holly is pulled into a manhunt for an accused murderer who now has his sights set on her. With his case unraveling, Brian finds himself tasked with keeping Holly and her two daughters safe, while bringing an assassin, and the powerful man who hired him, to justice.

My thoughts:

I don’t like mushy-gushy romance.  This book is anything but that.  I will always read suspense or thrillers with romance thrown in.  This was my first opportunity to read a book by Julie N. Ford.  However, it will definitely not be my last time.  Julie has created a story that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.  The characters are very believable.  Reading this book was like sitting and watching a movie where you see the villain sneaking up on the unsuspecting victim and you want to shout at them “watch out”.

Attorney Brian McAlister is filling in for his father, a prominent attorney, while he is in the hospital.  Brian doesn’t care much for his new partner Margo.  However, circumstances and a case bring him together with Holly Cavanaugh Winter, Margo’s sister.  Both Holly and Brian can feel the electricity between them.  Margo tells them both from the beginning why this won’t work out.  Brian has been married multiple times and really doesn’t trust his judgment.  He is still holding a candle for an ex-girlfriend Josie, who just happens to be married to a judge.  Holly no longer trusts men due to the betrayal of her rich husband right before he died.    This is the set up for a great read.  You know they are going to fall in love.  The question is what can the author throw in their path to make this journey seem impossible yet make the slowly building bonds of their love even stronger.  In this case, the author has thrown in a high-powered businessperson who thinks if he threatens what Brian loves most then he will get things to go his way.  To say more would just ruin it.  I believe this is a book most people will enjoy.  I know I kept wondering who would survive and at what cost.

I have to say that Margo, Holly and Brian were not my favorite characters.  They were very likeable.  My favorites were two characters that played a major role in Holly’s life.  When Holly goes from living in the most desirable area and shopping in the most expensive shops to living in a middle class area and shopping at Wal-Mart, you know there has to be culture shock.  Enter Wandean and Deidra-Belle.  These two women are the best example of the lifestyle Holly has always tried to avoid.  Yet, when Holly needs a shoulder to cry on or someone to lift her spirits, these women and their quirky ways are the perfect people to turn to.

I am recommending this book not only to the readers of my blog but also to those I work with that love to read.  Every now and then, you need a book that will put you in the spirit of Christmas, yet give you a taste of romance and suspense.  This book has it all.

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

Never Knowing - Chevy Stevens

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Pages:  352

Source:  Copy received from publisher for review

Genre:  Adult Thriller

I read and thoroughly enjoyed Chevy Steven's book "Still Missing".  In my opinion this book took the suspense up a notch. 

Sara Gallagher was adopted at a very young age.  Then her adoptive parents had two biological daughters.  Suddenly Sara begins to feel like an outsider.  As she grows older her desire to learn about her biological parents becomes so strong she hires a private investigator.  By this time she has a fiance, Evan, and a six year old daughter Ally.  Sara finally discovers who her mother is.  Her mother wants nothing to do with her.  She learns the reason for this is because of who her biological father is.  Sara's mother Julia has been in hiding for years.  She is the only surviving victim of John the Campsite Killer.  Sara learns that she was a product of that attack.  The police have been after him for a long time.  Suddenly, thanks to the press, he finds out about her and begins contacting her.  This puts her, Evan and Ally all in harms way.  The police want her to help them bring him in.  The tension in this book made it better than her first one.  I really enjoy reading work by this author.  I look forward to more.  Oh.... You're wondering if she helped the police or if her father tracked her down?  Maybe you should ask her therapist as this book is told similar to "Still Missing" through her conversations with her therapist.  Go ahead, track down a copy and read it now.

Canary List - Sigmund Brouwer

Publisher:  WaterBrook Press

Pages: 320

Source:  I received a copy for review from Multnomah for review

Genre:  Thriller

FTC Rules require me to let you know that I occasionally receive free books from authors or pulishers in exchange for my honest review of their book.  I make a point to always give an honest review.  I try to find something positive in every book since I know that eventhough I may not enjoy a certain book there are others out there who will .  The fact that some of the books I receive are free in no way affects my opinion.

Protected by the dark of night, Jaimie Piper runs. But is anywhere safe when Evil is hunting you?

She’s just a twelve year-old girl, bumped around between foster homes and relegated to school classes for challenged kids, those lagging in their test scores or with behavioral issues. But her real problem is that she can sense something the other kids can’t—something dark. Something compelling her to run for her life.

All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the anniversary of his daughter’s death alone.

But when his student Jaimie comes to him, terrified, her need for protection collides with his grief, and a tangled web of bizarre events sends them both spiraling toward destruction.

Crockett’s one hope of getting his life back is to uncover the mysterious secrets of Jaimie’s past and her strange gift. It isn’t long before his discoveries lead him to a darker conspiracy, secrets guarded by the highest seat of power in the world—the Vatican.

My thoughts:

Jamie Piper is much like many other twelve-year-olds with one exception, she sees evil.  When someone visits her foster home that she sees as evil, she knows she has to get away.  She runs to the house of er Adaptive Behavior teacher Mr. Grey.  As a teacher I immediately saw where this was headed.  He is falsely accused of a relationship with his student.  It is obvious evil forces are at work.

Crockett fights against this evil and realizes it goes all the way to the Vatican.  I could say more but I won't.  I loved the way the book covers what I believe is spiritual warfare, a battle for souls.  Jamie comes across as a tough little girl who is sure she must avoid the evil.  Crockett was a character I loved.  He was grieving over the death of his own daughter.  When Jamie shows up he knows what kind of trouble he can get into, yet he follows his heart to help her.  I'm not Catholic yet I felt they were portrayed in a really bad light.  Either way, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers.

The Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein – Kenneth Oppel

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

Pages:  304

Source:  I received a review copy from the publisher

Genre:  Young Adult, Adventure, Gothic, Suspense, Fantasy

Parent Alert:  Due to some of the subject matter and gore you might want to read this book before giving it to your tween.  Not all tweens are mature enough to handle the material.

Product Description

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real.

They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

My Thoughts:

My first introduction to Frankenstein was the old black and white movie that were on TV in the 1960’s.  I loved spending my Saturdays watching them.  When I hit college and studied Byron, and Shelley I learned how the story of Frankenstein came about.   Percy and Mary Shelley were visiting their friend Lord Byron when a storm came up.  They sat around telling ghost stories when a challenge was thrown out.  They were each to write a scary story and see who could come up with the best.  Enter Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.  For this reason when given the opportunity to read and review this book I jumped at the chance.

Kenneth Oppel  took a few liberties when creating the early years of Victor Frankenstein.  He gave Victor a twin brother.  Victor and Konrad love each other very much.  Where Victor is out for success, doing things that will make a name for himself, no matter what’; his brother Konrad is the opposite.  He is constantly thinking of others and giving credit to others instead of taking it for himself.  This of course draws people to him.   Then we throw in their distant cousin Elizabeth.  Both of the boys are drawn to her.  When we add the jealousy Victor feels towards his brother over Elizabeth and the way Konrad is treated by others we can see trouble brewing. 

When Konrad becomes ill and doctors can do nothing, Victor decides to become the hero here.  He will do what the regular doctors can’t.  HE will find a cure for his brother.  He along with Elizabeth and his best friend Henry search out the old outcast alchemist Julius Polidari.  He then sets out on a quest to retrieve the three main ingredients necessary for “the elixir of life”.  We can see right from the beginning there is a battle raging inside of Victor.  It is the battle of why he is truly taking up this quest.  We see the power of darkness, in all its forms,  and its effect on him. 

This is a book that anyone who loves Frankenstein, or anyone who has never been privileged to read Frankenstein should read.  It diverts from the original a bit but not enough to detract.  In my opinion it enhanced my  reading experience.

Pirates of Aden – Daniel Rasic

Publisher:  Wings Epress

Pages:  464

Genre:  Spy Thriller

Source:  I received a copy for review  from the publisher

Warning:  Strong Language and Violence

Synopsis:

Dr. Paul Alban has tried hard to forget.  He’s managed to carve out a quiet and relatively anonymous existence with his girlfriend Ellen while working as a physician in Somalia. But when a Somali pirate is injured during the hijacking of a cargo ship and brought to his clinic for treatment in the coastal town of Bosasso, the demons of his past threaten to destroy the future he’s trying to protect.

Paul is not only a physician for a humanitarian agency; he’s also a clandestine operative for the United States government.  His most recent task was to provide a gang of Somali pirates with the shipping manifest of a Ukrainian cargo ship.  According to the manifest, the ship was loaded with munitions. Strangely, it didn’t list the thirteen man portable nuclear weapons in container R-EX 030862.  Even stranger, Langley denies having sent Paul the manifest in the first place.

But when a group of terrorists, led by Kadar Hadad, the man Paul nearly killed a decade earlier, steal the weapons and kidnap his girlfriend, it becomes clear to Paul that he’s been set up.  Now, considered a traitor in the United States, Paul must decide whether to go into hiding, or settle a decade old score and stop an unthinkable attack on U.S. soil.

My thoughts

I enjoy reading a book that not only keeps me reading, but causes me to have to do some research on my own.  I think that is the teacher in me that feels the need to know more about a subject.  Until this book came along, I’d never heard the word Aden, and had no clue there was a “Gulf of Aden”.  Personally I’ve not paid a lot of attention to the news accounts of current day pirates.  After reading this book I’m sure I’ll look at piracy differently.  Daniel Rasic has created characters and events so realistic, you feel you’ve stepped through the pages of his book.  I for one love books like this because even though I love trying to figure it all out,  (and I’m not good at doing that), I am always surprised by the twists and turns.  Trust me, this book is full of twists and turns.  At times I wondered as I read how Paul managed to survive being as mouthy as he was.

This is an awesome book for anyone who loves spy thrillers.

Check out his book trailer here.

You can find Daniel at his website:   or on Twitter