Review: Regolith

Synopsis:

Elle is a sales superstar at Aspen-Hayward Inc., a company specializing in consumer products and medical supplies. To her surprise, she is hand-picked by the company’s board to run the Research and Development department with an impossible mandate: deliver an industry-leading adaptive learning program to anticipate consumer needs, or else. Aspen-Hayward—languishing in the shadow of its nearest and largest competitor, Rossigland Inc.—is wagering its future on Elle’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Greggory work for a security team responsible for loss prevention along Rossigland’s far-reaching and treacherous supply chain. During a routine delivery run, Daniel and Gregg encounter an unusual threat that leads them through a wild ride of adventure.

Elle hires Noam, a developer-savant who quickly brings her department to the verge of something great: the world’s first artificial consciousness, capable of creating humanity’s most needed solutions— saltwater agriculture, a cure for aging and cancer, and sustainable energy.

What none of them know is how their two worlds will collide with an impact of unprecedented scale.

Characters

Elle

Ellison Cole is a tough young woman: a joy with friends but tenacious at the office. She relies heavily on her underachieving but lovable confidant, Cy. Elle has a complicated past and her present becomes more conflicted after meeting Victoria, a more tenured executive at Aspen.

Daniel Brevier

Daniel is a field manager for Rossigland security. If there is one person you can count on to solve a problem, Daniel is your guy—but don’t expect him to avoid making a mess in the process.

Noam

Noam Cohen is much more than a developer and has effortlessly excelled since a young age. He is nothing short of a prodigy at his job and is “a natural” when the team is off-duty.

George McPherson

George is Rossigland’s low-profile COO and, over the course of the book, emerges as much more important than he first appears.

Major Themes

Chaos vs. Order

Evolution: Does a superintelligence present a risk or a benefit to humanity, or both?

What does it mean to be human? Is our purpose to be purely objective, or is humanity defined by an imperfect but vibrant subjective experience?

Advanced physics: an abundance of Earth-like planets in our galaxy; quantized super-vacuum theory related to the AI’s power once born.

Ellison Cole and Aspen-Hayward

Aspen-Hayward wants to rise to the level of sophistication of Rossigland Inc., a larger and much more successful competitor. Senior leadership promotes Elle to bring a sales-oriented focus to Research and Development. She hires Noam and later directs him to take the program to the limit, even if her methods and motivations are compromised in many ways. Then things become complicated.

Daniel Brevier

Daniel and his crew suffer an attack and soon gain valuable intelligence from the crew of another ship. Greg returns to his family, while Daniel smells danger and wants a piece of the action.

Action he finds in a series of adventures, at a classified armory to a battle at an energy processing facility to the brink of an epic battle for humanity’s survival.

The Two Stories Converge

We later discover the problem Daniel discovered is much larger than anyone had imagined while Elle and Noam struggle to realign their project. The two stories weave together in an intricate and beautiful conclusion that will leave you wanting more.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

H. William Glenbrook has masterfully woven two tales combining them into a super novel. Each story has its own set of characters and consequences. Both of these will soon be emerging together. Suspenseful, intense, and well-written. I haven’t read a novel like this one. There is a lot of action happening. Trouble ahead. Regolith is like having Star Wars collide into our real world.  The danger is a huge threat. No one will just realize the extent until they’re pressured into trying to stop it. The writer has combined business, technology, and fantasy into one interesting story. Like with all businesses choices are made and it can break or make the people involved. The plot is clever and fast-paced. Regolith is full of action and intrigue. It kept me keep reading until I reached the last page. The characters are the most fascinating group, ever. Smart, savvy, and bold. Their personalities make them believable. H. William Glenbrook has taken the impossible and made into something that could be possible. Quite frightening. The reality of the future…will keep readers engaged. Overall, I highly recommend this book, to all. 

Advertisements

Review: Wired In

Synopsis: 

**Top 100 Notable Indie Book 2016, Shelf Unbound Magazine**

Special Agent Sophie Ang’s emotions are battered by a child kidnapping case that goes badly wrong. In tracking the criminal ring, her rogue data analysis program D.A.V.I.D. identifies an anomaly that leads her into a cat-and-mouse game online with a deadly enemy whose motives are unclear. The chase lures her through dark corridors of cyberspace into a confrontation with the violence from her past that sent her fleeing to the United States. She’ll need every skill she’s learned to defeat her worst nightmare—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
“Toby Neal has created a wonderfully rounded action heroine with everything: looks, brains, mixed martial arts prowess, and the ability to swear proficiently in Thai and English. Fans of the genre will love FBI agent Sophie Ang, as well as the tangled web she must negotiate in the tropical setting of Hawaii.” Russell Blake, NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Wired In by Toby Neal is amazing. The heroine, Sophie Ang, is my new favorite. She comes highly skilled and lures me deep into the trouble at hand. Sophie Ang can do a lot more than most heroines I have met. But like all of them she contains a soft spot that leads her to playing the hero. There’s also a spot to her that makes this novel stand out beyond others in its genre. She has the wealth and the knowledge to do what she does. Plus, like everyone else, she’s human. Her personality comes out as a shy sometimes socially awkward. I was able to relate to that myself. Being social awkward is hard to overcome. Having read, the second installment to this brand new series, I can say that she has greatly changed. I like the person she has grown into and can’t wait to she what happens in the third book. 

Wired In is about a kidnapping ring of children. One of the most horrendous crimes…and Sophie Ang plunges herself deep into a deadly game. One that may save the kids. Technology is both frightening and useful. If used in the right ways, answers can be solved. However, it can also lead to danger. Much like the intriguing tale, Toby Neal brings to readers. Intense, suspenseful, and a highly engaging journey. The plot is fast-paced and well-written. The title of this novel fits in precisely with the plot. Sophie Ang is definitely wired in…I am a huge fan of FBI thrillers and suspense titles. This series fits the bill perfectly. I loved how deep the book captured me. The emotional attachments felt so real. Fear rippling through me as the tension built up…every page as addictive as the first. Toby Neal is a talented writer. After reading both her novels, I can see why. Absolutely a stunning read, that will sweep readers off their feet and drag them into the book. Overall, I highly recommend Wired In to readers worldwide. 

Review: Disinheritance (collection of poems)

Synopsis: 

A lyrical, philosophical, and tender exploration of the various voices of grief, including those of the broken, the healing, the son-become-father, and the dead, Disinheritance acknowledges loss while celebrating the uncertainty of a world in constant revision. From the concrete consequences of each human gesture to soulful interrogations into “this amalgam of real / and fabled light,” these poems inhabit an unsteady betweenness, where ghosts can be more real than the flesh and blood of one’s own hands.

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

Disinheritance by John Sibley Williams is a stunning yet beautifully written collection of poems. Inside, readers will go on an emotional rollercoaster of every kind. His words sink deep into the souls of his readers. I felt the grief and loss absorb into me as I read each word. The depth in which each poem creates in brilliant. Realistic, heart wrenching, and phenomenal. Every page carries a unique poem. I found myself lost within the pages and the emotions they created inside of me. John Sibley Williams collected the essence of life and captured it within every piece. The reality of life and its rawness come alive within these pages. Disinheritance is indeed one magnificent collection of poetry that I highly recommend to all. Once readers open this book, there’s no going back. Hard to put down, and absolutely breathtaking. Overall, John Sibley Williams is a master of poetry. 

Review: Imogene in New Orleans

 

Synopsis:

At the ripe age of 73, Imogene Deal McGregor has a penchant for following her own instincts, as well as more grit and spunk than her hypochondriac son, Billy McGregor, and Billy’s impulsive partner Jackson Miller can handle. The boys take Imogene to New Orleans with their devilishly handsome English bulldog Goose, hoping to visit friends and attend a second line parade, but moments after arriving in the French Quarter, they find their friend Glenway Gilbert murdered in his art gallery. Immediately, Imogene and the boys run into a temperamental and ethically-challenged lieutenant who appears hell-bent on neglecting the crime, compelling them to seek answers themselves. As they delve into Glenway Gilbert’s murder, Imogene and the boys realize the deceased artist was surrounded by suspicious friends and lovers. With Goose the bulldog by their side, Jackson and Billy seek answers among old friends and new enemies, while Imogene follows her own ideas on the case. But the sooner they solve the murder, the sooner they can get back to catching beads and eating pralines.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Imogene in New Orleans by Hunter Murphy is the second amazing novel in this mystery series. I love the main character, Imogene. A sleuth like no other. Her personality makes her a fun character to follow as a new investigation pops up…sadly this one involves the death of a friend. The lieutenant nearby should be working the case but isn’t doing a thing. Thus, Imogene and her two sons go about the investigation themselves.

Hunter Murphy knows how to create a world of fiction with just the right amounts of humor, suspense, and intrigue. A murder mystery that will definitely entertain fans every time. Visiting the dead’ art gallery for for clues will be interesting as well as long list of suspicious perpetrators. I also loved traveling to New Orleans through this novel. New Orleans has so many possibilities and with this set of characters is makes for a must read. Imogene reminds me of some of my best female detectives and sleuths. Like the lady from Murder She Wrote and Miss Fisher the lady detective. Imogene somehow has qualities of both of these ladies. Hunter Murphy has beautifully created a three-dimensional character that readers can’t help but to love. Imogene in New Orleans is a cozy mystery that I highly recommend to readers worldwide.

Review: Just Juliet

 

Synopsis:

The coming out story that will completely change the way you look at love.

Juliet represents the road less traveled. Will Lena take it?

Lena Newman is 17, her best friend’s a cheerleader, her boyfriend’s a football player, and as far as everyone is concerned, her life is sorted. But that’s before she befriends the new girl. Juliet is confident, slightly damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and a lesbian.

Lena realizes that her interest goes beyond just friendship. She sets off on a path of self-discovery where the loyalty of those closest to her will be tested.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Just Juliet by Charlotte Reagan is the kind of genre I normally don’t read. However, the story was well-developed and well-written. I liked how realistic the characters were. Love is not pretty. It’s more of a complicated knot that gets more twisted before it’s smoothed out…into fineness. I noticed that the writer captured the high school drama right down to its raw yet ugly form. Being in love is tough then add the attraction to the same sex and it’s worse. Worse as in hard for others around the main characters to accept as okay. People don’t choose who they fall in love with. Love isn’t a fashion statement it’s part of who that person is and if we can’t let them be who they are then love isn’t real. Experiencing what may be right for one is a scary path. Then add insecurity and drama to it and well, it makes for an interesting tale. Unfortunately, this tale came off so real, that it was frightening in a way. Charlotte Reagan definitely knows what goes on with teenagers and how they react to situations. She masterfully captured everything exactly the way it should be. Just Juliet is a YA coming of age book that I highly recommend to readers worldwide.

 

Review: Closure

 

Synopsis:

A moving coming-of-age tale that follows three young boys through adolescence into adulthood, each trying to make sense of a world turned upside down.

Poland (1939)
The German army sweeps across Poland intent on the destruction of an entire people. In a small Polish town, ten-year-old Piotr Kowalczyk’s idyllic world will be forever destroyed.

Croatia (1944)
Young Dino Mitak flees to the freedom of the West as the communist-led Partisans move ever closer to Zagreb.

Australia (1980)
A small boy, already struggling to cope with the loss of a parent, is confronted by a gruesome murder.

From the tranquil foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in southern Poland, to the Balkans and a simmering feud centuries in the making, to the streets of inner-city Melbourne where histories collide.

These events, generations and worlds apart, are interwoven in a poignant story of grief, hatred, revenge and finally, closure.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Closure by Neil A. White is a brilliant coming of age story that all readers will love. I was glued to the story from page one. Three boys…each one from a different country suffering through loss, grief, and troubled-times. Poland, Croatia, and Australia. It’s hard not to find one’s self drawn to each boy’s story. The danger comes alive. Emotions are formed deeply, creating the connection from readers to the characters. A historical novel that is highly engaging, suspenseful, and intriguing. The plot thickens as the pages are turning. The unknown of terror lies ahead keeps readers guessing. Each of the three boy’s will have the world’s the grew up in lost forever. They will know what pain is and the hardness of life that comes with destruction. Closure is about each character finding a way to close the darkness of their lives and to move forward with life, hope, and love. Neil A. White’s writing is stunning. I look forward to reading more books by him in the future. Overall, I recommend Closure to readers everywhere.

Review: No One Is Invincible

 

Synopsis:

Summary Life is a precious thing. This is something sixteen year old John knows all too well. Intelligent, punk rock, and seemingly alone in a home filled with domestic violence, John runs away and finds himself homeless and living on the streets. Faced with hunger, horrid winter weather, and human ignorance, John struggles to find morality in the world around him. That is, until the love and help of a mysterious old lady who goes by the name “Mom” and charismatic, 6-year-old little girl, Candy, show him light can be found in the darkest of places. Can John face down not only homelessness, but also the fear of losing a loved one to a very deadly killing agent, cancer?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

No One Is Invincible by Shawn Walker is a read to behold. This novel holds more than to the eyes see. A story is that is deep…emotional and one that awakens readers to the evils of men. Human ignorance is one of the worst evils humans possess. That and greed. The more we have the more we want. Yet when we meet those who have little or nothing we turn a blind’s eye to them. It’s those people that we should be helping and paying attention to…not to our wealth. Family comes in all varieties these days. A young man is smart yet feels alone runs away from his home. He is soon faced with problems of hunger, shelter, and love. Humans see the issues but they harden their hearts instead of opening them. I felt sadness, frustration, and anger. The difficulties and struggles of the characters were easy to relate to and understand. I want to cry, hug, and love the characters like they were my own family. I wanted to help them. In the end, I felt the loss, the grief, but also, a sense of belonging and love. There is hope after all…Shawn Walker’s novel, No One is Invincible is one that all should read. I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. The issues are real. The characters will tug at readers’ hearts and souls. I fell in love. Overall, this was masterfully woven and well-developed.

 

Review: After Party (Poems)

 

Synopsis:

Jana Prikryl’s The After Party journeys across borders and eras, from cold war Central Europe to present-day New York City, from ancient Rome to New World suburbs, constantly testing the lingua francas we negotiate to know ourselves. These poems disclose the tensions in our inherited identities and showcase Prikryl’s ambitious experimentation with style.

“Thirty Thousand Islands,” the second half of the collection, presents some forty linked poems that incorporate numerous voices. Rooted in one place that fragments into many places—the remote shores of Lake Huron in Canada, a region with no natural resources aside from its beauty—these poems are an elegy that speaks beyond grief.

Penetrating, vital, and visionary, The After Party marks the arrival of an extraordinary new talent.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The After Party (Poems) by Jana Prikryl is a collection of poems that will knock readers off their feet and into the book. Traveling to explore, feel, and loose one’s self in words so masterfully written. Jana Prikryl’s talent shines forth on every page. The work is highly engaging and addictive. I easily finished reading this wonderful collection of poetry under an hour. Each poem has its say and will win over readers instantly. Truly an enjoyable array of words for all. Entertaining, refreshing, and stunning. The After Party (Poems) is a book all will be talking about for a long time to come. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers worldwide.

 

Review: Bullet in the Blue Sky

 

Synopsis:

In the chaotic aftermath of a massive earthquake that leveled much of the Los Angeles region, an LAPD deputy chief sends an elite team of detectives on a rescue mission. They are ordered to set aside all law enforcement duties, to ignore the destruction and to focus on one task: Find LAPD Detective Gavin Shaw, who disappeared just before the earthquake.

Kevin “Schmitty” Schmidt of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department joins five others on the rescue team. With rioting, looting, attacks and homicides rampant in the streets, the six cops have to defend themselves while chasing down leads on the whereabouts of Shaw. The mission takes them through the dizzying war zone and the more they encounter, the more they wonder why they are searching for one man in these extreme circumstances. Why is this man so important to the deputy chief, and why now?

Schmitty discovers that others with high connections are also after Shaw. The questions pile even higher when they learn of a shadowy history between Shaw and the deputy chief. A history with deadly consequences for the team as they uncover a threat that elevates the mission to a race against time.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Bullet in the Blue Sky by Bill Larkin is a heart-pounding crime story. There’s always some danger, where crime exists. However, in this exciting read, Bill Larkin brings readers a dark secret that might just be the most deadly moment of six cops’ lives. They are sent in by a deputy chief to go after a missing detective. What they find will…will much more than what they were led to believe. Politics is a field that none like to mess with…can something that seems to be mother nature at work, be something caused, from men? Then there’s more danger ahead…if men caused what is thought to be nature then what if their actions have even worse consequences…the race to find out the answers are hidden inside this masterfully woven novel. Time is ticking…and hesitating could cause more harm than good.  I enjoyed the thrill ride as the adventure unfolded. Bill Larkin’s talent is one that readers don’t want to miss. Bullet in the Blue Sky is a crime fiction that I highly recommend to all.

 

Review: The Coalition

 

Synopsis:

From the fiftieth floor of an office building in Denver, Colorado, a long range assassin calmly watches a procession of black Lincolns. When the motorcade pulls to the curb in Civic Center Plaza, a prominent leader, steps from one of the vehicles and takes the stage to make an important speech. Moments later, a loud BOOM echoes through the Plaza and the man slumps to the platform like a stringless marionette. The mysterious sniper, whose very existence is unknown to the international law enforcement community, has just assassinated U.S. President-elect William Ambrose Kieger.

In the aftermath of the shocking political crime, the shooter escapes and a Task Force is swiftly assembled, headed up by Special Agent Kenneth Patton of the FBI’s Denver Field Office. A ten-year vet in Domestic Terrorism, the unconventional Ken is driven to solve the crime by both professional and personal motives. His search leads him to a secret society whose diabolical and far-reaching plot threatens the very highest levels of the U.S. government. Yet the group’s motives, secret membership, and ambitious plans remain elusive. Can Ken and his team uncover the plot in time to save the day? Can they beat the countdown on the clock and catch the assassin and the shadowy group in the background pulling the strings? Or will time run out?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Samuel Marquis is indeed one talented new writer that all should watch for…his writing is suspenseful with each new book. I can’t believe the raw talent and knowledge of the writer. It’s no wonder his tales are addictive. Combining knowledge, expertise and his superb writing…The Coalition is by far stunning. Here, readers are dipped into a more political thrill ride.  Again, Samuel Marquis doesn’t disappoint his readers. Action, intrigue, and adventure are always found. Inside this new title, I was swept away by the conspiracy and assassination. Twists and turns in every chapter. The Coalition is the most highly engaging edge of your seat read. As a reader, I am beyond impressed by Samuel Marquis’s talent. His novel is definitely a must read for all.

The Coalition by Samuel Marquis is a political thriller. It took me through the scary sides of politics, assassination, and the government. Once more I was taken to Colorado. The leading character, Kenneth Patton is a Special Agent of the Denver Colorado’ s FBI division that handles terrorism.  Kenneth is the leading man in searching down the sniper that killed a President of the United States. But as he searches for the skilled sniper, he’s lead into a lion’s den of a secret society whose plans are to destroy the government.  A rush to solve the case before it’s too late has left my adrenaline pumping and palms sweaty. Humor is also be found laced into this exciting thriller. Samuel Marquis has once more left me with riveting new read. Overall, I highly recommend this title to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: Monarchs and Mendicants

 

Synopsis:

A JOURNEY FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE

When a fourth homeless man is murdered by the Hacker, Gifford Ulrich leaves downtown St. Louis carrying his belongings on his back and wanders into the Benoit Neighborhood searching for shelter and safety. He finds abandoned buildings and abandoned people; drunks, drug addicts, gamblers; the outcasts; the unusual, the unbalanced, and the unlucky. His job cleaning bricks leads him to discover hidden forces at work in Benoit that throw him in the middle of danger and death. To fight his way off the streets, Giff must rely on his military training, his knife, and an anger born of loss. The only way to survive the passage from tragedy to triumph is to kill or be killed.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Monarchs and Mendicants by Dan Groat is a masterpiece readers can’t put down or ignore. This brilliantly told story features a man who is a retired Navy Seal. Soon, he ends up homeless and uses the skills he learned in the military to his advantage for survival. Living as a homeless person is by far the saddest and most dangerous kind of living one will ever take up…whether by force or by choice. A friend dies and now that friend’s dog and ex-Navy Seal will battle all kinds of danger. Whether related, unfair minimum wages, and a hired killer. Those who protest against the minimum wages given are taken down one by one…and soon Gifford Ulrich lands on that killer’s list. A realistic survival story that will keep readers intrigued as the plot continues to unfold. Fast-paced, highly entertaining, and suspenseful. Dan Groat has a talent for creating the best world of fiction. I was instantly pulled in frompage one and didn’t reemerge until the last page. Monarchs and Mendicants is like the Bourne movie series…full of action, fighting, and intrigue. Kept me guessing…and captivated. Overall, I highly recommend this stunning novel to readers worldwide.

Review: The Exiled Seven

 

Synopsis:

When Alariq is exiled from his home city-state for a crime he did not commit, only six, stand by his side convinced of his innocence and steadfast in their loyalty.

The seven dwarfs must set out from Ishtara to look for a new place to call home, but in doing so, they make a discovery that puts them all in danger. They are rescued and taken in by a mysterious and beautiful outsider, who lives alone in the depths of Loraheem Forest. What follows is Alariq’s struggle to come to terms with his exile, as those around him seek, to make a place for themselves in this new life. Soon, however, it becomes clear their situation is more complex than they initially realized, and they begin to wonder if there is more behind Alariq’s exile than simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Told in a unique storyteller voice, this reversal and reimagining of the classic fairy tale explored the themes of shattering betrayal, the subsequent struggle to trust again, and the basic desire to take control of one’s own destiny.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Exiled Seven by Blake Renworth is a unique tale told in a narrator form. It’s like watching a movie come to life. This novel has a fascinating twist. A dwarf exiled along with his loyal companions will soon find themselves taking on one very unexpected adventure of a lifetime. The hero…is one that none would have expected but will come to know. The Exiled Seven is this hero’s story. Readers like myself are taken deep into the plot and held in suspense as we are led into the unknown. Blake Renworth’s writing is brilliant. I felt like I was transported directly into his novel from my chair. The characters are an interesting bunch of dwarfs each with their own set of skills that make them easily likable. The connection with Alariq, the hero, is deeply satisfying. He’s not what one deems as the norm for a hero and yet something about him drew me into his story. For fans of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and fairy tales…then, this, is indeed highly recommend for reading.

The Exiled Seven is vivid and highly entertaining. Travel, adventure, and action come in full loads within this read. The tale is opposite that of the original Snow White story. However, there are many other variables that, gives The Exiled Seven a fresh outlook as well as a new world for readers to get lost within…Alariq was wrongly accused, for a crime he didn’t commit and was then banished from his city. His group of six other dwarfs believed in him that he was innocent. Readers can figure out right away the differences of this tale, and the one called Snow White. The dwarfs have no choice but to leave their home that they once called their city and enter into dangerous ones that are occupied by creatures that would bring fear to all…frustration, despair, and conflict sets, upon the group of dwarfs as they realize danger isn’t just in getting into a safer territory but from the city and their city’s enemies. Time is a major factor in staying alive…and only that will tell if the group survives…Blake Renworth’s The Exiled Seven is the perfect blend of fantasy and folklore as well as fairy tale. I can definitely see this novel being played on big screens everywhere. Overall, I highly recommend this masterfully woven piece to readers worldwide.

 

 

Review: Ride It Til’ the Wheels Fall Off 2

 

Synopsis:

Crazy is as crazy does! And there’s a whole lot of craziness going on in Ride It Til The Wheels Fall Off 2.

You would think that Brad would have learned not to mix love and psycho. Yet again, he can’t seem to connect the fact that sexing multiple women at one time will end in a disaster for everyone involved.

Meanwhile, Amber is doing whatever she can to keep her hooks in Brad. A pregnancy is just what she needs to hang on to him. As she prepares for their future together, can she keep her mental demons at bay long enough for him to fall in love with her.

Brad has Peaches in his thoughts. The last time they were together, she blew his mind. He can’t stop thinking about the next time they’ll get to spend some time together. But Peaches has a closet full of skeletons tucked away just beneath the surface. Everything is not as it seems.

Faith has moved on from Brad and rekindled what she had with Taylor. Sonya is not pleased about this and feels betrayed especially since she is carrying Taylor’s seed. She has plans to get Taylor back. How far will she go to make this happen?

Two women, two men, two pregnancies but one baby… Something is not adding up! Grab Ride It Til The Wheels Fall Off 2 to find out who has a problem with the arithmetic.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Toca Swanson has done it once again! Her second novel inside this crazy addictive series has it hit off of the charts so high. The drama is higher and better than ever. Ride It Til’ the Wheels Fall Off 2 is another fabulous hit by Toca Swanson. I was once more swept into the drama series. The story is told from each characters’ point of view. I loved reading the novel that angle. Each characters’ point of view only adds to the trouble brewing ahead as always. As the tale progressed…the tension was building up and not just from one character but from all of them. Each one has their own take on life and once they decide on what they want there is no stopping them.

Ride It Til’ the Wheels Fall Off 2 by Toca Swanson is like watching an Urban soap opera come to life. All the characters play a major role in adding to the masterpiece. Amber from book one is still going after Brad. Brad knows she’s a crazy chick and won’t stop unless he does something. Faith is confused by the men in her life and doesn’t know what she really feels yet. Then there’s Sonya who was once with Taylor. The Taylor that is best of friends with Faith and loves only her. Taylor and Faith have slept together…Sonya is wanting Taylor back and is planning on using her pregnancy to tie him to her…however, the baby isn’t his and Sonya has also slept with others. Where life will take these crazy unforgettable characters next is something that readers have to find out on their own. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this second novel and following what happened after book one. There’s also, a surprise twist and suspense to keep me turning the pages in a race to find all the juicy details. As always, Toca Swanson doesn’t disappoint readers and keeps bringing a hot steamy tale to all. Overall, I highly recommend this exciting urban fiction to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: The Divorce

 

Synopsis:

Jenzy: I love my husband, but he doesn’t see me anymore. We were collage sweethearts and for seven years I’ve been his wife. Five of those years were bliss; the last two have been a long fall from grace.

He’s the love of my life, the sexy and smart man I saw my future with, but now I don’t think he sees it too. I’m tired of not being seen, I’m tired of not being heard, and I’m tired of being in love alone.
I was his optimistic hippie girl that he couldn’t get enough of. Now I’m just his annoyance.

So I told him, I finally found the backbone and this is our story….

Chris: My wife just told me she wants a divorce. What the hell do I say to that? I thought we were fine-, well fine is a bad word, I thought we were okay. Doesn’t matter what I think because she’s moving out and I can’t really let this happen.

Yeah, she annoys me, we’re total opposites, but I knew that when I met her, she hasn’t changed…maybe I have? I was her anchor, her safety, her home. Now I’m that guy that’s wreaked her and there are plenty of men willing to repair the damage I did.

So I have a plan. Find out what happened to change my affection for her within the last two years, and win her back before someone else does, because I still love her, and she still loves me….I guess….

Rating: Beyond 5 stars

Review:

The Divorce by Nicole Strycharz is absolutely phenomenal. The story itself sucked me in whole. It devoured me in entire form. I can’t remember reading a novel especially, a romance novel that made me laugh and cry so hard. The emotional journey was just breath taking. I felt everything like it was me experiencing it all first hand. This is a novel that will go to the big screens and be the one everyone talks about…I highly recommend reading it before they make it into a movie.

I have read Nicole Strycharz’s other works and this one moved me in ways I can’t describe. The characters were three dimensional…the scenes popped to life. I felt happy, excited, sad, angry, and wow…the steamy scenes were good too. I happen to read a lot of of books…say 300 books a year if not more. I know a great novel when I find it and this is definitely one of them. The Divorce is a powerful tale of a couple’s marriage. The ups and downs most couples experience are lived in this story. I could feel the fear and frustrations from both the husband and wife as their love, troubles, and growth continued. As a reader, I was instantly hooked and compelled by the brilliant writing of this talented writer. It’s easy to connect with the characters and their situations as they occured. Love is something we all cherish or should. We need to be loved as to love others…and this novel demonstrates that beautifully. Humans can be so blinded at times and it’s not until we lose something that we are awakened by what we have done. Overall, I seriously recommend this riveting romance tale to readers worldwide. I promise you will fall in love…

Review: The Mirror Thief

 

Synopsis:

The core story is set in Venice in the sixteenth century, when the famed makers of Venetian glass were perfecting one of the old world’s most wondrous inventions: the mirror. An object of glittering yet fearful fascination—was it reflecting simple reality, or something more spiritually revealing?—the Venetian mirrors were state of the art technology, and subject to industrial espionage by desirous sultans and royals worldwide. But for any of the development team to leave the island was a crime punishable by death. One man, however—a world-weary war hero with nothing to lose—has a scheme he thinks will allow him to outwit the city’s terrifying enforcers of the edict, the ominous Council of Ten . . .

Meanwhile, in two other Venices—Venice Beach, California, circa 1958, and the Venice casino in Las Vegas, circa today—two other schemers, launch similarly dangerous plans to get away with a secret . . .

All three stories will weave together into a spell-binding tour-de-force that is impossible to put down—an old-fashioned, stay-up-all-night novel that, in the end, returns the reader to a stunning conclusion in the original Venice . . . and the bedazzled sense of having read a truly original and thrilling work of art.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Mirror Thief by Martin Seay is a sensational masterpiece. Martin Seay is truly a master of creating plots that will absorb readers into a thrilling adventure unlike any other. This thriller contains three varying stories that will intertwine and become one massive story that blew me away. A novel that defies all other works of fiction and leaves readers satisfied from beginning to end. The Mirror Thief is like a black hole that sucks everything and in this case everyone into its depth. A fast-paced highly entertaining tale that had me hooked, awed, and breathless. Readers who want an adventure as thrilling as the most frightening thrill rides in the world….will fall deeply for this splendid masterpiece.

It’s hard to believe that The Mirror Thief is Martin Seay’s debut novel. What a way to splash into the world of fictional writing. I have never read a tale quite like this one. Inside this story, I got to travel to three different locations, meet many intriguing characters and learned about a mirror technology that is the center of it all. Secrets, danger, and three different times periods make this an outstanding read. The craftsmen that created the mirror would be punished by death if they left the island…and there was one who had nothing to lose. A mirror that can be used for information purposes is a rare and highly wanted object used by many. What will come to the thief is something that readers must find out own their own…Overall, I highly recommend this enchanting tale to readers worldwide. I look forward to reading more by this talented writer in the future.

 

Review: Resort Isle

 

Synopsis:

San Diego Detective Frank Dugan has just become a victim of ruthless criminals, who have passed in and out of prison and continue to perform their grisly acts, in a free society. Dugan wants them put someplace where they can never return and never harm innocents again, and presents an innovative solution to this revolving door crime dilemma to the government. The result is Resort Isle, a lonely tropical dot in the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the most vicious sharks known to man, a place from which there is no escape and virtually no supervision. This resort is the last vacation the worse of the bad will ever get.

But Detective Dugan never figured that one day he’d be the guest of his own invention, a permanent resident, on this island, where many that he sent there can’t wait to kill him.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Resort Isle by Paul Sekulich is one of the most fascinating, crime thrillers I have read. I couldn’t believe the odds of a man, who created the idea of an island for the worst criminals to be placed upon to be set on there as well. The main character, detective Frank Dugan, is by far the best fictional character ever. He lives quite a normal life like the rest of us. He and his wife are paying a mortgage on their home and have kids. Soon danger comes knocking on the door, and right on the day of Dugan and his wife’s anniversary…bad men come to take jewelry…only to find that they got the wrong Duggan and what happens next tore apart my heart…I could feel detective Frank Dugan’s anger and hurt. The plot is well-developed and one that kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept expecting far worse to happen to detective Frank Dugan…and the talented writer, Paul Sekulich kept me guessing all the way to the last page. Absolutely remarkable…I was instantly hooked by the story from page one. Not many authors can do that…Resort Isle is a place no good person ever wants to go…it’s a dangerous place that even the criminals fear of being sent. Overall, this is definitely a must-read thriller, for readers everywhere. I look forward to reading more of Paul Sekulich’s novels and hope the next  Overall, this is definitely a must read thriller for readers everywhere. I look forward to reading more of Paul Sekulich’s novels and hope the next one features my new favorite detective Frank Dugan.

Review: The Dove’s Necklace

 

 

Synopsis:

The stunning novel that explores the secret life of Mecca by the first woman to win the international prize for Arabic fiction.

When the body of a young woman is discovered in the Lane of Many Heads, an alley in modern-day Mecca, no one will claim it as they are all ashamed of her nakedness. As Detective Nasser pursues his investigation of the case, seemingly all of Mecca chimes in―including the Lane of Many Heads itself―in this brilliant, funny, profane, and enigmatic fever dream of a novel by Raja Alem, the first woman to win the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.

Nasser initially suspects that the dead woman is Aisha, one of the residents of the Area, and he searches her emails for clues. The world she paints embraces everything from crime and religious extremism to the exploitation of foreign workers by a mafia of building contractors, who are destroying the historic areas of the city. In stark relief with this grimness is the beauty of her love letters to her German boyfriend. Another view reveals the city through the eyes of Yusuf, Aisha’s neighbor, increasingly frustrated by the acceleration pace of change.

As gripping as classic noir, nuanced as a Nabokov novel, and labyrinthine as the alleys of Mecca itself, this powerful and disturbing work of fiction masterfully reveals a city and a civilization in all its contradictions, at once beholden to brutal customs and uneasily coming to terms with new traditions. Raja Alem’s singular The Dove’s Necklace is a virtuosic work of literature that deserves the world’s attention.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

The Dove’s Necklace by Raja Alem is a captivating novel that will lure all readers to its great depth. A mystery that intrigues the soul to flip its pages in a haste to find out its secrets. What lies deep in this novel is a history that will blow readers away with every word. Raja Alem is indeed a talented writer with a way of bringing, to life, the murder, customs, and investigation that is portrayed in this stunning tale. The point of view is enjoyable. Told from an alley way’s point of view…was a brilliant idea. This sets readers, onto a journey, that will keep them hooked until the last page. Ever wondered about the city of Mecca and what secrets it keeps or the lives of the people? The Dove’s Necklace masterfully covers these and many more interesting questions that will surely rise as readers keep digging deeper into this powerful story.

Inside this riveting tale, The Dove’s Necklace, opens readers to the place where the danger and mystery begin. It’s also a place with tons of history such as wars, kingdoms, and customs that keep one’s mind buzzing with action. Raja Alem’s story is about love and revenge. Soon, readers are taken where a dead woman’s body lies…not only is she dead but also completely nude. No one knows the woman’s name…this scene and the people’s reaction to the dead woman’s body intrigues readers deeply. Who is she? Why her? Who killed her and why left nude? These questions and many others are answered but  will keep readers guessing and on the edge of their seats as they rush through the pages with a burning intensity to find out the answers. I loved reading this Arabic story. Traveling all the way to Mecca without so much as leaving my seat was amazing. The raw beauty of the novel will hold readers in like prisoners…Intriguing, dramatic, and suspenseful…The Dove’s Necklace is a must read for all. Giving readers worldwide a glimpse into one of the most famous cities of all time.

 

Review: Blue Bath

 

Synopsis:

Kat Lind, an American expatriate living in London with her entrepreneur husband and their young son, attends an opening at a prestigious Mayfair art gallery and is astonished to find her own face on the walls. The portraits are evidence of a long-ago love affair with the artist, Daniel Blake. Unbeknownst to her, he has continued to paint her ever since. Kat is seduced by her reflection on canvas and when Daniel appears in London, she finds herself drawn back into the sins and solace of a past that suddenly no longer seems so far away.

When the portraits catch the attention of the public, threatening to reveal not only her identity but all that lies beyond the edges of the canvases, Kat comes face to face with the true price of their beauty and with all that she now could lose.

Moving between the glamour of the London art world and the sensuous days of a love affair in a dusty Paris studio, life and art bleed together as Daniel and Kat’s lives spin out of control, leading to a conclusion that is anything but inevitable.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Blue Bath by Mary Waters-Sayer is a sensational women’s fictional piece. Here, readers are introduced to interesting characters…a married woman with a son…a piece of her past comes tumbling into her present life and the stakes are higher than she realizes. An old flame she once left in Paris is now at an art gallery near her. Kate’s curiosity kills her and she must see…Daniel Blake.  An artist that painted her and still continues to do so…Kate realizes that there is much to lose if people found out that the paintings were of her. The Blue Bath title ties in perfectly with the beautifully woven tale. Mary Waters-Sayer’s readers will fall deeply in love with the characters, scenes, and the emotional journey that unfolds.

The Blue Bath is Mary Waters-Sayer’s debut novel. A brilliant and stunning way to light one’s path into the world of fictional writing. This story is about love, regret, and betrayal. A woman’s secrets haunt her…what her life will be like with her husband once she tells him…is something readers have to read. Life is never easy and our pasts never stay hidden they are bound to chase us no matter how far away we run. Kate is a wife who had an affair with a painter…who is now dead. She knows how he died yet she has lied to the police. Her future is an enormous mess. An entanglement that no one would have foreseen until it happened. Sad, heartbreaking, and well-written. I highly recommend this contemporary novel to readers everywhere. I can’t wait to read more my Mary Waters-Sayer in the future.