Required Reading

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Books I have authored.

Many times I receive books for FREE to give them an honest review. I do not get paid to give a good or bad review. Spotlights are promotional and should be regarded as advertising for the book spotlighted. Regardless of where or how I got a book, my review will be as honest as I can make it.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Resurrection Express by Stephen Romano

 

Funny I thought I knew how to spell intense and turns out it is spelled ROMANO!  Wow, this book brings a level of intensity that I expect from Vince Flynn or Daniel Silva, I just didn’t know Romano was this good.  

A hacker/thief and his father an assassin/thief are embroiled in a elitist conspiracy to rework the world. 

If you are squeamish you won’t want to read this book.  It is graphic, very graphic but also captivating.  The story is complex and you best pay attention or you will get lost.   Some thought provoking questions arise from the plot of this book.  There are also some not so subtle political digs included in the work.   Don’t look for any warm and fuzzy characters, they are all pretty much despicable.  If you are looking for a rush from reading, grab this book, it will grab you and shake out your complacency. 

I highly recommend the book. 

Body of work of Body of  work of <a type="amzn" > Stephen Romano </a>

Web Site: http://www.stephenromanoshockfestival.com/
 


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Steeler's Cheerleader

I read recently that cat videos and photos get more hits than any topic on the web except for porn.   Well, you won't find any porn here but in this photo from my grandkids I would like to introduce my grand-cat! 
Having worked for US Steel as a young pup, I have been a Steeler fan ever since.  My gkids are not Steeler fans but they know how to tickle their grandfather's funnybone!

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Zack & Zoey’s Alien Apocalypse by MJ Ware

 
This book deals with alien invasion and defense of the planet by a group of pre-teens.

Zack and Zoey are classmates who deal with an invasion of fat favoring aliens.   The book may be a metaphor on childhood obesity but I suspect it is just an amusing parody.  The aliens eat the fat kids first.  

Zack and Zoey have a relationship that is characterized by the stereotypical girls mature first and guys are in a dimly lit second place.   Zoey wants to be more than pals and Zack is voting with his feet in a vain attempt at escape.

In the midst of this non-tempestuous relationship, earth is invaded by fat folk gorging ugly green aliens.  Zack and Zoey, with the help of some friends and very little help from the faculty of their school, deal with the aliens.

This book is definitely targeting a younger audience than Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb by MJA Ware.   Adults in touch with kids will recognize the grade school humor.
I  recommend the book.

Body of work of Body of  work of <a type="amzn" > M.J.A.Ware </a>


Web Site: http://www.mjaware.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Kill Shot by Vince Flynn


If you enjoy action adventure, don’t walk, run to your computer and order some Vince Flynn.   This is a time warp on Mitch Rapp, Flynn’s American Assassin.  We get to see some of what has transpired to turn Mitch into the killing machine featured in this jaw dropping series. 

If you talk action adventure at a cocktail party, in a matter of seconds someone will ask if you have read any Vince Flynn.   I have only missed 2 of his 13 books in this series and I intend to read the two I have missed.   Mitch Rapp is one of those characters that you want to emulate.  Passionate about what he does and about his country but emotionless when conducting “business”, Rapp is the consummate hero.  

Flynn has given Rapp an Old Testament philosophy in regards to justice.  If a terrorist attacks our country, then said terrorist is fair game for just retribution.   That philosophy seems so appropriate for the age in which we live.  

There is non-stop action in this thriller that primarily occurs in France but draws in the heavy weights from the CIA, MI6 and wallows in treachery, deceit and betrayal.

I highly recommend this book and all the other Flynn books I have read.

Body of  work of <a type="amzn" > Vince Flynn</a>


 
This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Destined To Play by Indigo Bloome


It is inevitable that this book will be compared to Fifty Shades of Grey.  It abounds with salacious behavior and submission of will.   It is a novel designed to titillate and is successful in it’s design.  There will be a wealth of “heaving bosoms” that will devour this book.

I have not read Fifty Shades of Grey and I don’t plan on reading it.   No particular reason but it falls into a genre I don’t normally read.   This book was an interesting read and if this is what women normally read it is a wonder there are not more rampant assaults on the shirtless men who are normally on the covers.   Cotton candy came to mind while reading this book.  It strives to have substance but fails to deliver.   However since I like cotton candy, I did enjoy the book.  

As an author my best selling book is  Mommy’s Black Eye which deals with domestic violence.  I have mixed emotions about that because I am delighted it is selling so well and dismayed that it is addressing an obvious need.   My biggest dismay with this book is the theme of dominance.   The supposition that women as a gender have a hidden desire to be dominated offends me.  My education and experience as a counselor provided me with too many instances where subservient behavior led to abuse.   Perhaps I have been fortunate to have my primary female relationships be with strong women but I find it hard to believe that any woman, unless she is categorized as disturbed, would willingly submit to being dominated in the manner described in this book.

I can accept that there are women who would willingly participate in the interesting actions in the book but by choice not by coercion.   Suggesting that sexual submission is the key to curing depression literally elicited a major guffaw due to the ludicrous nature of that proposal.  

I take issue with many of the premises of the book but I strongly suspect that the appetite for acceptable sexual entertainment will engender profitable sales.

I can’t say I recommend the book but it was interesting. 

Body of work of <a type="amzn">Indigo Bloome </a>

Web site: http://www.harpercollins.com.au/authors/50040277/Indigo_Bloome/index.aspx


  
This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Help Kickstart The Writer's Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy



The Writers’ Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy is a collection of essays and interviews with some of most influential names in the industry; each article covering a specific element of the craft of writing science fiction and fantasy.  The collaborators in this wonderful anthology include:

Neil Gaiman – “Where Do You Get Your Ideas?”


Orson Scott Card – “On Rhetoric and Style.”


Lou Anders – “Nebulous Matters, or Speculations on Subgenre.”


Lucy Snyder – “Ursula K. LeGuin Talks About A Lifetime in the Craft.”


James Gunn – “Beginnings.”


George Zebrowski – “Middles.”


Jay
Lake – “Endings.”

Nayad Monroe – “Tim Powers Talks About Writing Supernatural Awe and More.”


Pam Sargent – “Talking Too Much, or Not Enough: Dialogue in Science Fiction and Fantasy.”


Geoff Fuller -- “How Alien the Alien: A Primer on Viewpoint.”


Nancy Kress – “The Green-Skinned Zorn Laughed With Grief: Character and Emotion in Science Fiction and Fantasy.”


Harry Turtledove – “Alternate History: the How-To of What Might Have Been.”


Kelly Green – “Larry Niven Talks About the Collaborative Process.”


Joe Haldeman – “Hemingway Talks About Writing.”


Nisi Shawl – “Unbending Gender.”


Alan Dean Foster – “Reverse Engineering: Writing Novelizations.”


Alethea Kontis – “Kevin J. Anderson Talks About Spin-off Novels and Prequels.”


Elizabeth Bear -- “Tactics of Worldbuilding.”


Jackie Gamber–”Ann and Jeff Vandermeer Talk About Weird Fiction”


Michael Knost – Short fiction editors Ellen Datlow, Stanley Schmidt, Gordon Van Gelder, James Patrick Kelly, Mike Resnick, and John Joseph Adams discuss what they are looking for when reading submissions.


I'm self published. My books are selling. Most of them are issue oriented so I have hopes I am helping someone. I want to be a better writer and I want to write better books. I am blown away by the quality of the writers Seventh Star has garnered for this book. How could you not want to support this!  I am a backer!
 
This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Don’t Ever Get Old by Daniel Friedman



Buck Schatz is an unusual new protagonist.  The only thing new about Buck is his creation by Daniel Friedman.  Buck is a geriatric grump with a colorful past as a over the top homicide detective.  This novel points out that age may slow down the body and cloud the mind but motivation and tenacity can not be underestimated. 

Buck is a grump with so many grudges and gripes he is a difficult protagonist to enjoy.   On the other hand, as age creeps up, some of his bitches sound very familiar.   The relationship with Rose, his wife, can not be described as tender but it is deep and meaningful, particularly to those of us who have been lucky enough to have long term, satisfying marriages.  

The mystery, the murders, Nazi gold, gambling debts and Buck’s irascibility provide plenty of action and plot twists.   Buck’s strained relationship with his grandson infuses the story with a poignant flavor of reality that enjoys a bit of clarity with one sad sentence.  This is purported to be the first in a Buck Schatz series, if so, keep an eye on it as it will be a hit.

I recommend it.    

Body of work of <a type="amzn" >Daniel Friedman</a>

Twitter: Daniel Friedman @DanFriedman81 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Deadly Coast by R. E. McDermott


Tom Dugan, a partner now with Alex, his former employer in Deadly Straits, is a marine consultant who finds himself immersed in terrorists, pirates and a haunting legacy from World War II. 

I was pleased to see Tom Dugan back.   He is an older and more thoughtful protagonist who does not rush in with blazing guns to save the day.   He does have a Machiavellian streak that serves him well when he is dealing with international miscreants.  There are a few carry over characters from Deadly Straits but this book can certainly be read as a stand alone novel.  The characters are eminently likeable or vilely despicable.  Once again, McDermott has done a super job with his characterizations. 

The plot could be lifted from the daily news.   It has roots in reality and that may be one of the things that makes it so captivating.   There is plenty of action and emotions are more realistic and perhaps less noble than the run of the mill stylized protagonist.  Frankly Bob purposes some solutions to some international problems that seem extremely sensible.   This is another must read from a terrific new author. 

I highly recommend it. 


Body of  work of <a type="amzn" > R. E. McDermott </a>
Web Site: http://www.remcdermott.com/

 This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Tiger’s Claw by Dale Brown





Dale Brown plucks his plots out of newspaper headlines.   This thriller postulates China as our new deadly foe.   Obviously that is not much of a fictional stretch.  

One of the subtleties of Brown’s books is the need to read between the lines.   The book points out that with the intertwined nature of the global economy it would be difficult for any conflict to escalate to war. 

Even noting that, Brown clearly details how minor events can snowball into making conflict nearly inevitable.   I haven’t read any Dale Brown lately and I found this book a bit more formulistic than I recall.   It could have been one I read several years ago with the names of the players being changed. 

I do enjoy the reoccurring characters as that provides a familiarity to the story that is quite pleasant.   The nature of the plot does not provide a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings but more of a sense of trepidation.   The specific details sometimes get overwhelming but overall and entertaining read.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of <a type="amzn">Dale Brown </a>

Web site: http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/20551/Dale_Brown/index.aspx
This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Deadly Coast by R.E. McDermott Coming Soon

Deadly Coast 
by the author of Deadly Straits
R.E. McDermott 
If you want ACTION
If you want ADVENTURE
If you want CHILLING THRILLS
McDermott Delivers! 



Come back soon for my review of Deadly Coast and click on Deadly Straits to see my review!

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

The Exiled Element by John L. Betcher




Once again, James Becker, a retired agent of some type is a small town attorney with an international reach. James Becker has retired from a terrorism fight to live a sedentary life with his wife and girls safe in a small, insular community. In his first book, The 19th Element detailed the story of a Islamic terrorists’ attack on a nearby nuclear plant.  In the Covert Element Becker gets entwined with a drug cartel.  In this book Becker and Beth, his wife and former CIA employee, get involved in assassination and spying.

Beth plays a greater part in this book as a major protagonist herself rather than Becker’s loyal sidekick.   The obsequious, devious and arrogant nature of some of the bureaucratic government “professionals” provided a despicable counterpoint to the refreshing patriotism of Becker and friends. My only suggestion to the author would be a smidgen of backstory on Becker for those who have not read the two previous books.  This book reads very well as a stand alone but I think that most first time readers would enjoy it a bit more with a better understanding of Becker’s background.  

The book deals with the Arab Spring and current events in the Middle East.   The interplay between Becker and friends is, once again, quite entertaining.   Betcher captures the normal interplay between good friends that enjoy and respect each other but due to their manly nature avoid showing their emotions.    I enjoyed interviewing John Betcher and I feel that each book he writes shows his increased experience.   In trepidation over being redundant, keep up the good work Betcher!
 
I highly recommend this book.

Body of work of John L. Betcher

Web site: http://www.johnbetcher.com

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.