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, March 15, 2024

Scorched by Don Silver



This book is about the coming of age of a troubled child who becomes a troubled adult.  Jonas, a hard-to-love kid, finds soulmates at Lafayette, a school for kids who are alone.

Jonas ends up as a quintmate. He and four other troubled kids are bound together through trials and tribulations.   They experience a life-altering event that separates them forever, except it doesn’t.

As a successful adult Jonas is approached by Dugie, a long-lost quintmate.  Together, the experience is anything but positive for Jonas.

Jonas’s ex-wife and children provide a sense of normalcy for Jonas, staying with him through manic and depressed periods.   Their loyalty is startling.

I found the book hard to read when Jonas was self-destructing.   It is an interesting read, persevere to the end, it is worth 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

Sunday, March 10, 2024

The Innocents by Bridget Walsh



This is the second in the Variety Palace Mystery series that I’ve read.   Minnie and Albert, a mismatched detective team, find themselves facing multiple homicides.  All the homicides seem to relate to either a Ponzi scheme or a dreadful theatrical tragedy.  

Walsh does a good job setting the late 1890s scene in London.   The aromas of the time jump off the page resulting in a twitching nose and a squeamish reaction to many of the settings.

The impact of privilege regarding justice seems unchanged over the ensuing years with the obvious comparison to today’s country club prisons.

The interaction of Minnie and Albert once again is the sub-plot.   In the foreground, are a series of seemingly unrelated homicides and dog-fighting villains. 

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

Friday, March 1, 2024

The Diabolical by David Putnam



This is a Bruno Johnson Crime book.  Bruno, whose solution to every negative issue is blood and bone, has mellowed.  He may still be a little crusty on the outside but he is a major marshmallow on the inside for his fourteen kids. His job as a bartender at the Punta Bandera Hotel and Beach Club in Costa Rico is impacted when some friends are slaughtered at a local nightclub.

A diamond heist, philandering, a hot psychotic manager, and Waldo the not-so-wonder dog add to the eclectic mix.

Putnam puts together an entertaining story with some unusual trappings for the hotel golf course.  

I enjoyed the story 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

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

The Underhanded by Adam Sikes

The Underhanded by Adam Sikes

This isn’t a spy thriller as much as it is an action-adventure.  Professor William Dresden is a discredited historian.  How a historian becomes discredited is part of the plot.  The Professor discovers that his research has inadvertently cast light on the underpinnings of an international conspiracy.  British Intelligence approaches him for help in discovering more about the international conspiracy.  Said approach triggers major changes in the Professor’s life.

Sike builds his characters with depth.  He uses intelligence briefings to give you the necessary background to understand their behavior.  The utilization of current events surrounding the neo-fascist nationalistic and anti-immigration issues provides fuel for the international plot.

Occasionally the complexity of the plot becomes confusing but eventually, all is worked out.   The sequel door is open. Interesting note, not once did anyone call Professor William Dresden, Bill.

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