Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Chameleon - Cidney Swanson
Chameleon is the second novel in the Ripple Trilogy. This book is $3.99 for the kindle, but amazon still has a special deal going for the entire trilogy for 99 cents.
Samantha, Will, and Will's sister Mickie travel to France as part of a school trip. The goal is to connect with Sir Walter, another rippler Mickie has been corresponding with. Sir Walter seems to have a better understanding of why a mysterious group murdered Sam's mother and is now trying to capture Sam alive. The trio find Sir Walter and learn more about ripplers, but still don't get answers to all their questions. There are plenty of close calls and adventures, and romance begins to bloom at last. You MUST read these books in order. It's worth it. Very highly recommended.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Valkyrie Rising - Ingrid Paulson
Valkyrie Rising is $10.67 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. This book is another teen supernatural coming of age story. A very good one.
Ellie Overholt's definition of herself is her big brother Graham's little sister. Ellie is going to be a Junior in high school next year, but for now it's summer vacation. While visiting her Grandmother in the small fishing village of Skavøpoll Norway, Ellie begins to notice people are acting strange toward her. Ellie is coming into her heritage, and it's a scary one. At least at first. It's even more scary when Ellie discovers her heritage may be the only chance to save her brother. Plenty of adventure, romance, and a healthy dose of teenage angst. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Never Say Die - Will Hobbs
Never Say Die is $9.78 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. This book is about two brothers and their trip down the Firth River in the arctic.
Nick Thrasher lives the Inuit life with his mother and grandparents in the Canadian town of Aklavik. Nick is 15 and already responsible for feeding his extended family by hunting on the arctic tundra. Nick is only half Inuit though. His father was an American adventurer who died in a mountain climbing accident before Nick even met him. Nick has a older half brother, Ryan Powers, who he's never met. Ryan is a wildlife photographer working for National Geographic. When Ryan invites Nick to raft the Firth River with him in search of herds of caribou, Nick is reluctant at first. Eventually Nick and Ryan unite for the adventure of a lifetime. There are many ways to die in the arctic, and the two brothers seem to run into most of them. This is a good read, but the preachy liberal environmentalist writing detracts from the adventure of the story. Especially since it's based on lies and misinformation. Still highly recommended.
Rippler - Cidney Swanson
Rippler is the first novel in the Ripple Trilogy. This book is free for the kindle. How would you like to have a super power you couldn't control?
Samantha Ruiz is 15. She runs cross-country in high school. In fact, running is what keeps Sam sane, especially since she's discovered she can become invisible. Sam is a rippler, and when she realizes that Will, from her cross-country team, knows about her, Sam's whole life changes. There's plenty of adventure and suspense, and a big dose of danger in this tale. And of course no young adult novel would be without some romance. This is a great read. Even though I have to pay, I'll be reading the rest of the trilogy. Very highly recommended.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Red Fox - Karina Halle
Red Fox is the second novel in the Experiment in Terror series. This book is 99 cents for the kindle. This time Navajo evil is causing the terror.
Perry and Dex are headed to New Mexico to film a webisode on the troubles a couple are having with what sounds like poltergeists. Turns out the troubles are much worse than simple ghosts. Perry and Dex are fighting for their lives when the real evil makes itself known. Another good adventure. The only problem is the author doesn't seem to know how to end a story. Maybe that's because you're expected to head right into the next tale in the series. Still a good read. Highly recommended.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Darkhouse - Karina Halle
Darkhouse is the first novel in the Experiment in Terror series. This book is free for the kindle. There's a fine line between being a ghost hunter and being haunted.
Perry Palomino is just 22 and she's been through some interesting periods in her life already. Now she's about to find a possible explanation for some of those issues in her past, and maybe a new career. Perry can see and communicate with ghosts. Sometimes in dreams and sometimes when she's wide awake. When Perry runs into Dex, an official ghost hunter, she might have found her match in more way than one. Now if the ghosts will just let her survive to find out. Plenty of action and "can't put the book down" suspense, and just a little bit of romance. Highly recommended. A little warning, there isn't a cliff hanger at the end, but there is a teaser. The good news is, there are already eleven other published novels in this series, and they're all only 99 cents for the kindle.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Ancient Enemy - Mark Lukens
Ancient Enemy is $2.99 for the kindle. This novel was free when I downloaded it. This book is a supernatural thriller where legend becomes reality in a frightening and deadly standoff.
Stella is an archeologist specializing in the Anasazi. This story starts with Stella at an Anasazi dig in New Mexico. She's running for her life from something that is slowly killing everyone at the dig site. David is a nine year old native American boy. David showed up at the dig covered in blood after the troubles started. Stella and David manage to escape New Mexico, only to be highjacked by bank robbers in Colorado. The robbers don't realize it, but they just made the biggest mistake of their lives. Whatever was killing people in New Mexico, has followed Stella and David, and the killing is about to start again.
This is a good story. My criteria is, it keeps my interest and the ending doesn't suck. Some would say I have low standards. Maybe more than some. This novel has almost no character development, hence first names only. It has almost no back story. If you're a plot Nazi, you've been warned. This book has a definite ability to raise your heart rate and fight any urges you have to stop reading. Good enough for me. Highly recommended.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Kingmaking - Helen Hollick
Kingmaking is the first book in the Pendragon's Banner Trilogy. This novel is $9.99 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. Keep your eyes open for this kind of bargain. This is yet another historical novel providing the author's version of the King Arthur legend.
This story starts with Arther crossing the English channel with his father at the age of 15. It ends with a 22 year old Arthur defeating the Saxons and reigning as Supreme King over Greater and Less Britain. This is a long tale, with plenty of battles, intrigue, murder, and romance. Highly recommended.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Trust - Tim Mettey
Trust is volume two in The Hero Chronicles. This book is 99 cents for the kindle. No volume three yet, but I'm sure it's coming.
Nicholas seems to have some normal in his life now, in spite of being Thusian. Then his new neighbors turn out to be Thusians too, and inform him that he's not an ordinary Thusian. Nicholas is part of a special group that may be able to end the struggle between the seekers, the council, and the Thusians at large. But Nicholas and the others need to find the final member of their group. The trouble is, who to trust. The results of their search are a huge surprise. A great continuation of Secrets. Very highly recommended.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Secrets - Tim Mettey
Secrets is volume one in The Hero Chronicles. This book is free for the kindle. Volume two is just 99 cents. It's next on my list.
Alex Taylor was just 10 years old when a devastating earthquake hit the New Madrid Fault Line. It destroyed Alex's school, killed his parents, and changed his life forever. Five years later, Alex has become Nicholas Keller, and Nicholas and his aunt Cora have been moving and hiding until it's became second nature for them both. But then Nicholas and Cora move to Winsor Illinois, and everything changes again. Nicholas begins to exhibit some strange new powers and romance catches him completely by surprise. This is a great book for young adults. Mystery, suspense, super powers, and a budding romance. Very highly recommended.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
The Rise of the Red Shadow - Joseph Lallo
The Rise of the Red Shadow is a prequel to the Book of Deacon trilogy. This novel is $2.99 for the kindle. The Red Shadow is fully formed when The Book of Deacon starts. Now you can find out how he took on that form.
Some slavers discover the escaped slave they were tracking was killed by a female malthrope. They're disappointed, but the baby malthrope hiding nearby will bring a decent bounty, so they pop him in a sack and bring him along. So starts the life of Shadow, an orphan malthrope who is kept alive solely for the bounty he'll bring when he's grown. Shadow learns what it's like to be a slave, and along the way he learns what it means to have a purpose. Eventually Shadow learns how to live like a malthrope. Finally, Shadow learns how to be an assassin, the most feared in both kingdoms. This is a great story. It can be read on its own, but I recommend reading it either before or after the Book of Deacon trilogy. Very highly recommended.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Trouble in Mudbug - Jana DeLeon
Trouble in Mudbug is the first novel in the Ghost-in-Law Series. This book is free for the kindle. This is a murder mystery with a twist. The victim comes back to help solve her own murder.
Maryse Robicheaux is a botanist working for the state in the small Louisiana town of Mudbug. Maryse's husband has been MIA almost since they were married, and her mother-in-law Helena has made it a miserable two years. But when Helena dies of a respiratory failure, Maryse attends the funeral like a daughter-in-law should. Imagine Maryse's shock when Helena sits up and climbs out of the casket. Especially when Maryse is the only one who can see her. Apparently Maryse and Helena have to solve Helena's murder before Helena can "move on," and hopefully before Maryse is murdered too. This is a hilarious suspenseful murder mystery with a big dose of romance. Highly recommended.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims - Rush Limbaugh
Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims is the first of what promises to be a series of "Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans." This book is $5.99 for the kindle. This story is suitable for young kids. Even if they're so young you have to read it to them. Be aware there are maps and diagrams that didn't translate well on my kindle. The book was still good, but I'd get a physical book for kids so they can explore the images in more detail.
Rush Revere is a substitute teacher who just happens to have a time-traveling horse named Liberty. Rush and Liberty take some of Rush's students time hopping to explore the pilgrims' voyage to America on the Mayflower, the settling of the Plymouth Plantation, and the first Thanksgiving. This is an excellent teaching book that will still be fun for kids. This story provides the true historical events of the pilgrims' voyage and settlement. Not a slanted or watered down version. Highly recommended.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Jade - Joseph Lallo
Jade is 99 cents for the kindle. This is a generations later follow-up story to The Book of Deacon trilogy. You don't have to read the trilogy first, but you'll enjoy this book more if you do.
Jade Vera Rinton is six years old when her home catches fire and her family burns to death. Jade is left an orphan. The town elders turn Jade over to a man named Drudder, but Jade was only fostered by Drudder so he could have her land. Now Jade is the only thing standing between Drudder and the ownership of her family's acres. What Drudder doesn't know is that there's a dragon named Halfax lurking in the forest, and the dragon is watching Jade too. This is a great story for young and old. The ending is appropriate for any happy fairy tale. Very highly recommended.
Calamity Jayne - Kathleen Bacus
Calamity Jayne is the first book in the Calamity Jayne Mystery series. This book is 99 cents for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. Murder doesn't make a very funny blonde joke.
Tressa Jayne Turner is 24, blonde, and drifting through life. Tressa has milked being average and blonde for her whole life. She's beginning to get tired of her reputation as a dizzy blonde. Tressa is ready to be taken seriously. Then she finds the first dead body. By the time this story is coming to an end, the bodies are piling up and Tressa is about to be the next one on the pile. A lot of murder, mystery, and laughter, with some romance thrown in. This is a rollicking good tale. Very highly recommended.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Slide - Jill Hathaway
Slide is $7.43 for the kindle. This novel was free when I downloaded it. This story is a murder mystery with a paranormal twist.
Sylvia Bell is almost a normal teenage girl. Everyone thinks Vee has narcolepsy, which can be embarrassing, but when Vee succumbs to her affliction, she's doing more than sleeping. When Vee passes out, she's sliding. When a friend of Vee's sister Mattie commits suicide, Vee knows it was murder because she had slid into the murderer. The trouble is proving it was murder without exposing her ability. This is a great young adult to any age novel. Highly recommended.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Flesh and Bone - Jefferson Bass
Flesh and Bone is a Body Farm novel. This book is currently $6.83 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. If you keep looking you'd be surprised with the books you can find for free. This one is an outstanding murder mystery.
Dr. Bill Brockton is a forensic anthropologist. Bill founded and manages the Body Farm, run by the University of Tennessee. Bill is helping with a murder case that requires a body be posed in the Body Farm to determine when the victim died, and exercises his forensic skills to determine the weapon used. Bill never dreamed that instead of trying to find a murderer he was about to be accused of being one. This is a great mystery. Very highly recommended.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Corpus Callosum - Erika Price
Corpus Callosum is free for the kindle. This is a strange book, but it grows on you. What if dead didn't have to mean dead any longer?
Josephine Porter was a 30 year old firefighter. Joey died while trying to rescue two people from a burning building. The building collapsed on her. But Joey didn't stay dead. Her twin sister Jeanette had her Brightboxed. Was this a blessing or a curse. It's not clear that anyone is sure, even Joey. This story takes a while to get traction, but you can't put it down once it gets going. Highly recommended.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Lifesphere INC: Acquisition - Talitha Kalago
Lifesphere INC: Acquisition is free for the kindle. This story takes place in a severely stratified far future dystopian society. This is a great book for young adults. This novel is the first in a series. The other books are not available yet.
Eli is an orphan who's spent his life scavenging on the rim. His dream is to save enough money to purchase a meka and fight his way to the topside. Eli runs into Squall Owens while trying to find a rumored meka seller. Squall is from the blueline. She's wheelchair bound, but Squall has a real family, and her own meka. Eli will find that having a meka isn't as simple as he'd thought, and that getting one can be even more dangerous than dodging falling garbage on the rim. This is a great young adult science fiction story. Very highly recommended.
The Tank Lords - David Drake
The Tank Lords is free for the kindle. If you like military science fiction you'll love this book. It's a collection of Hammer's Slammer stories in chronological story sequence.
Colonel Alois Hammer heads the mercenary armored force known as Hammer's Slammers. When a planetary government wants to win a war they call on Colonel Hammer. This is a series of stories that include everything from epic battles to small skirmishes. The Slammer's weapons are awesome engines of war, but the people who man them are only human. Very highly recommended.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Unicorn Western - Johnny B. Truant, Sean Platt
Unicorn Western is free for the kindle. It may be overpriced. It depends on how you like your westerns.
Clint Gulliver and his unicorn Edward have settled in the little town of Solace. Clint is a Marshal. Clint and Edward have managed to tame Solace, but Solace is in the Sands, and the magic is leaking out of the Sands. This book makes me think of nothing as much as a Stephen King Gunslinger wanna be. Notice I wrote wanna be. This book is the first in a series, but I won't be pursuing the others. Not my kind of western. Not recommended.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Star Soldiers - Andre Norton
Star Soldiers is free for the kindle. This download is actually two novels packaged together, Star Guard and Star Rangers. The two stories are separated by 4,000 years of galactic history, but compliment each other perfectly.
In Star Guard, Arch Swordsman Third Class Kana Karr is a Terran. Terrans have been forced into the role of mercenaries by Galactic Central Control. Kana is about to find that being forced into service as a soldier is not all Terrans have to worry about. Maybe it's time for Central Control to learn what Terrans are really capable of.
In Star Rangers, Ranger Sergeant Kartr is the ranking ranger who survived the crash of Patrol Scout Starfire. The ship came down on a planet that's not on any starmaps, located in a distant arm of the galaxy. The remaining crew must fend for themselves and find a way to live on a plant that, at first glance, seems to be primitive and uninhabited. In the end, Kartr and the others will have to fight for a home on this planet, and discover just how serendipitous the galaxy can be.
This is some amazing classic science fiction by one of the masters of the art. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Way Out West - Blanche Marriott
Way Out West is free for the kindle. This book is a western of sorts, but it's mostly a romance novel. Oh well.
Callie Sumner has been drifting for the last few years. At 25, Callie is ready to settle down, but first she has to get away from her latest boyfriend. Callie figures hiding out with a job at the Way Out West fantasy park should do it. Then Callie meets Rand. While Callie is working at Way Out West as a saloon girl, Rand is a guest playing the part of a gambler. Who is Rand and is he really the kind of man Callie could fall for? It's a romance novel so take a guess. I did enjoy the book. There's some wild west action to keep it interesting, and a villain to put the damsel in distress. There's also plenty of the romance stuff. Highly recommended.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
1632 (Ring of Fire) - Eric Flint
1632 (Ring of Fire) is historical science fiction that's free for the kindle. That's amazing, because this is one of the best books I've ever read, free or not. This is literally an alternate universe novel. Imagine a six mile circle of modern West Virginia plunked down in the middle of 17th century Germany. Someone already did.
Mike Stearn is head of the local union in Grantville, West Virginia. It's the summer of 2000, and Mike's sister just got married. The whole town has collected in the local high school for the wedding reception, when there's a blinding flash of light. So begins an American town's adventure in the year of 1632. Modern technology and ideas clash with 17th century European politics and religion. Or do they? This is a great story that combines history and science fiction with an alternate universe that will not be anything like the universe it split off from. Whether that will be good or bad is in the telling of the tale. There are great characters, great battles, and great courage to spare. There is also plenty of humor to bind them together into a story I couldn't put down. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Brilliance - Marcus Sakey
Brilliance is $4.99 for the kindle, but Amazon prime members can borrow it for free. How would you feel, as a norm, if you had to compete with supermen, supermen called brilliants?
Nick Cooper works for Equitable Services. A secretive branch of the Department of Analysis and Response (DAR). DAR was formed to try and keep a handle on brilliants, and Equitable Services is the sting on the wasp. The thing is, Nick is a brilliant. Actually, one percent of the population are now born brilliant and there is a war brewing. Who's behind this war? Nick is about to find out. I couldn't put this book down. This novel combines a great story with great characters and plenty of action. Very highly recommended. This is a great stand-alone book, but of course there's a sequel.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Toward a New Beginning - R. William Rogers
Toward a New Beginning is the first novel in the Arkansas Valley series. This book is free for the kindle. This western falls into the category of Christian fiction.
In the late 1880s, Sam Bartlett and his wife Jay decided to head west with their son Tom. They had a good life in Independence Missouri, but Sam was hankering for something more, and as a family they decided to make the trip. They joined a wagon train and headed for the Arkansas Valley. Indians and Mexican bandits combined with swollen rivers, dry plains and stormy weather to make the trip hard and dangerous. The Bartlett's and the other families in the wagon train used their courage, brains, and a strong Christian faith to keep heading west. Highly recommended.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
The Long Midnight Of Barney Thomson - Douglas Lindsay
The Long Midnight Of Barney Thomson is the first book in the Barney Thomson series. This novel is free for the kindle. This is a serial killer mystery with a bizarre twist.
Barney Thomson is a barber. Barney is old school. He's been cutting hair for 20 years, but he doesn't get as many clients as the other barbers in the shop where he works. His accidental solution to this problem could very well be his undoing. This is a hilarious tongue-in-cheek murder mystery with characters that almost can't be believed. You never know what's going to happen next, but it never fails to be good. This novel takes place in Scotland, so some references may be obscure, but it's worth sussing them out. Highly recommended.
Monday, September 30, 2013
An Untamed Land - Lauraine Snelling
An Untamed Land is the first novel in the Red River of the North series. This book is free for the kindle. When people these days think of the challenge required to move out of their parent's home, or move to a new state for work or school, it would do them good to reflect on the sacrifice immigrants made to come to this country from across the ocean. This book explores that kind of courage.
Ingeborg Bjorklund is the main character in this novel. Ingeborg was an immigrant from Norway. In 1880 Ingeborg, her step-son Thorliff, her husband Roald, his brother Carl, Carl's wife Kaaren, and Kaaren's newborn daughter Gunny, all arrived at New York city on their trip to the Dakota territory. Their journey across the ocean was grueling. Their trip across America to their new home on the prairie was long and tedious. Life on the prairie was hard and dangerous. In the 1880s people didn't come to America to get things for free. They came here to carve out things for themselves with their hard work and courage. This story is an inspiration to anyone who's ancestors sacrificed to immigrate to America for the freedom it provided then, and still provides today. Very highly recommended.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
The Big Blind - Nicolette Pierce
The Big Blind is the first novel in the Nadia Wolf series. This book is free for the kindle. This story has poker, mystery, murder, and lots of unrequited lust.
Nadia Wolf is a poker player. Nadia lives in an apartment over a Las Vegas wedding chapel. She helps with weddings in the evenings and plays poker during the day. Nadia's goal in life is to win the world series of poker. Her goal keeps getting sidetracked by men and murder. Hopefully not hers, although someone is working on that. A great tongue in cheek murder mystery. Highly recommended. Warning: there is a cliff hanger of sorts. The next book beckons.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Dance With A Gunfighter - Joanne Pence
Dance With A Gunfighter is $4.99 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. This is another classic western set in the post-civil war era.
Gabriella Devere was a young girl of 16 when she first met the gunslinger Jess McLowry. Gabe danced with Jess at the second annual Jackson City Arizona founding day dance. That was in 1876. They next met in 1880 when Jess stopped Gabe from shooting one of the outlaws who murdered her father and brothers. The adventures that Gabe and Jess share throughout this story cover gunfights, outlaws, Apaches, and more. This book has plenty of action and clearly more than a touch of romance. This is a great western. Very highly recommended.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Florida Heat - Rainy Kirkland, Robyn Maize
Florida Heat is the first novel in the Florida Heat Murder Mystery Series. This book is free for the kindle. Murder, kidnapping, and bird smuggling make an interesting mystery mix.
Jo Cazimer is a probation officer. When one of her clients misses his appointment, she discovers she can skip the warrant because he's dead. Jo's best friend, Kate Snow, is a police detective assigned to the case. Jo and Kate get pulled into a series of crimes that don't appear to be related, but eventually will threaten their lives and converge on one master criminal. Beware, there is a cliff hanger at the end. Some murders are still to be solved, so a killer is still on the loose. Highly recommended.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Sagebrush - William Wayne Dicksion
Sagebrush is free for the kindle. This book is a classic western from start to finish.
Michael McBain was 12 years old when the wagon train his family was traveling with was attacked by Comanches and both his parents were killed. Michael survived because he was trapped under their overturned wagon. Michael was able to escape the Comanches and lived alone on the prairie for years. Michael vowed to avenge is parents death. Eventually Michael joined with some mountain men he rescued from the Comanches, and with their help he began to carryout a promise his father had made to a dying ranch owner. Plenty of adventure and some romance. The writing seems a little stilted, but the story comes through just fine. Highly recommended.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Deadly Blessings - Julie Hyzy
Deadly Blessings is the first book in the Alex St. James Mystery series. This novel is free for the kindle. This story would be good at any price.
Alex St. James is a researcher for the Chicago based Midwest Focus Television News Magazine. Alex is working a story that could be an award winner, but it could also get her killed. If she's not careful, this may be the last story she ever researches. Great suspense, great characters, and a healthy dose of unrequited romance. Very highly recommended.
Six from Greeley - Josh Langston
Six from Greeley is free for the kindle. This is a book of western related short stories that all tie together. They're quite good short stories.
Greeley is a town in Texas. It started out as the town respectable folks would avoid. It eventually got better, but not much. These short stories start in the time of the civil war and stretch to 1975. Read them in order, because the threads that bind them together make the collection a great read. Very highly recommended.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
A Witness Above - Andy Straka
A Witness Above is book one in the Frank Pavlicek Mystery Series. This book is free for the kindle. If you like a good murder mystery this has plenty of murders and mystery.
Frank Pavlicek was a homicide detective in New York city. Frank and his partner Jake Toronto left the police department under a cloud, but they settled in Virginia and Frank became a P.I. Thirteen years after NY, Frank discovers a dead body while flying his hawk, and the past comes back to hit him hard. Frank's daughter knows the deceased, and the tangled mess this causes is going to take hard work and some luck to unravel. This is a great story with plenty of dead bodies and lots of twists and turns. Very highly recommended.
The Krone Experiment - J. Craig Wheeler
The Krone Experiment is free for the kindle. This is a great hard science fiction read, and the price is right.
Robert Issacs is the Deputy Director of Scientific Intelligence for the CIA. When a Russian aircraft carrier is damaged by some unknown projectile, the culprit is assumed to be the USA. Tensions mount as Issacs pulls together a team to try and figure out what caused the damage to the aircraft carrier, as well as what the Russians are going to do next. What appears to be a separate issue is also taking some of Issacs attention, and it's a good thing. The real cause of the damage may be the USA after all. This is some great science fiction. Be aware the kindle formatting leaves much to be desired. Sometimes it's really hard to detect the change of threads except by context. In spite of the formatting, this story is well told and completely engrossing. Very highly recommended.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Out of Time - Monique Martin
Out of Time is book one in the Out of Time series. This book is free for the kindle. It's a time travel, romance, vampire, mystery novel. I know that sounds confusing, but this mix of genres works just fine for this story.
Simon Cross is the professor of occult studies at the University of California Santa Barbara. Elizabeth West is Simon's graduate teaching assistant. Lizzy is working toward her Masters in Occult Studies. When Simon receives a box of his grandfather's possessions, after his aunt's death, he discovers his grandfather's old pocket watch. Turns out this watch doesn't just display the time, it can change it. Simon and Lizzy accidentally embark on an adventure that takes them through time and space. Plenty of surprises, danger, mystery, and yes, romance. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
The Battle of Verril - Joseph Lallo
The Battle of Verril is the third and final novel in The Book of Deacon trilogy. This book is $2.99 for the kindle. I great finish to an epic trilogy.
Myranda and the rest of the Chosen are aided by Deacon and the Undermine in their final battle to throw the D'karon off their world and establish a lasting peace. The stakes are high and not all the Chosen will survive the last battle. I great ending for the book and the trilogy. Very highly recommended.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
The Great Convergence - Joseph Lallo
The Great Convergence is the second novel in The Book of Deacon trilogy. This book is $2.99 for the kindle.
Myranda pursues Lain out into the world beyond Entwell. Her goal is to convince him to join with the other Chosen for the great convergence. Can Myranda find Lain, and more importantly, can she find the other Chosen before the D'karon capture or kill them? More epic battles and new characters keep the tale moving at a rapid pace. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Redliners - David Drake
Redliners is free for the kindle. This is an amazing work of science fiction. You get more aliens and action in one novel than in some whole series.
The Unity has been at war with the Kalendru for a long time. Company C41 was dropped on Maxus 377 in operation Active Cloak, which was supposed to be a surprise attack. The surprise didn't go the way it was planned. Now everyone in C41, from Major Farrell to the lowest striker, is redlined. What does the Unity do with them? How about use them for security for a colonization project on Bezant 459. It turns out nothing is ever that straightforward for C41. Aliens and action abound. The jungle is alive takes on a whole new meaning for the Bezant colonists and C41. I could not put this book down. Every page, if not every paragraph, has a new threat and more action. Some of the best science fiction I've read in a long time. Very highly recommended.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Dead End - Barry Friedman
Dead End is free for the kindle. This is a murder mystery, and a very good one. It's just a bonus that it's free.
Al Maharos is a homicide detective with the Youngstown Ohio police department. Al starts out investigating the murder of a workman's comp lawyer. The lawyer's body was left at a dead end road along I-77. While following up on this murder Al investigates a possible connect to a couple of murders in the Canton Ohio jurisdiction, also along I-77, and also committed on the seventh of the month. Al eventually teams up with Stark County sheriff’s deputy Karen Vandergrift. Al and Karen work the murders with the goal of stopping the next murder on July seventh. Can they find the killer before he kills again? This is a solid police thriller, with some very likable characters, and a truly twisted villain. Very highly recommended.
The Book of Deacon - Joseph Lallo
The Book of Deacon is the first novel in Book of Deacon trilogy. This book is still free for the kindle. The other two books in the trilogy are only $2.99, and I'll be reading them. I'm canceling netflix and sticking to books. This is the series of books that pushed me over the edge.
Myranda has been drifting from place to place for most of her life. The Perpetual War between the kingdom of Tressor and the Northern Alliance had been raging for 150 years when Myranda was born. She's seen her entire family succumb to the conflict. Myranda is for peace, and in a land where no living soul has ever known peace, that makes Myranda an outcast.
While seeking shelter from a storm, Myranda stumbles on the site of a battle between a warrior and a dragon. There Myranda finds a magnificent sword. The fate of the world now seems to hinge on Myranda and the sword. Magic, marvelous creatures, and a world on the edge, make for a story I couldn't put down. I'll definitely read the other books in this trilogy. Very highly recommended.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The Grave Gourmet - Alexander Campion
The Grave Gourmet is a Capucine Culinary Mystery. This book is $9.19 for the kindle, but was free when I downloaded it. If you like murder mysteries with a big dose of humor this book is for you. Be prepared for fashion, food, and Paris.
Capucine LeTellier is a police detective. Capucine's background placed her in financial investigations, but she longs for a chance to dig into a real crime. When a murder occurs in a fancy Paris restaurant she is given a chance, because her husband is a well know restaurant critic. Capucine starts slow, but as the investigation continues she proves herself up to the task. Humor and food spice up this murder mystery. A little too much fashion and fancy for my taste, but the mystery part was just fine. Highly recommended.
The Tower - Simon Toyne
The Tower is the third novel in the Sanctus Trilogy. This book is $11.04 for the kindle. It's well worth the price. I had to read them all.
Liv is doing her best to discover the meaning of the prophecy that she's caught up in. What does the end of days really mean? At the same time Gabriel is fighting for his life in the Citadel, as the virus that began there is slowly spreading. In a new thread, FBI Agent Shepherd is trying to solve the problem of sabotaged NASA telescopes and the murder of scientists. All threads converge at the new Eden when the end of days arrives. Very highly recommended.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Head To Head - Linda Ladd
Head To Head is a Claire Morgan novel. This book is $1.99 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. What starts out as a country murder mystery quickly turns in to a serious serial killer thriller. Try to say that three times fast.
Claire Morgan is a homicide detective in Canton County Missouri, the Lake of the Ozarks. When a young starlet turns up dead, the owner of the resort, and the starlet's psychiatrist, Dr. Nicholas Black, becomes Claire's number one suspect. This story has plenty of action, suspense, and some serious romance. It also has bodies starting to pile up, and Claire has to be careful to stay off that pile. Very highly recommended.
The Key - Simon Toyne
The Key is book two in the Sanctus Trilogy. This book is $8.06 for the kindle. Had to read it. This trilogy is that good.
In Sanctus Liv and Gabriel survived the release of the sacrament. In The Key Liv and Gabriel realize that Liv has become the key and that she must get to the Eden before time runs out and the world as we know it ends. More suspense and action as this amazing story continues. Very highly recommended.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
The Creatures of Man - Howard L. Myers
The Creatures of Man is free for the kindle. This book would be a bargain even if they charged for it. It contains a great series of 19 hard science fiction stories. Some short and some long. All worth reading.
None of the stories in this book are stinkers. They take place far into Earth's future. Can you imagine a butterfly with intelligence? Can you imagine a non-human telepathic intelligence that rules an entire planetary system? Can you imagine a future where money is in units of admiration? These stories should be read in order, because some follow the long standing econo-war between the Lontastan Federation and the Primgran Commonality. I enjoyed every tale. Very highly recommended.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Sanctus - Simon Toyne
Sanctus is the first book in the Sanctus Trilogy. This book is $8.54 for the kindle. It was free when I downloaded it. I don't normally pay for books, but I will be paying for the rest of this trilogy.
Liv Adamsen is a reporter on the crime beat at a large New Jersey paper. Liv never dreamed that thousands of miles away, in Ruin Turkey, her brother was about to start her on an adventure that would change her life forever. This book trumps the best of Dan Brown. An amazing cast of characters, a great ending, and a religious mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading. I will gladly pay for the rest of this trilogy. Very highly recommended.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Gears of a Mad God - Brent Nichols
Gears of a Mad God is a Steampunk Lovecraft Adventure. This book is free for the kindle. This is the first in a series of books based in the early 1920s. Steam was still king. The Lovecraft connection is tenuous.
Colleen Garman is not a proper young lady. She like to dig into the gears and the grease, and get her hands dirty. When Colleen's uncle Roderick dies she makes the three day trip to Vancouver. Roderick was her last living relative, and she feels compelled to put his affairs in order. What Colleen finds in Vancouver will change her life forever. Colleen is about to be embroiled in kidnapping, cults, and murder. A fairly short book, but long on adventure. Highly recommended.
Angel's Ink - Jocelynn Drake
Angel's Ink is the first book in the Asylum Tales. This book is $8.89 for the kindle, but was free when I downloaded it. Tattoos are more than just decoration in this world. Sometimes too much more.
Gage runs a tattoo parlor called Asylum. His two employees are Trixie and Bronx. Trixie is an elf and Bronx is a troll. Of course Gage is a warlock who gave up the life. Right off you know this isn't a normal tattoo parlor. Gage takes on a tattoo job that takes a turn for the worse. Gage is going to have to die to fix this problem, or die if he doesn't. His life is full of tough choices. This is an excellent story. It gets a bit racy at times, so it's not for kids. It is a great romp through a world where magic is normal and staying out of trouble is just not an option for Gage. Too bad the sequel isn't free or I'd be reading it already. Very highly recommended.
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