Required Reading

Life is complicated enough without getting into hotwater with federal agencies so: TAKE NOTE Many things I review I got at no charge in exchange for an honest review. Consider this as informing you that ALL things I review may have been gotten at no charge. Realistically about 60% but in order to keep things above board just assume that I got the stuff free. I do not collect information on my readers. If cookies or other tracking stuff is used on my blogs it is due to BLOGGER not ME. Apparently the European Union's new rules state I need to inform you if cookies are being use. If they are it isn't byu me, consider yourself INFORMED.
Words like, “sponsored,” “promotion,” “paid ad” or even just “ad” are clear ways to disclose that you’re being paid to share information and links so BE AWARE that some of what I write can be described as an AD by the government. BTW I will NEVER say a product is great, super or even acceptable if it isn't, whether I got it free or NOT!

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.

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Spotlight on the Exciting Follow up to Robert McCaw's Off the Grid: Fire and Vengeance

Fire and Vengeance 
(Oceanview Publishing; July 7, 2020; https://robertbmccaw.com/), 
the next book in 
Robert McCaw’s Koa Kane series.


The story in Fire and Vengeance is propelled by the unthinkable—an elementary school, knowingly built atop a volcanic vent, has now exploded. The subsequent murders of the school's contractor and architect only add urgency to Koa’s search for the truth. Was it an act of terrorism? Or a result of greed, power, and a forty-year-old conspiracy?

As Koa's investigation heats up, his brother collapses in jail from a previously undiagnosed brain tumor. Using his connections, Koa devises a risky plan to win his brother's freedom. As Koa gradually unravels the obscure connections between multiple suspects, his investigation suddenly becomes entwined with his brother's future, forcing Koa to choose between justice for the victims and his brother's freedom.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Map of the Dead by Murray Bailey


This is a mystery surrounding ancient Egypt and a secret order.   The story is set around the Mediterranean and in Egypt.   The protagonist is drawn into the mystery through friendship and perhaps love.

Alex has a friend who is killed mysteriously.   He is drawn into the mystery, first because he is a suspect in her death and second due to their shared love of Ancient Egypt.

There are assassins, double agents, murder, scandal and possibly love.

Alex is betrayed but finds out the answer to many of his questions.

The mysterious brotherhood is not clearly explained. 

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, February 15, 2020

The Hangman’s Sonnet by Reed Farrel Coleman

This is Jesse Stone, a Robert B. Parker character, book.   I guess the estates of successful authors license people to continue to write with the author’s characters.  Coleman appears to follow the James Patterson formula of very short chapters, I assume to make it flow faster.   This book is about Chief Jesse Stone, former ball players and current alcoholic in Paradise, Mass.   The mystery is the potential reappearance of a mysterious super group album.

The story moves well, as noted above.   The story is good.   Jesse is shown to be a flawed and thus a

realistic character.

The characterizations are good.

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.

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Triple by Ken Follett


Follett often starts slow and almost boring and then he punches it!   This book purports to show how Israel got nuclear weapons.

First line is a good review is supposed to succinctly state what the book is about.  That means the rest of the lines really have to explain what was the book about.   Regardless of the premise, the book was an in-depth character study of a small group of people who met as young scholars at Oxrford.
It really plumbs the depths of two, Nat Dickstein and David Rostov. 

Nat, a concentration camp victim has dedicated his life to Israel and David to Russia.

Both men are flawed.   Others from that Oxford sherry party play roles in the book as well.

This was intricate and captivating which is the hallmark of this amazing author.


I really enjoyed it 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.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

First Deceit by Henry Farley


This is the first book that seems to be the start of a series.   A pair of con-artists find themselves in a dilemma, a con gone array may end up as a financial windfall.

Jack and Elsa are the main protagonists.   They are also lovers, although, Jack seems to have a different understanding of their relationship than Elsa does.

Elsa is an exotic dancer for Roland who owns a club and has some unsavory connections.

The book ends in a cliff hanger to encourage you to read the next installment.


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