Required Reading
Books I have authored.
Thursday, December 31, 2020
The Master Sniper by Stephen Hunter
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Born to Be Wild by Catherine Coulter
This is a book about a soap opera star and is probable classified as a romance. I’m being up front here, I use avoid any book that has a male on the cover with a shirt open to his waste throwing a scantily attired female over his brawny shoulder. I just don’t read them. Well the cover didn’t have any of that and I got sucked into reading this, in spite of it being a romance. It is a romance with a thin layer of mystery over it. Mary Lisa is a successful soap opera star who is being stalked. Jack Wolf, who in spite of his name is not in show business, is the chief of police where she grew up. His past experience with a nasty ex-wife and a felony type prank by Mary Lisa tends to make them adversaries.
I enjoyed the book, sad to say, really, but I did enjoy
it. There was enough characterization,
mystery and plot to make it entertaining.
I STILL don’t read romances.
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, December 20, 2020
The Nearest Exit by Olen Steinhauer
Milo Weaver is back. This is the second book of the trilogy, the first being The Tourist, review to be found on Pick of the Literate on 10/19/20. Milo is again a tourist and not the obvious kind. He is a CIA tourist which is a secret group withing the CIA which seems to handle many of the black bag operations. Milo is tasked to do something he finds morally repugnant and true to the clandestine methods of his job, he hides his disobedience. The results fuel the plot.
The author has his main protagonist, Milo, re-evaluating his
life and his morals. Steinhauer clearly shows the devastating impact
a life of lies has on the liar and his family.
Steinhauer writes a devious plot with many twists, I enjoyed
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
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
The Devil’s Workshop by Stephen J. Cannell
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins
Ace Atkins isn’t Robert Parker but he is pretty good. It seemed like having Spenser periodically using quotes was overly contrived. In my opinion, Atkins writes a good story but was trying to hard to emulate Parker. Regardless, it was an entertaining book. Spenser jumps in to aid his protégé, Maggie. Maggie has stumbled into a pedophilic situation where wealth and privilege are preventing any type of prosecution.
The characters were familiar, the interplay between Hawk and
Spenser wasn’t quite as biting and sharp as I recall. There were few times I laughed out loud where
as with Parker, the repartee often was the main stay of the relationship.
I give Atkins credit, trying to emulate another author’s
style has got to be hard, overall he did a good job and I enjoyed 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.
Saturday, December 5, 2020
The Forgotten Room by Lincoln Child
Monday, November 30, 2020
Spotlight on Stargods by Ian Douglas
by Ian Douglas
Star Carrier: Book 9
The last installment in the Star Carrier series, where first contact, space opera, and military adventure combine, from New York Times bestselling author Ian Douglas!
Will this be the end?
Friday, November 27, 2020
The Disappeared by C.J. Box
This is a Joe Pickett novel. Joe is a game warden in Wyoming. He has a buddy Nate who has a thing for frozen fish. A dual plot with a missing Brit and strange happenings at the lumber yard provide a good pace to the book.
Joe is a straight arrow and his buddy Nate, not so
much. The author paints a very cold
picture of Wyoming winters. Very
cold!
The story has enough twists to make it interesting and political
games are sadly all too familiar.
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.
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Spotlight on Robert McCaw's Death of a Messenger
Ever wonder how Koa
Kane got his start?
Death of a Messenger is the first book
in the Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery series by Robert McCaw https://robertbmccaw.com/
Revised
and updated, it will be released by Oceanview Publishing on January 5, 2021.
Read my reviews of his 2nd and 3rd books, Off
the Grid and Fire
and Vengeance, no spoilers in either review, both of them 5 star mysteries.
On Hawaii Island, an anonymous 911 caller
reports a body at Pohakuloa, the Army’s live-fire training area. Hilo Chief
Detective Koa Kane, a cop with his own secret criminal past, finds a mutilated
corpse—bearing all the hallmarks of ancient ritual sacrifice.
He encounters a host of obstacles as he pursues
the murderer—an incompetent local medical examiner, hostility from both haoles
(Westerners) and sovereignty advocates, and a myriad of lies. Koa races to
discover whether the victim stumbled upon a gang of high-tech archaeological
thieves, or learned a secret so shocking it cost him his life and put others in
mortal danger.
Will Hilo’s most respected detective stop this
sadistic fiend—or will the Pohakuloa killer strike again, with even deadlier
consequences?
Coming
soon in early 2021!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
is the author of Fire and Vengeance, Off
the Grid, and Death of a Messenger. McCaw grew up in a military family,
traveling the world. He is a graduate of Georgetown University, served as a
U.S. Army lieutenant, and earned a law degree from the University of Virginia.
He was a partner in a major international law firm in Washington, D.C. and New
York City, representing major Wall Street clients in complex civil and criminal
cases. Having lived on the Big Island of Hawaii, McCaw imbues his writing of
the Islands with his more than 2-year love affair with this Pacific paradise.
He now lives in New York City with his wife, Calli.
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, November 22, 2020
Under Currents by Nora Roberts
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Blue Moon by Lee Child
Saturday, November 7, 2020
The Headshrinker's Brigade by Leslie Tourish NOW and Audio Book
The Headshrinker’s Brigade By Leslie Tourish
About the Novel:
Julia Longley seems to have it all - a great job as a photojournalist and a perfect boyfriend in Nick, the paper’s star reporter. But it all comes crashing down when she experiences a trauma on the job and temporarily loses her eyesight due to hysterical blindness.
In The Headshrinker’s Brigade, Leslie Tourish weaves a story with a quirky and memorable cast of characters, starring Julia, a young woman who was blind to many aspects of her life, but who sets off on a journey to rediscover her true calling as a therapist and what she really wants in love.
Originally released as a paperback, it is now available as an audiobook on Audible. It is narrated by voice actor Carrington MacDuffie, known for her narration of Marianne Williamson’s A Politics of Love and Marilynne Robinson’s What Are We Doing Here.
About the Author:
By day, Leslie Tourish helps others - via screen now - through life’s biggest problems. By night, she follows her lifelong dream of being a writer. The thread that continues to weave between the pages of her life is her love for the written word. Stories and characters have always played in her head, just waiting for the day they can bust out and have a life of their own.
Just like her main character, Julia, after a career as a photojournalist, she decided she needed a change and returned to school where she earned a Master of Arts in Human Services specializing in counseling. While employed in various mental health clinics, the idea for a book took root and resulted in The Headshrinker’s Brigade. It won the 2019 Texas Authors Book Award Contest for general fiction.
Born and raised in Texas, Leslie currently lives in a small town in the Texas Hill Country with her husband and three terribly spoiled dogs. For more on Leslie, www.latourish.com.
Praise:
"Through her array of colorful characters and their funny, sometimes poignant, stories, Ms. Tourish offers readers a glimpse into the common humanity of therapists and clients alike."—Shelly J. Oliver, Amazon reviewer
"Fun novel that takes you through the trials and tribulations of a young woman trying to find her true calling. The characters are engaging and the story line is rife with quirky hilarity. Love this book."—Jana Kaura, Amazon reviewer
"The detail is crisp; the wit solid."—Julia Jerome, Amazon reviewer
"Tourish’s use of metaphor is exceptional, transporting the reader to an emotional as well as descriptive place. "— Joe, Amazon reviewer
Author Links:
Website: www.leslieanntourish.com
Facebook: Leslie Tourish, Author
Instagram: @leslie.tourish
Twitter: @leslietourish
Book Details:
Audiobook: 12 hours 29 minutes, available on Audible, Amazon and iTunes
Publisher: Treaty Oak Publishers/The Block
House (October 2020)
Narrator: Carrington MacDuffie
Language: English
ASIN: B08L55CFJN
Monday, November 2, 2020
Spotlight on Anstey Harris’ THE MUSEUM OF FORGOTTEN MEMORIES
At Hatters Museum of the Wide Wide World, where the animals never age but time takes its toll, one woman must find the courage to overcome the greatest loss of her life.
Cate Morris never expected to meet the love of her life, Richard, while on a date with his best friend. Despite an awkward start, the pair had a blissful marriage—until Richard began to fade away before Cate’s eyes. Boisterous and bright, he felt the weight of the world more deeply than most, his thoughts clouded by depression.
Four years after Richard’s suicide, Cate is emotionally raw—from the guilt, the
anger, the sadness, but mostly, the loneliness. Laid off from her job, Cate and
Leo, her energetic 19-year-old son with Down syndrome, seek temporary refuge in
Richard’s birthright, a magnificent Victorian museum, where long-kept secrets
await.
Notwithstanding an unpleasant start with Araminta Buchan, the old family retainer, Cate is soon charmed by the peculiar menagerie and senses Richard’s presence everywhere. Cate and Araminta have long been weighted down by a responsibility of care—one to a fading husband, the other to a Downton-esque dwelling—both bound to duty by love. Resolving to save the forgotten museum, the pair face unexpected threats, forcing Cate to confront the reality of Richard’s death in order to reimagine her future.
Perfect for fans of Katherine Center and Evvie Drake Starts Over, THE MUSEUM OF FORGOTTEN MEMORIES grapples with life’s heaviest burdens, all the while offering an unexpected tale of hope and wonder.
About Anstey Harris
Anstey Harris is based by the seaside in south-east England
where she lives with her violinmaker husband and two dogs. She teaches creative
writing in the community, local schools, and as an associate lecturer for
Christchurch University in Canterbury.
Anstey writes about the things that make people tick, the things that bind us
and the things that can rip us apart. In 2015, she won the H G Wells Short
Story Prize for her story, Ruby. In novels, Anstey tries to celebrate uplifting
ideas and prove that life is good and that happiness is available to everyone
once we work out where to look (usually inside ourselves). Her short stories
tend not to end quite so well...
Things that interest Anstey include her children and granddaughter, green
issues and conservation, adoption and adoption reunion (she is an adopted
child, born in an unmarried mothers' home in Liverpool in 1965), stepfamilies,
dogs, and food. Always food. She would love to be on Masterchef but would never
recover from the humiliation if she got sent home in the first round.
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 29, 2020
Short Cut by J. Gregory Smith
I’ve enjoyed reading Smith’s books since he started writing. I feel fortunate to have discovered him early as it has been a pleasure seeing him develop as a writer. This book is the Reluctant Hustler Book 2. Now I have to get book one as I really enjoyed this book. Kyle is the reluctant hustler. He finds himself then unwitting heir of Ryan’s favor business. These aren’t party favors; these favors are both life threatening and life-saving.
Smith has the ability to bring characters to life. Kyle is now a real person. I think I know VP. This is just an indication of the skill Smith
has used to make his fictional people gritty, flawed and real. The story is believable as are the
characters.
J. Gregory Smith writes a captivating and highly
entertaining story.
I heartily recommend the book.
BTW I did receive this book in exchange for an honest
review. An honest review is what I have
given. No favors, in spite of the book’s
favor theme, were exchanged, no gifts received except the delight of reading a
well crafted story.
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 24, 2020
The Readers’ Room by Antoine Laurain
Monday, September 21, 2020
Spotlight on A Mother’s Grace: Healing the World One Woman at a Time by Michelle Moore
Monday, September 14, 2020
Guest Post by Dr.Tinita Kearney Author of Lola Koala Travel Adventures
Dr. Kearney's New Book |
Creative Ways to Build Your Toddler’s Language Skills While Quarantined
1. Tag
Team Dressing
3. ‘WH’
Question Basketball
4. Chore-Helper
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Under Pressure by Robert Pobi
Friday, September 4, 2020
Hunter Killer: A Pike Logan Novel by Brad Taylor
Sunday, August 30, 2020
Rigged by D. P. Lyle
Thursday, August 20, 2020
The Names of the Dead by Kevin Wignall
Wes is the classic trying to clear his name protagonist with
a very sharp and violent edge. Mia is
an almost gender neutral, socially awkward person who Wes learns to trust. The plot of going country to country seeking
retribution for a murder and the search for a lost child provide the rest of
the plot.
The story was compelling, the author provides a reasonable rationale
for Wes’s behavior.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.