Una Fairchild has been shuffled from one foster home to another since she was too little to remember. When she finds a book titled "The Tale of Una Fairchild," she has to read it. That's when she finds herself pulled into the story. The question is how does she get out? Especially when she's confronted with an angry dragon. This is an excellent young adult or younger book. Be aware it has a steep cliff hanger at the end as there is a sequel to this book. Highly recommended.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Storybound - Marissa Burt
Storybound is $6.83 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. For all those readers who imagine themselves as part of the story, this book might change your mind about that being a good thing.
Una Fairchild has been shuffled from one foster home to another since she was too little to remember. When she finds a book titled "The Tale of Una Fairchild," she has to read it. That's when she finds herself pulled into the story. The question is how does she get out? Especially when she's confronted with an angry dragon. This is an excellent young adult or younger book. Be aware it has a steep cliff hanger at the end as there is a sequel to this book. Highly recommended.
Una Fairchild has been shuffled from one foster home to another since she was too little to remember. When she finds a book titled "The Tale of Una Fairchild," she has to read it. That's when she finds herself pulled into the story. The question is how does she get out? Especially when she's confronted with an angry dragon. This is an excellent young adult or younger book. Be aware it has a steep cliff hanger at the end as there is a sequel to this book. Highly recommended.
Black Hole Sun - David Macinnis Gill
Black Hole Sun is $6.64 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. This is a science fiction shoot 'em up in the classic tradition.
Durango is a chief regulator. Mars is a tough place to survive, much less live, and the regulators are supposed to be the good guys. Durango shares his body with an AI named Mimi. This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "talking to yourself." Durango's second in command is Vienne, and if anything she's tougher than Durango. Their mission is to keep a mining colony from being overrun by the cannibalistic Draeu. This mission is going to be a challenge that could eat them alive. This is a great book. Plenty of action and some great characters. Very highly recommended.
Durango is a chief regulator. Mars is a tough place to survive, much less live, and the regulators are supposed to be the good guys. Durango shares his body with an AI named Mimi. This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "talking to yourself." Durango's second in command is Vienne, and if anything she's tougher than Durango. Their mission is to keep a mining colony from being overrun by the cannibalistic Draeu. This mission is going to be a challenge that could eat them alive. This is a great book. Plenty of action and some great characters. Very highly recommended.
Monday, July 22, 2013
The Discovery of Socket Greeny - Tony Bertauski
The Discovery of Socket Greeny is free for the kindle. This is definitely a book for young adults, but I enjoyed reading it. If you're a gamer it should be right up your alley.
Socket Greeny is just a high school kid. Socket and his friends like hanging out in virtualmode. One day Socket begins to see things in virtualmode that his friends can't. This is when Socket finds out he's special in a way he never imagined. Socket is special in a way that may help him save the world. Interesting twists and turns, but like lots of teenage stories there is way too much angst. Still highly recommended.
Socket Greeny is just a high school kid. Socket and his friends like hanging out in virtualmode. One day Socket begins to see things in virtualmode that his friends can't. This is when Socket finds out he's special in a way he never imagined. Socket is special in a way that may help him save the world. Interesting twists and turns, but like lots of teenage stories there is way too much angst. Still highly recommended.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
The Penal Colony - Richard Herley
The Penal Colony is $3.99 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. Think Lord of the Flies, but with adults. This is a book I didn't want to put down.
Anthony John Routledge was convicted of a rape and murder he didn't commit. He's resigned to prison, but he wakes up one summer day to find he's been declared a Category Z and transported to the island penal colony of Sert. Sert is the worst of Britain's illegal penal colonies. Routledge realizes his life is over. There is no return from Sert. The question is can he adjust to life on the island? First he has to survive his initiation, which is literally kill or be killed. This is an excellent book. Very highly recommended.
Anthony John Routledge was convicted of a rape and murder he didn't commit. He's resigned to prison, but he wakes up one summer day to find he's been declared a Category Z and transported to the island penal colony of Sert. Sert is the worst of Britain's illegal penal colonies. Routledge realizes his life is over. There is no return from Sert. The question is can he adjust to life on the island? First he has to survive his initiation, which is literally kill or be killed. This is an excellent book. Very highly recommended.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Dire Means - Geoffrey Neil
Dire Means is $2.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This book explores just how far you can stretch the end justifying the means.
Mark Denny is a computer technician. He works for himself and has clients all over the Santa Monica area. Mark is also a good guy. He's a vegetarian because he's against killing. He helps people that need help, including the homeless. Mark is about to become a hero, and that's not a good thing.
People are disappearing in Santa Monica. Vanishing into thin air it seems. These people all have one thing in common. They're rude, bordering on cruel, to homeless people. Mark gets caught up in this wave of kidnappings and murders, and the question is, can he stop the people responsible before he becomes another casualty in their grand scheme. The degree to which Mark is a whiny liberal do-gooder detracts from the story, but the suspense kept me reading. The ending was worth the effort. Highly recommended.
Mark Denny is a computer technician. He works for himself and has clients all over the Santa Monica area. Mark is also a good guy. He's a vegetarian because he's against killing. He helps people that need help, including the homeless. Mark is about to become a hero, and that's not a good thing.
People are disappearing in Santa Monica. Vanishing into thin air it seems. These people all have one thing in common. They're rude, bordering on cruel, to homeless people. Mark gets caught up in this wave of kidnappings and murders, and the question is, can he stop the people responsible before he becomes another casualty in their grand scheme. The degree to which Mark is a whiny liberal do-gooder detracts from the story, but the suspense kept me reading. The ending was worth the effort. Highly recommended.
Dark Matter - Brett Adams
Dark Matter is $2.99 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded the book. You have to keep your eyes open. Super powers come in many different forms.
Rasputin Lowdermilk is ready to commit suicide. He's on the way to kill himself when he's hit by a car. When Rasputin, or Monk as his friends call him, comes out of his coma he discovers his mind has changed in ways he can't explain. Monk can remember everything he's ever seen or heard, and his mind keeps changing.
Gottfried Schürmann was a Nazi in WWII. When he wakes up in the Metropolitan Museum of New York, in the present day, Gottfried, or Cain as he calls himself, finds he's managed to survive decades of hibernation, and gained new powers that few humans have ever mastered. Cain intends to master them.
What these two men have in common is hard to follow at first, but the answers are woven into this tale. This book starts out slow, but builds to a very satisfying ending. Highly recommended.
Rasputin Lowdermilk is ready to commit suicide. He's on the way to kill himself when he's hit by a car. When Rasputin, or Monk as his friends call him, comes out of his coma he discovers his mind has changed in ways he can't explain. Monk can remember everything he's ever seen or heard, and his mind keeps changing.
Gottfried Schürmann was a Nazi in WWII. When he wakes up in the Metropolitan Museum of New York, in the present day, Gottfried, or Cain as he calls himself, finds he's managed to survive decades of hibernation, and gained new powers that few humans have ever mastered. Cain intends to master them.
What these two men have in common is hard to follow at first, but the answers are woven into this tale. This book starts out slow, but builds to a very satisfying ending. Highly recommended.
Superhero - Victor Methos
Superhero is a thriller with a twist. This book is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. Imagine a super villain shows up in town. How do you get a super hero to thwart the villain? Read this book and find out.
Jack Kane retired from the DEA. Jack decided his family and sanity were more important than keeping a trickle of drugs from people who were clamoring for it. Just as Jack is starting to adjust to civilian life again, Agamemnon shows up, the eight foot tall bullet proof leader of the Myrs gang. Jack is caught in the middle of a gang battle and decides someone has to stop the Myrs and Agamemnon. Jack has no idea what kind of effort on his part that's going to take. The story has lots of action and thrills, but the end is totally hokey and will remind you of Star Wars at it's worst. Read it and you'll see what I mean. Highly recommended.
Jack Kane retired from the DEA. Jack decided his family and sanity were more important than keeping a trickle of drugs from people who were clamoring for it. Just as Jack is starting to adjust to civilian life again, Agamemnon shows up, the eight foot tall bullet proof leader of the Myrs gang. Jack is caught in the middle of a gang battle and decides someone has to stop the Myrs and Agamemnon. Jack has no idea what kind of effort on his part that's going to take. The story has lots of action and thrills, but the end is totally hokey and will remind you of Star Wars at it's worst. Read it and you'll see what I mean. Highly recommended.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Read For Free
Reading is my favorite pastime. At least when the weather doesn't permit fishing. I like to read for free and I'm going to tell you how. If you live close to a library you can read for free simply by getting a library card. If no libraries are close, the internet gives you lots of choices. I'll demonstrate two.
The kindle is Amazon's version of an ereader. It's the one I prefer. The Amazon website lists free kindle apps for just about any device you can imagine. Phones, tablets, laptops, and PCs are all covered, in all the major systems from Apple to Windows. You can download an app for your favorite device and you have a free ereader for kindle books.
The nook is Barnes & Nobles version of an ereader. The Barnes & Noble website has a list of free nook apps that let you read nook books for lots of devices. Not as many as the kindle, but they probably have you covered. Download one and you have a free ereader for nook books.
But how much are the books you say? Well, there are tons of free books too. It's easy to find them if you know a simple trick. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble allow you to search their ebooks by genre. For Amazon, you select kindle store for the search, type science fiction in the search box, and click on Go (click on the pictures to open them up and see the whole screen capture):
You can see from this screen shot that there are over 77K results. The sort was by "new and popular" so this search finds books that cost money. You can change that easily. Just change the sort by to "price: low to high." Now you see free books. For this search on Amazon the first 15 pages of results (240 books) were free. I stopped clicking next at that point.
The Barnes & Noble website works the same way. Select NOOK Books as your area to search, type science fiction in the search box, and click on Search.
The default sort criteria is "top matches" so these books cost money too. Just change the sort by to "price - low to high" and you see the free books. Barnes & Noble shows over 96K results for this search and the first 240 results are free here as well. Again, I stopped hitting next at that point:
So if you like to read, but you don't like to spend money, this is one way to go. Granted, some free books are stinkers, but they're free. Check the reviews and see how many stars a book has before you download it. You can always stop reading after the first chapter and you're not wasting any money.
I've been reading ebooks for years. I buy a paper book once in a while, but most of the time they just sit and collect dust. My kindle, nook, tablet, and computers are the way I read these days.
If you have any questions just leave me comments and I'll try to answer them.
Good reading.
You can see from this screen shot that there are over 77K results. The sort was by "new and popular" so this search finds books that cost money. You can change that easily. Just change the sort by to "price: low to high." Now you see free books. For this search on Amazon the first 15 pages of results (240 books) were free. I stopped clicking next at that point.
The Barnes & Noble website works the same way. Select NOOK Books as your area to search, type science fiction in the search box, and click on Search.
The default sort criteria is "top matches" so these books cost money too. Just change the sort by to "price - low to high" and you see the free books. Barnes & Noble shows over 96K results for this search and the first 240 results are free here as well. Again, I stopped hitting next at that point:
So if you like to read, but you don't like to spend money, this is one way to go. Granted, some free books are stinkers, but they're free. Check the reviews and see how many stars a book has before you download it. You can always stop reading after the first chapter and you're not wasting any money.
I've been reading ebooks for years. I buy a paper book once in a while, but most of the time they just sit and collect dust. My kindle, nook, tablet, and computers are the way I read these days.
If you have any questions just leave me comments and I'll try to answer them.
Good reading.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Tankbread - Paul Mannering
Tankbread is $5.99 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. This book is plenty good enough to pay for.
It's been 10 years since humans lost the war against zombies. The remaining humans now produce clones called tankbread. Tankbread is produced so zombies will leave humans alone, and humans can maintain a dangerous balance of peace. A human courier is hired to retrieve a delivery for a zombie boss named Soo-Yong. The courier can't know that he'll discover the true nature of tankbread on his mission, and that tankbread may hold the only hope humanity has of surviving as a species. This is an awesome story. The nightmare world of Australia in the grip of the zombie hoards is described in chilling detail. The tension can be cut with a sword, just like zombie necks. Very highly recommended to anyone with a strong stomach.
It's been 10 years since humans lost the war against zombies. The remaining humans now produce clones called tankbread. Tankbread is produced so zombies will leave humans alone, and humans can maintain a dangerous balance of peace. A human courier is hired to retrieve a delivery for a zombie boss named Soo-Yong. The courier can't know that he'll discover the true nature of tankbread on his mission, and that tankbread may hold the only hope humanity has of surviving as a species. This is an awesome story. The nightmare world of Australia in the grip of the zombie hoards is described in chilling detail. The tension can be cut with a sword, just like zombie necks. Very highly recommended to anyone with a strong stomach.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Origin - J.A. Konrath, Jack Kilborn
Origin is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This book is about as scary as they come.
Something was discovered back in 1906 while they were digging the Panama canal. That something has been stored in New Mexico ever since. Now it's awake, and things are about to get interesting. This book keeps you tensed up all the way to the end, and you might need help to remember to breathe. Very highly recommended.
Something was discovered back in 1906 while they were digging the Panama canal. That something has been stored in New Mexico ever since. Now it's awake, and things are about to get interesting. This book keeps you tensed up all the way to the end, and you might need help to remember to breathe. Very highly recommended.
Friday, June 28, 2013
The Taken - Vicki Pettersson
The Taken is the first book in the Celestial Blues series. This book is $4.99 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. You just have to be on the lookout for bargains. Free is the only bargain I care about.
Katherine Craig is a reporter. Kit and her photographer best friend Nicole are trying to expose a prostitution ring with ties to the Las Vegas elite. While trying to meet a contact, Nicole is murdered and Kit is devastated.
Griffin Shaw was a tough guy private eye until he was murdered in 1960. Grif then became a Centurion. Centurions help escort those recently murdered to the Everlast. Grif was a little too accommodating on Nicole's pickup, and now he's back in the flesh, and a P.I. again.
Kit and Grif team up to keep Kit alive and catch the people responsible for Nicole's murder. This story is part crime mystery, part romance, and part supernatural adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Very highly recommended.
Katherine Craig is a reporter. Kit and her photographer best friend Nicole are trying to expose a prostitution ring with ties to the Las Vegas elite. While trying to meet a contact, Nicole is murdered and Kit is devastated.
Griffin Shaw was a tough guy private eye until he was murdered in 1960. Grif then became a Centurion. Centurions help escort those recently murdered to the Everlast. Grif was a little too accommodating on Nicole's pickup, and now he's back in the flesh, and a P.I. again.
Kit and Grif team up to keep Kit alive and catch the people responsible for Nicole's murder. This story is part crime mystery, part romance, and part supernatural adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Very highly recommended.
Monday, June 24, 2013
The Black Bullet - Tom Lowe
The Black Bullet is a Sean O'Brien mystery. This book is $2.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This thriller has murders to solve from 1945 to the present day. Plenty of action and an ending that leaves you smiling.
Sean O’Brien runs a charter fishing boat. He used to be a homicide cop and before that a soldier, but now it's calm seas. At least until his anchor snags on something that will cause Sean more trouble then he's seen in a long time. From Nazi's to nukes, this is a great mystery. Very highly recommended.
Sean O’Brien runs a charter fishing boat. He used to be a homicide cop and before that a soldier, but now it's calm seas. At least until his anchor snags on something that will cause Sean more trouble then he's seen in a long time. From Nazi's to nukes, this is a great mystery. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
The Shoulders of Giants - Jim Cliff
The Shoulders of Giants is a Jake Abraham Mystery. This book is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This is a great Private Eye thriller.
Jake Abraham just got his PI license. His first case is a missing person. Before Jake is done his missing person will be just one of the bodies piling up around him, and Jake may be on the killer's list too. I really enjoyed this book. You never know who or what is going to happen next. Jake makes a very likable protagonist, and like all good books, this one has a great ending. Very highly recommended.
Jake Abraham just got his PI license. His first case is a missing person. Before Jake is done his missing person will be just one of the bodies piling up around him, and Jake may be on the killer's list too. I really enjoyed this book. You never know who or what is going to happen next. Jake makes a very likable protagonist, and like all good books, this one has a great ending. Very highly recommended.
SECTOR C - Phoenix Sullivan
SECTOR C is free for the kindle. What would happen if a new disease was discovered that struck both animals and humans, young and old, and was always fatal? If you're worried about GMO this book will keep you up at night.
Mike Shafer is a CDC analyst. When he notices a spike in emergency room admission in the northern plains states, Mike heads to the field to see what's causing it. Mike is in for an interesting discovery.
Donna Bailey is a veterinarian working out of McKenzie County North Dakota. Donna has been trying to figure out what's causing the livestock in her area to weaken and die. None of the tests Donna has run point to any known disease. There's a reason for that.
Walt Thurman is CEO of Triple E Enterprises. Triple E is doing some genetics research and running planned hunts for cloned exotic and endangered species. But Walt has something special in SECTOR C. What it is and what was cloned along with it may be the end of civilization.
Mike and Donna will team up to try and stop the runaway threat that seems to be centered in North Dakota. Can it be done, and can they do it before they both succumb to the spreading disease? This book could use a little more polish, but it's a very good story. It kept me up late turning pages. Very highly recommended.
Mike Shafer is a CDC analyst. When he notices a spike in emergency room admission in the northern plains states, Mike heads to the field to see what's causing it. Mike is in for an interesting discovery.
Donna Bailey is a veterinarian working out of McKenzie County North Dakota. Donna has been trying to figure out what's causing the livestock in her area to weaken and die. None of the tests Donna has run point to any known disease. There's a reason for that.
Walt Thurman is CEO of Triple E Enterprises. Triple E is doing some genetics research and running planned hunts for cloned exotic and endangered species. But Walt has something special in SECTOR C. What it is and what was cloned along with it may be the end of civilization.
Mike and Donna will team up to try and stop the runaway threat that seems to be centered in North Dakota. Can it be done, and can they do it before they both succumb to the spreading disease? This book could use a little more polish, but it's a very good story. It kept me up late turning pages. Very highly recommended.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Matanzas Bay - Parker Francis
Matanzas Bay is a Quint Mitchell Mystery. This book is $2.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This is a great mystery with twists right up to the very satisfying ending.
Quint Mitchell is a private eye. In his spare time Quint volunteers with an archaeological survey in his town of St. Augustine Florida. When Quint digs up a legless body, and the body belongs to St. Augustine’s vice mayor, a whole lot of trouble starts coming his way. Quint is working to clear his friend from murder charges, but he has to live long enough to do so. Very highly recommended.
Quint Mitchell is a private eye. In his spare time Quint volunteers with an archaeological survey in his town of St. Augustine Florida. When Quint digs up a legless body, and the body belongs to St. Augustine’s vice mayor, a whole lot of trouble starts coming his way. Quint is working to clear his friend from murder charges, but he has to live long enough to do so. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Vigilante - Claude Bouchard
Vigilante is the first book in the Vigilante Series, but the novel stands on its own. This book is $3.99 for the kindle, but it's free for Amazon prime members. Revenge is sweet, no matter how you serve it.
This book follows the killings of the criminal known as the Vigilante. The police and their consultants are trying to stop him, but they keep running into dead ends. Revenge is the Vigilante's initial motive, but he's just trying to do what the cops can't, and he does it very well. Plenty of action and suspense. A great thriller. Highly recommended.
This book follows the killings of the criminal known as the Vigilante. The police and their consultants are trying to stop him, but they keep running into dead ends. Revenge is the Vigilante's initial motive, but he's just trying to do what the cops can't, and he does it very well. Plenty of action and suspense. A great thriller. Highly recommended.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Snowbound - Blake Crouch
Snowbound is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. Don't let the title throw you, since this story starts in the Sonora desert. This book is a killer thriller right to the end.
Will, Rachael, and Devlin Innis are a pretty normal family. The cloud of Devlin's cystic fibrosis is always hanging over their heads, but they're happy and dealing. Then one night Rachael doesn't come home. Will and Devlin are forced to flee their house in Arizona to keep what's left of their family together. What happened to Rachael is a mystery they can't solve, especially while they're on the run.
Then FBI agent Kalyn Sharp shows up on Will and Devlin's doorstep and their lives take another drastic turn. Can Will, Devlin, and Kalyn discover what happened to Rachael after five long years? Is Rachael dead or alive? This story has twists and turns it's hard to keep up with, but it's so enjoyable to try. I great mystery. Very highly recommended.
Will, Rachael, and Devlin Innis are a pretty normal family. The cloud of Devlin's cystic fibrosis is always hanging over their heads, but they're happy and dealing. Then one night Rachael doesn't come home. Will and Devlin are forced to flee their house in Arizona to keep what's left of their family together. What happened to Rachael is a mystery they can't solve, especially while they're on the run.
Then FBI agent Kalyn Sharp shows up on Will and Devlin's doorstep and their lives take another drastic turn. Can Will, Devlin, and Kalyn discover what happened to Rachael after five long years? Is Rachael dead or alive? This story has twists and turns it's hard to keep up with, but it's so enjoyable to try. I great mystery. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
A Lonely Resurrection - Barry Eisler
A Lonely Resurrection is a John Rain novel previously published as Hard Rain/Blood From Blood. This book is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. If you've never read a Rain novel give this one a try. It will stand on its own.
John Rain is a Japanese/American assassin. John got his start in Vietnam and moved on to the CIA and then free lance work. John is trying to get out of the business, but he keeps getting pulled back in by his past. With all the people trying to kill John, he has to be very careful. The question is, can he count on his friends to be careful too? The author describes a Japan that is chilling in its level of corruption. This book has plenty of action, women, and of course killing. It's a little wordier than I prefer, but still highly recommended.
John Rain is a Japanese/American assassin. John got his start in Vietnam and moved on to the CIA and then free lance work. John is trying to get out of the business, but he keeps getting pulled back in by his past. With all the people trying to kill John, he has to be very careful. The question is, can he count on his friends to be careful too? The author describes a Japan that is chilling in its level of corruption. This book has plenty of action, women, and of course killing. It's a little wordier than I prefer, but still highly recommended.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Dirty Martini - J.A. Konrath
Dirty Martini is the fourth Jack Daniels Mystery. It stands all by itself though. This book is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. Murder by poison may be less bloody, but you're just as dead.
Chicago police Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels isn't having a good day. Her partner is transferring out of homicide and she gets called away in the middle of her boyfriend's proposal. Jack's day gets a lot worse before it gets better. The Chemist has started poisoning people at random, or so it seems. Jack is put in charge of the investigation and the Chemist takes that personal. Jack has to escape his attempts to killer her, and catch him before he wipes out most of Chicago's finest. This is a great detective story, with a heroine and villain who keep it interesting all the way to the end. Very highly recommended.
Chicago police Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels isn't having a good day. Her partner is transferring out of homicide and she gets called away in the middle of her boyfriend's proposal. Jack's day gets a lot worse before it gets better. The Chemist has started poisoning people at random, or so it seems. Jack is put in charge of the investigation and the Chemist takes that personal. Jack has to escape his attempts to killer her, and catch him before he wipes out most of Chicago's finest. This is a great detective story, with a heroine and villain who keep it interesting all the way to the end. Very highly recommended.
Outer Bounds: Fortune's Rising - Sara King
Outer Bounds: Fortune's Rising is $4.99 for the kindle. This is some real shoot 'em up science fiction. Hang on tight.
Magali and Anna Landborn are virtually slaves in yolk factory 14 on the planet Fortune. The United Space Coalition drafts young and old alike as eggers, but almost nobody survives their five years of dealing with shriekers. Magali is an adult and Anna is only seven, but both sisters are destined to be players in what will hopefully be the revolution that allows Fortune to break free of the Coalition. This is an awesome science fiction smorgasbord. Strange and deadly creatures, cyborgs, and enough action to make your head spin. There will be a sequel eventually, and I'm going to pay money to read that book. Very highly recommended.
Magali and Anna Landborn are virtually slaves in yolk factory 14 on the planet Fortune. The United Space Coalition drafts young and old alike as eggers, but almost nobody survives their five years of dealing with shriekers. Magali is an adult and Anna is only seven, but both sisters are destined to be players in what will hopefully be the revolution that allows Fortune to break free of the Coalition. This is an awesome science fiction smorgasbord. Strange and deadly creatures, cyborgs, and enough action to make your head spin. There will be a sequel eventually, and I'm going to pay money to read that book. Very highly recommended.
The Big Bend - Gary Showalter
The Big Bend is $3.00 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. If you like boats, this is a book you'll love.
Terry Rankin is the owner of Rankin Personal Security Services. He's ex-military police and ex-Pennsylvania state police. Terry's got a meeting with a wife who wants out of her marriage, but this potential client is not someone he wants to work for. Unfortunately, circumstances are going to change Terry's point of view fast. Actually, his whole life is in for some big changes. This book has more murders than you can keep track of, and lots of the action takes place on the water. If Terry can stay alive, and out of the hospital, he might have a chance of catching the killer. He might even get the girl. This is a book I couldn't put down. Very highly recommended.
Terry Rankin is the owner of Rankin Personal Security Services. He's ex-military police and ex-Pennsylvania state police. Terry's got a meeting with a wife who wants out of her marriage, but this potential client is not someone he wants to work for. Unfortunately, circumstances are going to change Terry's point of view fast. Actually, his whole life is in for some big changes. This book has more murders than you can keep track of, and lots of the action takes place on the water. If Terry can stay alive, and out of the hospital, he might have a chance of catching the killer. He might even get the girl. This is a book I couldn't put down. Very highly recommended.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
The Ninth District - Douglas Dorow
The Ninth District is $3.49 for the kindle. The ninth district federal reserve bank of Minneapolis has never been robbed. At least not yet.
Jack Miller is an FBI special agent. As a senior agent, Jack is assigned to help a new agent, Ross Fruen, with a string of bank robberies carried out by a masked man known as "the governor." When Jack and Ross get close, the governor does whatever it takes to avoid capture and pull off his ultimate bank job. This novel was a little light in some areas, and the ending was kind of an anti-climax, but still a good detective story. Highly recommended.
Jack Miller is an FBI special agent. As a senior agent, Jack is assigned to help a new agent, Ross Fruen, with a string of bank robberies carried out by a masked man known as "the governor." When Jack and Ross get close, the governor does whatever it takes to avoid capture and pull off his ultimate bank job. This novel was a little light in some areas, and the ending was kind of an anti-climax, but still a good detective story. Highly recommended.
Darker Things - Rob Cornell
Darker Things is the first book in the Lockman Chronicles. This novel is $4.99 for the kindle. Paranormal gets stranger all the time, but that's a good thing.
Craig Lockman used to be a government agent. His job was defending the country against an enemy most people didn't know existed. Then Craig was retired and he vanished. Craig hasn't heard his real name in 15 years, until a young girl shows up on his doorstep. She could be his daughter. Hopefully they'll live long enough to find out for sure. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, imps, and some monsters not even named, populate the world Craig used to live in. Now he's forced back into that world with a daughter to defend and an old enemy to defeat. This book has more than enough action, and death around every corner. Very highly recommended.
Craig Lockman used to be a government agent. His job was defending the country against an enemy most people didn't know existed. Then Craig was retired and he vanished. Craig hasn't heard his real name in 15 years, until a young girl shows up on his doorstep. She could be his daughter. Hopefully they'll live long enough to find out for sure. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, imps, and some monsters not even named, populate the world Craig used to live in. Now he's forced back into that world with a daughter to defend and an old enemy to defeat. This book has more than enough action, and death around every corner. Very highly recommended.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Touched - A.J. Aalto
Touched is the first book in the Marnie Baranuik Files series. It's a stand-alone novel though. This title is 99 cents for the kindle. The things I like about this book outweigh the things I don't, but it was close.
Marnie Baranuik has a Ph.D. in preternatural biology and she's a practicing witch. Marnie's also the daysitter to 435 year old vampire, who's passed on the gifts of empathy and touch. All this makes Marnie a very sought after psychic. Fame has it's drawbacks though. Marnie is the target of some very dangerous people. People who are determined to end her life, since Marnie already retired from her career. Demons, witches, ghouls, vampires, and just plain humans are after Marnie. How, and if, she survives make a tale it's hard to put down. Highly recommended.
I really like this story. The author has come up with some great new wrinkles on the paranormal theme that make it very interesting, but there are issues that almost made me quit reading more than once. First is the author's raging case of logorrhea. It can take pages for the characters in this book to get from one room to the next. The Reader's Digest Condensed version of this novel would be the size of a Jehovah's Witness pamphlet, but much more interesting. Second is the cheesy analogies. For example, "like trying to pick a wet watermelon seed off a Formica table." The effectiveness of this particular analogy is called to question, since the next part of the sentence had to explain what it meant. Third is the angst filled introspection. Marnie is so whiny and insecure it's hard to understand how she could become a character of any importance. Yet she is, and by the end of the book I was rooting for her, if for no other reason than she would stop whining. The story itself was so good I still highly recommend this book.
Marnie Baranuik has a Ph.D. in preternatural biology and she's a practicing witch. Marnie's also the daysitter to 435 year old vampire, who's passed on the gifts of empathy and touch. All this makes Marnie a very sought after psychic. Fame has it's drawbacks though. Marnie is the target of some very dangerous people. People who are determined to end her life, since Marnie already retired from her career. Demons, witches, ghouls, vampires, and just plain humans are after Marnie. How, and if, she survives make a tale it's hard to put down. Highly recommended.
I really like this story. The author has come up with some great new wrinkles on the paranormal theme that make it very interesting, but there are issues that almost made me quit reading more than once. First is the author's raging case of logorrhea. It can take pages for the characters in this book to get from one room to the next. The Reader's Digest Condensed version of this novel would be the size of a Jehovah's Witness pamphlet, but much more interesting. Second is the cheesy analogies. For example, "like trying to pick a wet watermelon seed off a Formica table." The effectiveness of this particular analogy is called to question, since the next part of the sentence had to explain what it meant. Third is the angst filled introspection. Marnie is so whiny and insecure it's hard to understand how she could become a character of any importance. Yet she is, and by the end of the book I was rooting for her, if for no other reason than she would stop whining. The story itself was so good I still highly recommend this book.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Rogue's Honor - Brenda Hiatt
Rogue's Honor is the first book in the Saint of Seven Dials series. This book is 99 cents for the kindle. I really enjoyed this story. It takes place in 1816 London, but murder, intrigue, sex, and romance are not limited by time period.
Lady Pearl Moreston is the daughter of the Duke of Oakshire. Pearl is determined to avoid marriage until she reaches the age of 21. At that point she'll inherit the Fairbourne estate free and clear and can put her ideas on social reform to the test. Her step-mother is equally determined to find a way to marry Pearl off to some lord so her son will inherit Fairbourne. Since Lady Pearl is a reformer, she decides to see how the commoners live. When she disguises herself as a kitchen maid, she crosses paths with the notorious thief, the Saint of the Seven Dials. The two are instantly drawn to each other, but continue to lie to protect themselves and those they hold dear. Will they eventually be able to overcome their class differences? Will they survive the intrigue that surrounds them? I great period piece, with plenty of twists and turns. Be aware there are some pretty steamy scenes. Very highly recommended.
Lady Pearl Moreston is the daughter of the Duke of Oakshire. Pearl is determined to avoid marriage until she reaches the age of 21. At that point she'll inherit the Fairbourne estate free and clear and can put her ideas on social reform to the test. Her step-mother is equally determined to find a way to marry Pearl off to some lord so her son will inherit Fairbourne. Since Lady Pearl is a reformer, she decides to see how the commoners live. When she disguises herself as a kitchen maid, she crosses paths with the notorious thief, the Saint of the Seven Dials. The two are instantly drawn to each other, but continue to lie to protect themselves and those they hold dear. Will they eventually be able to overcome their class differences? Will they survive the intrigue that surrounds them? I great period piece, with plenty of twists and turns. Be aware there are some pretty steamy scenes. Very highly recommended.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Shaken - Susan Hatler
Shaken is $3.99 for the kindle. It's book one in the Mind Reader series. There's some serious teenage angst in this novel, but the story rises above it.
Kylie Bates is a typical 4.0 GPA junior in high school. Kylie's Mom died when she was four, so it's just her and her Dad. Kylie has trouble talking to boys, but she's focused on her grades, so that's not too big a problem. Then suddenly Kylie discovers she can read people's minds. Even when she doesn't want to. Kylie makes lots of other discoveries too, like she has relatives she never even knew about, her best friend has been lying to her, and her Dad may have been holding out on her all these years. This story has plenty of smart mouth teenage girl dialog, but there's action, suspense, and a budding teenage romance. Highly recommended.
Kylie Bates is a typical 4.0 GPA junior in high school. Kylie's Mom died when she was four, so it's just her and her Dad. Kylie has trouble talking to boys, but she's focused on her grades, so that's not too big a problem. Then suddenly Kylie discovers she can read people's minds. Even when she doesn't want to. Kylie makes lots of other discoveries too, like she has relatives she never even knew about, her best friend has been lying to her, and her Dad may have been holding out on her all these years. This story has plenty of smart mouth teenage girl dialog, but there's action, suspense, and a budding teenage romance. Highly recommended.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Engulfed - Kathleen M. Cosgrove
Engulfed is 99 cents for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This novel is a great murder mystery and so much more. Prepare to laugh your butt off, and not be able to put down this book.
Maggie Finn is a 50 something reporter (gossip columnist) from Albuquerque. Maggie's in Florida to help her parents move from a house to an assisted living facility called Shell Harbor. She hates the heat, the humidity, and the rain. Basically she hates Florida. While Maggie is at the Shells, checking out the facility, a body is discovered. Or at least the parts not still in an alligator are discovered. Maggie's secret desire to be an investigative reporter takes over and the adventure begins. Con men, drug dealers, drag queens, mob assassins, aging hippies, and cute police detectives all keep this boisterous murder mystery going. Even when Maggie is close to dying, and that seems to happen a lot, the humor keeps on coming. This is a read everyone should enjoy. Very highly recommended.
Maggie Finn is a 50 something reporter (gossip columnist) from Albuquerque. Maggie's in Florida to help her parents move from a house to an assisted living facility called Shell Harbor. She hates the heat, the humidity, and the rain. Basically she hates Florida. While Maggie is at the Shells, checking out the facility, a body is discovered. Or at least the parts not still in an alligator are discovered. Maggie's secret desire to be an investigative reporter takes over and the adventure begins. Con men, drug dealers, drag queens, mob assassins, aging hippies, and cute police detectives all keep this boisterous murder mystery going. Even when Maggie is close to dying, and that seems to happen a lot, the humor keeps on coming. This is a read everyone should enjoy. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Torch Ginger - Toby Neal
Torch Ginger is the second book in the Lei Crime series, but it stands on its own. This book is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. The Hawaiian island of Kaua'i seems like a paradise, until you notice the people disappearing.
Leilani Texeira is a detective on the Kaua'i island police force. She's running from an engagement that ended badly, and trying hard to make her promotion to detective work. Lei's past comes back to haunt her in more ways than one, and she discovers a case that could make her career. First Lei has to hang onto case, and then she has to live through it. I great detective story in a beautiful setting. Very highly recommended.
Leilani Texeira is a detective on the Kaua'i island police force. She's running from an engagement that ended badly, and trying hard to make her promotion to detective work. Lei's past comes back to haunt her in more ways than one, and she discovers a case that could make her career. First Lei has to hang onto case, and then she has to live through it. I great detective story in a beautiful setting. Very highly recommended.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Deathscape - Dana Marton
Deathscape is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. The title is perfect for this book. Read it and find out why.
Ashley Price is an artist. Ashley is struggling with a near-death experience that's left her unable to care for her five year old daughter, and stifled her ability to paint the kinds of pieces she's known for. Ashley has visions of dead people that she's compelled to paint. Then one night she finishes another tortured portrait and realizes the person in this painting isn't dead. He's buried alive, and on her property.
Jack Sullivan is a police detective. Jack is obsessed with the serial killer known as Brady Blackwell. Jack is getting close, and Blackwell knows it. The solution is to eliminate Jack.
This is an excellent book. There's plenty of suspense, mystery, and an unlikely romance between Ashley and Jack. Warning, there are some explicit passages, but the book for the most part is a murder mystery that kept me reading late into the night. Very highly recommended.
Ashley Price is an artist. Ashley is struggling with a near-death experience that's left her unable to care for her five year old daughter, and stifled her ability to paint the kinds of pieces she's known for. Ashley has visions of dead people that she's compelled to paint. Then one night she finishes another tortured portrait and realizes the person in this painting isn't dead. He's buried alive, and on her property.
Jack Sullivan is a police detective. Jack is obsessed with the serial killer known as Brady Blackwell. Jack is getting close, and Blackwell knows it. The solution is to eliminate Jack.
This is an excellent book. There's plenty of suspense, mystery, and an unlikely romance between Ashley and Jack. Warning, there are some explicit passages, but the book for the most part is a murder mystery that kept me reading late into the night. Very highly recommended.
Friday, May 17, 2013
The Touch - Lisa Olsen
The Touch is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This mystery is a little scary, a little funny, a little romance, and a lot of paranormal.
Lexi Morgan is an artist. She also has the touch. Lexi gets impressions from things she touches with her hands, so she wears gloves all the time. When Lexi's sister and niece need help, Lexi takes off the gloves. The trouble is Lexi's touch doesn't always show her what she expects.
Gabriel Ryan is a police detective. Gabriel and Lexi collide working a missing persons case. Lexi could help Gabriel, but how does she get a pragmatic police detective to believe in her touch? This is a great book with lots of suspense and danger, and plenty of sparks flying between Lexi and Gabriel. Very highly recommended.
Lexi Morgan is an artist. She also has the touch. Lexi gets impressions from things she touches with her hands, so she wears gloves all the time. When Lexi's sister and niece need help, Lexi takes off the gloves. The trouble is Lexi's touch doesn't always show her what she expects.
Gabriel Ryan is a police detective. Gabriel and Lexi collide working a missing persons case. Lexi could help Gabriel, but how does she get a pragmatic police detective to believe in her touch? This is a great book with lots of suspense and danger, and plenty of sparks flying between Lexi and Gabriel. Very highly recommended.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The Hunting Tree Book One - Ike Hamill
The Hunting Tree - Book One is 99 cents for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This is not a book that has a sequel, or the first book in a series. This is the first part of the book. If you don't intend to get the other two parts you won't have a complete book. It's not a cliff hanger. The story just stops a third of the way through. Too bad this wasn't made clear before I downloaded the first part. The second and third parts are not free.
This story has three separate threads that don't seem to have any connection. Maybe that will be made clear in one of the other parts. The first thread follows a prehistoric man called Crooked Tree. His whole family, or tribe, leap to their death, but Crooked Tree doesn't die. The second thread follows Davey. He's seven years old and has some issues. Staying clean appears to be one of them. The third thread follows three paranormal investigators; Mike, Gary, and Katie. They appear to have found some interesting entities, but they don't know what to do with them. The first two threads are interesting, but not compelling. The third thread has some good scary stuff, but the book as a whole is just disjointed at the end of the first part. I'm not going to bother to read the other two parts. Not recommended.
This story has three separate threads that don't seem to have any connection. Maybe that will be made clear in one of the other parts. The first thread follows a prehistoric man called Crooked Tree. His whole family, or tribe, leap to their death, but Crooked Tree doesn't die. The second thread follows Davey. He's seven years old and has some issues. Staying clean appears to be one of them. The third thread follows three paranormal investigators; Mike, Gary, and Katie. They appear to have found some interesting entities, but they don't know what to do with them. The first two threads are interesting, but not compelling. The third thread has some good scary stuff, but the book as a whole is just disjointed at the end of the first part. I'm not going to bother to read the other two parts. Not recommended.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Noble Beginnings - L.T. Ryan
Noble Beginnings is the first book in the Jack Noble series. This book is $3.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This story is the beginning of what could be a great series.
Jack Noble is a Marine. Jack is serving with a CIA team in Iraq, six months after the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack. Jack and his fellow Marine, Riley (Bear) Logan, are two Marines supporting a four man CIA team. When they put a stop to the CIA mistreatment of some Iraqi civilians, their troubles start. Jack and Bear are in for the ride of their lives. It's going to be a bumpy ride and short lives if they can't find out who's pulling the strings behind the people trying to eliminate them. This story has plenty of action, suspense, and thrills. I'm looking forward to the next Jack Noble book. Very highly recommended.
Jack Noble is a Marine. Jack is serving with a CIA team in Iraq, six months after the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack. Jack and his fellow Marine, Riley (Bear) Logan, are two Marines supporting a four man CIA team. When they put a stop to the CIA mistreatment of some Iraqi civilians, their troubles start. Jack and Bear are in for the ride of their lives. It's going to be a bumpy ride and short lives if they can't find out who's pulling the strings behind the people trying to eliminate them. This story has plenty of action, suspense, and thrills. I'm looking forward to the next Jack Noble book. Very highly recommended.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Play Dead - Anne Frasier
Play Dead is $4.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This book will send shivers down your spine.
Elise Sandburg is a detective on the Savannah police department. Elise was born and raised in Savannah. David Gould is also a Savannah police detective. David is ex-FBI and a yankee through and through. Elise and David are trying to solve a series of murders where the victims are not always dead. At least not a first. This story is hard to put down. Partly because you just don't want to turn off the light. Very highly recommended.
Elise Sandburg is a detective on the Savannah police department. Elise was born and raised in Savannah. David Gould is also a Savannah police detective. David is ex-FBI and a yankee through and through. Elise and David are trying to solve a series of murders where the victims are not always dead. At least not a first. This story is hard to put down. Partly because you just don't want to turn off the light. Very highly recommended.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Good Daughter: A Mafia Story - Diana Layne
The Good Daughter: A Mafia Story is $2.99 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. What would your father have to do for you to want him dead?
Marisa Peruzzo is the daughter of Carlo Peruzzo, the head of the Peruzzo crime family. She's determined to bring down her father and is willing to do whatever it takes.
Dave Armstrong is an FBI agent. Dave's also focused on Carlo Peruzzo. Marisa and Dave will have to work together, but they may not have the same final goal. Dave wants Carlo in prison. Marisa wants her father in hell. Plenty of action and suspense. Many strong characters, both good and bad. Highly recommended.
Marisa Peruzzo is the daughter of Carlo Peruzzo, the head of the Peruzzo crime family. She's determined to bring down her father and is willing to do whatever it takes.
Dave Armstrong is an FBI agent. Dave's also focused on Carlo Peruzzo. Marisa and Dave will have to work together, but they may not have the same final goal. Dave wants Carlo in prison. Marisa wants her father in hell. Plenty of action and suspense. Many strong characters, both good and bad. Highly recommended.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Only Human - Chris Reher
Only Human is the first book in the Targon Tales series. This book is $3.95 for the kindle, but free for Amazon prime members. This is a real shoot 'em up science fiction romp.
Nova Whiteside isn't just a pilot. She's a hunter class pilot, with serious combat experience. She's been stuck on Myra for eight months in retraining mode and is getting bored. She's about to get unbored in a serious way when she's promoted to Vanguard.
Major Tychon is is Delphian. When Nova is assigned as his Vanguard copilot she's apprehensive because Humans and Delphians don't always get along. Tychon is a level three spanner though, and the thought of exploring uncharted jumpsites appeals to Nova's sense of adventure. Little does Nova know that she and Tychon will get along just fine, and have more adventure than she could hope for. In fact, Nova and Tychon may just save the entire universe from destruction. Very highly recommended.
Nova Whiteside isn't just a pilot. She's a hunter class pilot, with serious combat experience. She's been stuck on Myra for eight months in retraining mode and is getting bored. She's about to get unbored in a serious way when she's promoted to Vanguard.
Major Tychon is is Delphian. When Nova is assigned as his Vanguard copilot she's apprehensive because Humans and Delphians don't always get along. Tychon is a level three spanner though, and the thought of exploring uncharted jumpsites appeals to Nova's sense of adventure. Little does Nova know that she and Tychon will get along just fine, and have more adventure than she could hope for. In fact, Nova and Tychon may just save the entire universe from destruction. Very highly recommended.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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