Redemption Day by Steve O’Brien

This book focuses on the Posse Comitatus’s actions to precipitate a government crisis. It is an action thriller that has some horrific overtones.

The sad thing about this book is that harsh economic times can drive normally law abiding citizens to behavior as exhibited in the book. Nick James is a believable analyst who is drawn into criminal events he is ill prepared to face. I enjoyed the way Nick stepped up and found his moment.

The behavior of the villains is too likely plausible based on the poor economy. Scapegoats are popular whenever large numbers of people find things contrary to their expectations. Even the current political campaigns are a good example of how people are more than happy to ascribe to fringe behavior when they are desperate.

This book had a frightening plausibility.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Body of work of Steve O’Brien

Web Site: none found

Protector by Laurel Dewey FREE

Protector is Laurel Dewey's first novel.  According to the publisher, The Story Plant, it will be offered FREE in e-book format at all online booksellers from 2/22/11 to 3/8/11.  The FREE offer is to help promote Redemption which is being released in paperback in March.   I will be posting a review of Redemption on 3/23/11 here. 

Grab a free book when you can get it and many thanks to The Story Plant and Laurel Dewey for a free book.  

The Pallbearers by Stephen J. Cannell

Shane Scully doesn’t believe that Pop Dixon committed suicide neither do the other pallbearers at his funeral. They form a “murder club” and seek answers to this mystery.

Cannell’s Scully is explained in this book. Shane is a reoccurring character that frequently flies off the grid and exhibits a lot of anger. I haven’t read too many of the books featuring him but in this one you find out the source of his anger. The colorful characters literally illuminate the book. Each one is a bright source of enlightenment. Jack is the loveable rogue and of course Alexa is the steadfast love and partner. Chooch, the son, is barely seen but offers some very thoughtful advice as to Scully’s pain.

I really liked the book. I identified with the tenacity shown by Scully especially since it was maintained in the face of so much pain. Alexa’s support epitomizes the strength a good relationship can offer to the participants in the relationship. This is a good mystery but it is also a journey of redemption.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Stephen J. Cannell

Web site

Dark Time by Dakota Banks

A young mother finds her self tied to a stake, flames caressing her ankles wondering what led to this ugly fate. The acceptance of her soul by a demon leads to her questionable reprieve. As harbinger of doom she spends the next few centuries as a tool of the despicable demon. Eventually the specter of spending eternity dealing out death becomes unbearable. Rebellion is the theme of the book.

A cynical, harsh world is portrayed by Banks. Her mood is dark as is the title. The protagonist struggles with her deeds and eventually seeks redemption. The characterizations are solid if a bit confusing. As urban fantasies go it had less fantasy and more urban than many I have read. The revoking of infallibility and dealing with a more credible skill set helps in creating a more believable Maliha.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of of Dakota Banks

Review: http://proudbookworm.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-dark-time-by-dakota-banks.html


Web Site http://www.dakota-banks.com/

Last Light Over Carolina by Mary Alice Monroe.

This book examines the life of a low country shrimper family. The stresses of a dangerous, low paying occupation are contrasted with the love of independence and traditions of a multi-generational family occupation. It is a story of love, tests and growth of a couple struggling to redefine their relationship.

I honestly thought I would find the book boring. Boy, was I wrong! I grew up in a dying steel town and there were some surprising parallels between my past and the life of a commercial fisherman in a dying seacoast town. The characters were clearly defined, warts and all. The competition to earn a dollar and the incredible cooperation when danger threatened was eye opening and captivating. The desire to see your family safe and taken care of was another area of similarity. My own father worked in a job he hated to insure his family’s thriving. Bud Morrison loved his occupation even when it failed to provide him with the wherewithal to support his family. The frustrated interplay between characters and their need to be responsible and often lonely and the want to be closer physically, mentally and emotionally was sometimes draining. You end up really feeling for these people and their life altering dilemmas.

Monroe paints her environment with digital clarity; you can see the Miss Carolina in the Morrison colors, the smell of the sea and the discordant aromas of dying sea life and fresh ocean breezes.

I think this story will resonate with practically anyone who has ever held a job that was both demanding and exhilarating. I saw people I knew in an industry I knew nothing about. The book moved me and surprised me for how much I enjoyed it. I highly recommend it.

Body of work of Mary Alice Monroe

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

How Perfect Is That by Sarah Bird

This is a coming of age of a self-absorbed, narcissistic young woman.

Blythe Young is a thirty three year old burn out. She brings self destructive behavior to new heights. This book is a humorous rendition of her crash, burn and phoenix like resurrection.

I think the current state of the economy makes this book even more poignant. The whole dot com era fueled an entire generation with the often delusional aspiration that wealth, success, accolades and early retirement was within everyone’s reach with a minimal amount of education and effort. Blythe, formerly known as Chanterelle, was a self perceived trailer trash makeover into a society playgirl. The story of her fall from grace is highlighted by astoundingly stupid decisions. Truth in any form was completely foreign to Blythe. I found her character abhorrent and loveable at the same time. Her ability to see the foibles of those around her and exploit them for her own purposes was purely demonic. She was truly a character you loved to hate. On the other hand, her vain attempts to rebuild herself inspired a kind of pathetic sympathy. Her friend Milly’s contrasting story line of selfless service to others only highlighted Blythe’s extraordinary shallowness. The miraculous transformation of Blythe’s coven of social attackers was a bit of a stretch. That was the only point that seemed completely impossible. Blythe’s transforming of Nikki warmed your heart, her ability to see to the person behind the mask was a redeeming characteristic.

There were times I literally laughed out loud (LOL) which startled my wife. The book cover leads one to believe it is a “chick” book in the romantic category. Au contraire, I say, the book was entertaining, amusing, sometimes captivating and in the end redeeming. I think even a “manly man*” could read it and find themselves reflecting on some of the people they know.

All in all I recommend the book, it is a light hearted read, but not just whipped cream, there is some substance there that promotes introspection.

*Manly men are those of my gender that consider the only literature worth reading resides on the sports pages or gun catalogs.

Body of work of Sarah Bird

Review: http://avidbookreader.com/2008/06/10/review-how-perfect-is-that-by-sarah-bird/


Web site: This is a fan site, Sarah Bird does not appear to have her own site.
http://www.sarahbirdbooks.com/

Killjoy by Julie Garwood

Every time I find a new author I discover that I have just been missing them for years. Garwood writes a nice mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. A sociopath with a long memory hooks up with a second sociopath to provide plenty of violence and action. Family entanglements add a bit of spice to the plot with low self esteem being trumped by self centered egotism. The anti-hero hero becomes less anti and the low self esteem heroine becomes more confident. A good story, I recommend it.

Body of work of Julie Garwood

Review: http://sr.thebestreviews.com/review7119

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