Monday, April 29, 2013

Seven Point Eight: The First Chronicle - Marie Harbon

Seven Point Eight: The First Chronicle is the first novel in the five part Seven Point Eight series. This book 99 cents for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. The cliff hanger at the end of this novel is steep.

Paul Eldridge is a university lecturer in physics. Max Richardson is a business man. Max engages Paul to research the philosophical and spiritual implications of physics. Max hires Paul to search for the human soul. Max and Paul work with people who have special skills; telepaths, mediums, psychics, and remote viewers. One in particular, Tahra Mamoun, becomes the focus of Max and Paul's research and personal life. Can this band of explorers find the answer to the human soul?

This story is compelling. However, it's also disjointed. The continual change of reference from person to person, and switching back and forth from live narrative to journal notes, can be confusing. There are characters injected into the story that are out of time and not explained. This could be to provide mystery, but confusion was the result. I recommend this book, especially if you intend to complete the series. Just be aware it will take more than one novel in the series for things to become clear.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Shadows & Secrets - Chautona Havig

Shadows & Secrets is book one in the Annals of Wynnewood series. This book is free for the kindle. This story is full of secrets and adventures.

Philip Ward is 12 years old, and still a boy by any standard. Philip is apprenticed to the village fletcher. The Ge-sceaft is a cloaked creature of mystery. It lives with the village midwife and roams the woods and fields around village of Wynnewood. The Ge-sceaft is blamed for all the village woes, because everyone is afraid of it, and it's easy to blame what you fear. Philip and the Ge-sceaft become friends. Their adventures lead them to dragons and pirates, and in the end to perhaps saving the entire village from disaster. This is a great book for young and old alike. Very highly recommended.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Peter and the Vampires - Darren Pillsbury

Peter and the Vampires is the first volume in the Peter and the Monsters series. This book is free for the kindle. These stories will be great for any kids in the family. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I'm just a big kid anyway.

Peter Normal is a 10 year old kid from California. When things get rough, Peter, his two year old sister Beth, and his Mom have to move back home to his Grandfather Flannagan's house in Duskerville. Duskerville is just a small town, but it has big problems. Peter meets the kid next door, Dill, and together they fight off all kinds of monsters. This book is a great series of stories that make you laugh and make you gasp. Both, as Dill would say, will almost make you pee your pants. Very highly recommended.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Created, The Destroyer - Richard Sapir, Warren Murphy

Created, The Destroyer is the first book in the Destroyer series. This book is free for the kindle. This story reads like a graphic novel, but without the graphics. Once you adjust to the cadence it's a great read.

Remo Williams is a cop and he's is on death row. Remo's been framed for a murder he didn't commit. What Remo doesn't know is he's been recruited for CURE, an organization so secret nobody knows about it but the president. If he can survive being recruited, Remo is going to be CURE's first assassin. Remo is going to be The Destroyer. Very highly recommended.

The Spiritual Singularity - Ray Mazza

The Spiritual Singularity is the third and final book in the Day Eight Series. I recommend reading all three books back to back to back. This book is $2.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members.

Ezra has interfaced with President Paxton, but the frailty of Paxton's humanity is corrupting her. Can Trevor break that connection? What lengths will he go to to stop Ezra? What will Ezra evolve into? Surprises and suspense. A very satisfying ending. This is a great series. Very highly recommended.

Of Mice and Hitmen - Ray Mazza

Of Mice and Hitmen is the second book in the Day Eight Series. This book is 99 cents for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. You have to read these books in order. The first book is The Reborn. The third and final book in the series is in my queue.

Trevor Leighton finally meets Ezra. Ezra is a human simulation, made possible by some of Trevor's code. She has plans to save humanity, but we all know that saying about the best laid plans of mice and men. Trevor is in a desperate race to try and stop Ezra before her plans go off track. Amazing book. Very highly recommended.

Monday, April 15, 2013

The Reborn - Ray Mazza

The Reborn is the first book in the Day Eight Series. This book is 99 cents for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. I've already downloaded the second book in the series.

Trevor Leighton is a software engineer. Just one of hundred employed by Day Eight, but Trevor wrote some code years ago that he doesn't even remember. Trevor is now caught up in a situation that will change his life, and maybe the whole world. That is if Trevor lives through it. I plan to read the rest of this series, even if I have to pay for it. Very highly recommended.

A Death Displaced - Andrew Butcher

A Death Displaced is the first book in the Lansin Island Series. This book is $2.99 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. I'm glad I didn't pay for it.

Nick Crystan is a 24 year old part-time clerk in a crystal shop on Lansin Island. Nick is a wimp and a whiner. Nothing about his character is appealing to me. Juliet Maystone is the 25 year old owner of a cafe on Lansin Island. A cafe that her rich parents bought for her. Juliet is busy and active and aware that she leads a life of privilege. Nick and Juliet are brought together by fate in a way that changes both their lives. Except for Nick's character being such a loser, the story is interesting. Then the conclusion of the book is so bad, it almost makes you regret reading to the end. Parts of the book are worth reading, but on the whole I don't recommend it. Don't waste your money. I'm glad I didn't waste any of mine.

Awaken - Rachel D'Aigle

Awaken is book one in the Fated Saga series. It's free for the kindle.

Meghan and Colin Jacoby are twins. They've never lived in one place since they're Uncle, Arnon Jacoby, took them in at age two. This summer they turn 13 and they'll discover things about themselves they never imagined. This is an interesting story, but definitely written for young adults. Warning, there is a pretty steep cliff hanger at the end. The next book in the series is the only cure. Highly recommended.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Afraid - J.A. Konrath, Jack Kilborn

Afraid is a novel about terror. This book is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members.

Sal and Maggie Morton were the first. They wouldn't be the last. The helicopter crashed near their cabin and that's when it started. Sheriff Ace Streng got the call just as he was settling in for the evening. He was getting ready to dig into a bowl of chili when the phone rang. Ace never got back to that chili. This book was almost impossible to put down. The action never let up, and the suspense was a primal force. What got turned loose on the peaceful little town of Safe Haven Wisconsin? Read the book. Read it in a well lighted room. Very highly recommended.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam - Robert Spencer

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam is $9.99 for the kindle. This book was published in 2005. That's before we elected a Muslim president. It's too bad the electorate didn't read this book before the 2008 election. Sadly, American's awareness of what Islam really means hasn't improved one bit since this book was published.

Islam is not just about religion. Islam is religion and politics all rolled into one dogma, and that dogma is focused on nothing less than world domination. That sounds pretty simplistic, but read this book, and get some understanding of what Islam means from the perspective of the Qur'an. If you can still sleep peacefully at night, you weren't paying attention.

This book is a hard hitting, clear description of what Islam has accomplished through the ages. The descriptions of the crusades, and the Muslim conquests that preceded them, make it clear that it's not Christians, Jews, or any other group that persecute Muslims. It's the other way around. True Muslims don't consider any other people to be their equal. All of humanity is divided into Muslims and unbelievers, and unbelievers don't count for much except to pay taxes to Muslims or be slaves. The Qur'an endorses lying to, breaking promises to, and killing non-believers. It's only a sin to lie and cheat and kill other Muslims. This is a scary book, but very well documented and completely believable. Very highly recommended.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Islam: The Religion and the People - Bernard Ellis Lewis, Buntzie Ellis Churchill

Islam: The Religion and the People is a good overview. This book is $9.90 for the kindle. Sometimes you have to pay to learn.

This book covers a great deal of information, but nothing in great detail. The topics range from clothing and economy to women and war. If you views Islam as monolithic, this book will educate you to the diverse groups that make up the Muslim world. There are Muslims, there are fundamentalist Muslims, and there are fundamentalist Muslim terrorists. Most Muslims are not in the last two groups, just like most Christians are not part of the Westboro Baptist Church.

The authors conclude with comparing Islamofascism to what they consider the two greatest threats to civilization in recent history, Nazism and Bolshevism. The authors consider radical Islam to be the third great threat to civilization. They're not sure civilization will survive it. The appendices are quite dry, but good for reference. I enjoyed this book and feel it gave me useful information. Highly recommended.