The Hunted by Steven Max Russo

The Hunted by Steven Max Russo

Action abounds in Russo’s latest book.  You can depend on Russo to give you plenty of action in his books, the kind of action that makes you hate putting down the book.  The lives of an intelligence analyst and an Army Ranger, unbeknownst to them, are dramatically changed by shared experience in Afghanistan. A chance encounter subsequent to their return to the States launches a deadly chase. 

Ophelia Harris is misidentified as a target due to a coincidental circumstance beyond her control.  Austin Medford, a former Army Ranger, becomes enmeshed in her tumultuous world as a result of a friendly wave years before.  

Russo sets a fast pace and then puts the pedal to the metal for this high-octane adventure. 

I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Storm Tide by Paul Doiron

Storm Tide by Paul Doiron

Mike Bowditch, a Maine Game Warden, has been demoted from investigator to field warden.  As a first responder to a house fire, he risks his life trying to save someone.  That is the trigger factor in this Bowditch plot.

Mike is short-tempered all too often, and it has resulted in a reputation, note not a good reputation.  He becomes embroiled with a wealth of folks who apparently want to harm him.   His wife, a leavening factor, as for many of us, keeps him focused on his job.   Working, despite being suspended, means that his backup system is Stacy, his wife, Billy, his scary friend, Charley, his father-in-law, and Shadow, his wolf-dog.  Law enforcement back-up doesn't exist for Mike.

The plot gets intricate and leads to historic introspection to discover the motive for all the Bowditch animosity.   There is plenty of action. Mike is a terrific, flawed, and believable character.

 As mentioned in my last review of Pitch Black, the last Bowditch book I read,  I had hoped the wolf-dog Shadow would have a larger role. 

I highly recommend the book and hope to read more of the sixteen current books.

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

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

I loved this book.  Rainy March is a book witch.  Her job is to see that books are protected.  She loves her job and the Duke of Chicago.  Her job is real, but the Duke is not, or is it fiction or fictional?

 

This was a delightful book detailing shared fantasies about fiction.  At least shared by the author and me.  I suspect we are in a large group of fiction readers who see themselves in some of their favorite characters, or maybe as their favorite character. 

 

The author alludes to current events, but carefully keeps the story on track for witchery.

 

I reiterate, I loved this book, I highly recommend it, and hopefully have intrigued you enough to read it without generating any spoilers. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Like Snow Before Sun by Marianne Rabalais Sulser

Like Snow Before Sun by  Marianne Rabalais Sulser

 

Acadia, a place you probably aren’t familiar with, because a British conspiracy mostly eradicated its population.  Arcadia was the area of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Northern Maine. In 1755, a plot between the Lt. Governor of Arcadia and the Governor of Massachusetts removed between 11,000 and 15,000 Arcadians from their land and homes.

 

The book is historic in nature, but a fictionalized version of what happened.  Jeanne LeJeune is the progeny of a French merchant trader and a Mi’kmaw woman.  She meets an English militia colonel who changes her life.

 

The book is a sad commentary on the despicable actions of many of our ancestors.  How we treated First Citizens like the Mi’kmaw people, and immigrants that preceded the later colonists, is shown.  

 

It isn’t too hard to look at the current issues with immigration and draw parallels.  Imagine the current immigrants relocating the present population.  Makes one think, I like books that make me think as well as entertain me. 

 

In addition to the historical commentary, it is a love story between two people, laden with the burden of societal differences.

 

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Massawa by Pam Webber

 

This book is set in Eretria. Admittedly, I had to Google that to find out where the setting was for the book. If you are not better informed than I am, Eretria is across the Red Sea from Yemen and Saudi Arabia.  It has along coastline which figures into the plot. Rommel was terrifying the Middle East. The Allies needed a reliable and accessible harbor for all the supplies they needed to defend against Rommel.  Eretria had an excellent harbor that had been devastated by the Italians when they surrendered. A US officer was getting the harbor cleared, but his payroll for the paroled Italian POWs and locals kept disappearing.  The US Office of Strategic Service sent a new agent to rendezvous with a British Mi6 agent to solve the problem.

Kit is a newly minted OSS agent.  She is shocked that she has romantic feelings for Jake, her handler.  Denying those feelings she welcomes her opportunity to serve her country.   Her British counterpart, Mark Williams, is far more seasoned. He works diligently to help her improve her tradecraft.  

 A majority of the book is an exploration of the relationships between Kit, her handler, her partner, her opponents, and her allies. There is very little action but a great deal of feelings being interpreted. 

Kit surprises herself, as well as all of the above players, with her skills, and success.

I recommend the book.

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned