Review: Timeless by Jacqueline Hopkins

 

Genre: Historical/Romance/Time Travel

Description:

“When Liza Starr Love, an historical romance author, travels back in time with her main character, Ross York, who is a Peterson Detective in her tenth historical romance novel, she must prevent him from altering the future and try to save the life of her infamous ancestor--Belle Starr.

Liza is frantically working on her book deadline because without it, she has no way to keep her farm afloat after her husband died in a freak framing accident. She needs the money from the sale of her book, but a thunderstorm with tornado prevents her from working on it when the power goes out. When she gets it back, her hero and his daughter from her books appear in her office.

Ross, who lost his pregnant wife, is traveling on a wagon train to Santa Fe across the territory of Oklahoma, to take his daughter to live with his brother and his wife, he must also protect the gold he's carrying to pay the Peterson Detectives and keep it from falling into the wrong hands of the Younger Gang. But a severe thunderstorm one night finds himself and his daughter in a strange home with strange surroundings in the future he doesn't understand.

Together, Ross and Liza must figure out how to get Ross and Sara back to the 1880s. For Ross to arrest her ancestor without hurting Liza, the woman he's fallen in love with. For Liza to figure out how to save her farm, let a man help her and fall in love all over again. And for them both to figure out how their love can transcend between two worlds they travel between.”

Author:

Born in Durant, Oklahoma, Jacqueline Hopkins describes herself as a “displaced Okie with a bit of Choctaw blood.” A bit of a nomad her place of residence has bounced around a bit, with stints in states as varied as Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, and Connecticut as well as internationally, living for a time in Iceland. She currently lives in Idaho and is the author of several books that range from romance, to memoir, and even one that while primarily a cookbook has a little memoir thrown in as well. That’s a mashup you don’t see very often.

Appraisal:

This combination of historical fiction and romance (aka historical romance) and time travel isn’t one you see very often. I’m sure they’re out there, but not common in my experience. The couple examples I’ve come up with involved people from modern days traveling back in time and having to adapt to a time that was simpler in some ways, but also harder for the average person as well. This is different in that while we have a people going back to the 1800s, but also people from the 1800s who travel to modern times for a while. An adult man from the 1800s who thinks he understands things getting thrown into the modern world with various motorized vehicles, washing machines, hot tubs, and … well, let’s just say that just like with a toddler starting to explore, an adult thrown into modern times needs a close eye kept on them too. That all makes for some intense, but humorous things to happen.

Along with those new twists from traveling back and forth in time we’ve got the tension of a typical romance, complicated due to differences in how certain things from dress, to action, to gender roles were viewed in the 1800s compared to today. Throw it all together and the result is a fun read that also got me thinking about the changing world. I’m afraid I wouldn’t handle it well if I was transported a hundred years into the future.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

My review is based on an advance reviewer copy so I can’t judge the final product in this area.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Review: Meet Me in Miami by Charles St. Anthony

 

Genre: Memoir/Humor

Description:

“Food, romance, and magic: Charles St. Anthony discovered more than he bargained for in Miami. After a wobbly welcome to the South Florida metropolis, Charles does more than 1,000 food deliveries using food delivery apps. In doing so, he finds some of the most scrumptious food that Miami has to offer. Along the way, Charles picked up more than just pizza! He meets someone and gives his account of how the relationship unfolds.

We've all seen the bizarre news stories that frequently emerge from the Sunshine State. Charles also gives the authoritative analysis as to why ‘Florida Man’ exists. Part comedy and part investigative journalism, Meet Me in Miami follows studies Charles St. Anthony has written on Beverly Hills and Oklahoma City. Written with his characteristic panache, he takes you on a tropical adventure in a city where the cultures of the United States and Latin America collide.

Meet Me in Miami is a work of creative non-fiction by author Charles St. Anthony. This work is unrelated to the 2005 romantic comedy and women's clothing store of the same name.”

Author:

“Host of the T With Charles podcast, Charles St. Anthony has published several humorous memoirs. His recent series of short reads focus on the gig economy.”

Appraisal:

This is much like a couple of other books by the same author. Short reads that chronicle his adventures trying to earn a buck while delivering food as a delivery person for one or more of the food delivery services available in many cities. In these books you learn a bit about the city (obviously Miami in this installment) and the people who live there as Charles St. Anthony lays out his experiences. Some of that is what you would expect to discover about a city (what the different areas are like or where some fun places to go might be located) while others things are a bit of a twist to the norm, for example you’ll be able to answer the question ”how well do people in this city tip and how does it compare to other cities the author has experienced?” You’ll find out where people in each city like to eat, what places have unique food items, and if you had the perception that delivering for Doordash or the like was a great way to make big money, you’ll find out the reality of that as well. As with the author’s prior books I found this to be a quick, fun read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 9-10,000 words

Reprise Review: Redeeming Grace by Smoky Zeidel

 

Genre: Suspense/Historical Fiction

Description:

 “It’s the early twentieth century, and the tragic deaths of her mother and two younger siblings have left Grace Harmon responsible for raising her sister Miriam and protecting her from their abusive father Luther, a zealot preacher with a penchant for speaking in Biblical verse who is on a downward spiral toward insanity.

In the midst of his delusions, Luther believes God has abandoned him and devises a plan to get back into His good graces—a plan that puts both his daughters’ lives in danger and unleashes a frenzy of events that threaten to destroy the entire family.

Will Luther succeed in carrying out his crazed plot against his daughters, or will an unlikely hero step in to rescue them all?”

Author:

“Smoky Zeidel is a poet, novelist, and earth mage, whose love of the natural world is thematic in all she writes. She taught writing and creativity workshops for many years at venues throughout the Midwest before succumbing to her bohemian urges and moving to California. Her work has earned her several nominations for the prestigious Pushcart Prize. Smoky lives with her husband Scott and a plethora of animals, both domestic and wild.”

Appraisal:

Wow. What a story.

When I’m looking for a book to read, the information I use to decide will often set certain expectations. Things like the genre(s) I’ve been told the book fits in, past experience with the author’s books, and possibly the book description. For this book I had the blurb and information that it was in the suspense or thriller genre. Nothing else. It turns out that it could possibly be called historical since it takes place in the early twentieth century (clearly stated in the book description, but not something that registered with me) rather than contemporary times.

Although the story has the suspense you’d expect from that genre, what sets it apart is that the various causes of suspense have much deeper meaning beyond the obvious mystery and tension typical of the genre. You’ll have reason to consider family relationships and the obligations that might come with them from multiple angles. There are a couple story threads that should have you considering the past and how it impacts the present. If you’re inclined, you might find yourself considering religion as a tool for both good and evil.

Suspense stories don’t typically have this much depth. That Redeeming Grace does is a positive from my viewpoint.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Original review published May 11, 2017.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words

Review: On the Brink by Michael A. Sisti

 Genre: Coming of Age/Action-Adventure

Description:

“At age eleven, Dave Powers concludes a profitable but error-ridden venture selling illegal fireworks that leaves him brimming with confidence and captivated by the promise of entrepreneurship.

Over the next few years, a series of tragic events shatters his world. Dave must learn to navigate life's challenges, including basic survival, business, and love. Upon entering the advertising world during the Mad Men era, he struggles to find his way amid the excesses of nepotism, alcohol consumption, and the exploitation of women. Can Dave find the maturity to achieve his dreams? Or are his scars too deep to overcome?

Based on true events, On the Brink is a novel for young readers beginning their own journey, nurturing adults trying to soften their failures, as well as seasoned entrepreneurs and business executives.”

Author:

“Michael A. Sisti is an author, branding and marketing consultant, and serial entrepreneur, having founded over twenty-five companies since age eleven. An International Book Award winner for his debut novel, Executive Crumple Zone, he has published five other novels, three humor books, and a popular self-help book. He recently co-authored a pilot for a TV drama series, and he provides design, editing, and production advice for several other authors. He also writes and lectures on branding, marketing, creative thinking, and entrepreneurship and has earned hundreds of regional and national awards, including National Brand Excellence awards for Blue Cross Blue Shield. He created an Emmy-nominated series on Rhode Island NBC affiliate Healthcare Directions and published a companion magazine. Mike also created and wrote an online column called Local Color. Now semi-retired, Mike continues to advocate for entrepreneurs, volunteering as a lecturer at schools and universities and providing pro bono services to small businesses.”

Appraisal:

It would be fair to say that I’m conflicted about my thoughts on this book. This is far from this author’s first book. He has a small publisher involved that presumably provided people with editorial expertise to polish things up. There is a page of “praise” from various dignitaries prior to the story praising what you’re going to be reading which is even labeled “Praise Page” in the Table of Contents. Yes, I’ve read thousands of books in my life and reviewed hundreds, but I found myself questioning my thoughts on this book, wondering if I got it wrong, all those “experts” got it wrong, or maybe our opinions just didn’t line up. I’ll probably ramble a bit below, but the short version of the review is I liked the main character in spite of his flaws, and in many ways it was a good story, but I found myself hitting patches where the author’s writing style grated on me or the story was too over the top for me to suspend disbelief. If you want more detail, read on.

One issue I had was a tendency to give too much information about something in a way that while accurate, bogged things down. For example, early in the book Dave Power, the main character, was taken by his father on a week long camping trip. An entire chapter of the book (to be fair, it was a short chapter, roughly 700 words), did nothing but passively describe the area where they were camping and the preparations that Brad, Dave’s father, went through prior to the trip. This description mentions that the area has abundant wildlife (enough to give the reader a decent feel), but then lists several specific animals, birds, and fish that are among those that populated this area. The way this was approached felt like a brain dump that violated the author’s maxim to “show, don’t tell.” The reader definitely got told instead of shown here and there were several other places where this sort of thing happened.

My other issue was that I found I had way too much trouble “suspending disbelief.” This is something a reader needs to do to get into a story. Some genres, science fiction or fantasy for example, as a reader you recognize that the story world is vastly different from the real world and learn to deal with it. However, when the story takes place in the real world it can’t get too far out there or the reader is more likely to struggle. Maybe the old cliché about truth being stranger than fiction applies here since the story is said to be “based on truth.” The dedication to what I’m guessing is the author’s wife says that she “shared most of the experiences described in this book.” However, I suspect the true story got stretched a bit in some places (if not, the author is lucky to have not suffered any legal repercussions).

I did find myself getting drawn into Dave’s story. It’s intense with constant ups and downs. Dave had a lot of smarts and skills in the areas he worked in, but it seemed as though every time those combined with hard work got him to a good place that something happened to cause things to come crashing down. After a few cycles of this I was wondering if it was ever going to stop and it also stretched my ability to buy into it.

There is definitely a good story in here hidden among the not-so-good parts. Those of us who are older (Dave was born in the early 50s, so much of the story happened many decades ago) will have some flashbacks to the olden days, which might be a good thing. You kids who are into stories from the olden days might enjoy a story that mostly takes place in a time when cell phones weren’t a thing. Go ahead and give it a shot and see what you think.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

This review is based on a pre-release “advance reviewer copy” so I can’t gauge the final product in this area.

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 65-70,000 words

Review: Dude and Duder by Jeff Goodrich

 

Genre: Self Help/Memoir

Description:

“There comes a time in some people’s lives when they fully start to understand the depth of their dissatisfaction. After being unhappy for years and letting that feeling grow in the background, refusing to address it or try and change it, they eventually have to come face to face with the reality of things: My life is miserable, and it’s going to stay that way until I make the change myself.

This was the case for Jeff ‘Dude’ Goodrich, at forty-nine years old. He, like many people do later in life, felt like he couldn’t make the necessary changes on his own, so he got a little help from his new puppy, Duder. Together, they were able to get Dude’s life back on track, and after his firsthand experience with this type of transformation, Dude has taken to sharing his story in hopes that others can learn from it as well.

Dude & Duder is the transformation story of Jeff ‘Dude’ Goodrich. See how the power of reflection and compassion can radically change your life.”

Author:

Jeff Goodrich lives in the western US with his wife, referred to as “The Blonde” in his book. They have three adult daughters and four grandkids (not to mention a dog or two). You can find out more on his website or follow him on that site that used to be called Twitter.

Appraisal:

I’ve long been a believer that books are a great way to learn. Yes, with some kinds of books (those monster text books from school, for one) this is obvious, but it goes beyond that to every kind of book. I even feel that way about fiction where characters experience things that, even if they couldn’t happen in real life, can get you thinking. How would I react in that situation? Would I make the same choice as this character? Why or why not? I find that characters who are like me, I’ll explore their motivations and actions, comparing them to what I think my own would be and pondering whether their choice is better than mine. For characters not like me it helps me understand others better.

A biographical book, whether biography or memoir, is a learning experience with the added bonus that it is real, chronicling something that actually happened to a real person, and I tend to enjoy those as well. Obviously the lessons, like the stories, are much more real. However, there is one book genre that I’ll often react poorly to whatever potential life lesson is there. That is the self-help genre. Too often the authors of these books approach their writings as coming from a position of authority, thinking they have all the answers for everyone with no exceptions. I’m at least as likely to get irritated (or not pick the book up to begin with) as I am to take anything positive away. (Yeah, I know, maybe I should work on that bad attitude. :) )

There are valid arguments to call this book memoir or self-help. I think either or both would be valid. Dude and Duder describes a period of the author’s life that was difficult with things that many people could relate to, having observed or experienced similar situations themselves. I sure could. The author explains the process he went through to improve his life, chronicling his thought process, resulting actions, and the results. But any sales job along the lines of “you should do the same” felt low key, more like “this is why I think this did the trick for me, it might do the same for you” instead of “you need to do the same NOW” or “if you do this, it will turn your life around.” It felt like more of a prompting to figure out whether you have a similar issue, if it is causing problems, and if so here’s one approach to consider. Reading the book as a memoir or uplifting story of someone else’s success in working through some of life’s issues, is good enough. If you read it and want something to push you more than the story did, there is an appendix with a bunch of pages with what are called “Duder’s Challenge” that provide a good list or summary of those things described in the book to attempt yourself if you’re so inclined.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of typos and proofreading misses.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Review: Ghost Trigger by Alex Lopes

 

Genre: Cyberpunk/Technothriller

Description:

“In the near-future, from the claustrophobic depths of a server room, a brave hacker sacrifices his life to pass on damning documents to an unsuspecting ally, an employee of the very megacorporation that stands as a symbol of their oppression.

This unsuspecting woman, shaken by the weight of the truth, finds herself thrust into a perilous game of rebellion. As she undergoes a transformation from a corporate employee to a daring whistleblower, she joins forces with Marton, an unyielding attorney from the Victims and Families organization, and Jo, a mysterious and skilled mercenary. United, they form an unexpected alliance, determined to expose the decay lurking within the Firm.

As they navigate the city's underbelly, their quest becomes more dangerous, their allies fewer, and their mission ever more critical. Feel the pulse of their desperation, the strength in their defiance, and the warmth of their shared moments of respite. Join them in their fight to expose the truth, one flash drive at a time.

Tailored for fans of thriller literature and everyone who cherishes a story with twists and turns, Ghost Trigger will keep you glued to its pages.”

Author:

“Alex Lopes grew up in the periphery of Brazil, captivated from a young age by books and the computers in his father's repair shop.

Over 20 years, he navigated the universe of technology, moving through virtually all areas of IT, until finally finding himself as a software engineer.

A lifelong enthusiast of both literature and tech, he seeks to join these worlds in his writing.”

Appraisal:

Although set in a futuristic world that is far advanced in a technological sense than our current one, in many ways the meat of this story, a thriller with a protagonist fighting back against an evil corporation, is one that could just as easily happen today. I found the story world interesting and it added to the story as well as made what might happen or what response the heroes of the story might try less predictable, but as a thriller lover it also satisfied those needs. An enjoyable and intense read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 25-30,000 words

Reprise Review: Dark Heart, Heavy Soul by Keith Nixon

 

Genre: Crime Fiction

Description:

“All Konstantin Boryakov wants is a quiet life. In Margate. But someone is looking for him, someone who’ll do whatever they can to get the ex-KGB agent’s attention. Enter Violet, a woman with a penchant for throwing people who upset her out of windows. And Campari.

Reluctantly, Konstantin finds himself building a team to pull off a heist – breaking into a high security cash deposit facility with a hot line to the police. But he’s not to take money, what he’s after is a case, containing something apparently even more precious than the £200 million in notes that’s held behind razor wire defences.”

Author:

“Keith Nixon has been writing since he was a child. In fact, some of his friends (& his wife) say he's never really grown up. Keith is currently gainfully employed in a senior sales role meaning he gets to use his one skill, talking. Keith writes crime and historical fiction novels.”

Appraisal:

This is Keith Nixon’s fourth book featuring ex-KGB agent Konstantin Boryakov. While Konstantin is doing his best to lay low, trouble has a way of finding him. When it does then he’ll do what needs to be done, whatever that may be. All of the Konstantin books have been intense, edge-of-the-seat reads. I’ve found the character of Konstantin interesting in that in many ways he seems amoral, yet when you look deep, it’s apparent how untrue that impression is.

What set Dark Heart, Heavy Soul apart from the prior books in the series for me was that I was never sure it was going to turn out okay. Normally when you’re reading a book like this that is part of a series, while things may get tense, in the back of your mind you expect the protagonist to come out on top in the end. That he or she will survive is never really in question. But as this story unfolded, with its various twists and turns, I found myself seriously wondering whether Konstantin had finally gotten into a situation he couldn’t get out of in one piece.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Review: Loose on the Landscape by Joel Everett Harding

 Genre: Non-Fiction/Autobiography/Science/Travel

Description:

“Ever wonder what it’s like alone at midnight in the depths of a vast marsh, or thought of stumbling into a roiling geyser field in the dark? What happens when you get swept along for miles in a flooded river without an exit—or explore a prehistoric swamp with predators left over from the Cretaceous? How can you sense an Amazon rainforest breathing. Have you watched a great ancient waterfall cease forever in less than a day? Does the Jersey Devil still inhabit the pine barrens?

Let the author take you on these and many other outdoor adventures and ecological investigations. Written in a creative nonfiction style (reads like a novel) a professional ecologist, looks for meaning in the wildest places, and shows us a range of perspectives for appreciating the mental, emotional, and physical benefits of immersing ourselves in wild landscapes. He brings needed context by examining the causes-and-effects of ever changing environments, and brings us along as he restores damaged streams, rivers and wetlands. His poetic descriptions and insights show us how landscapes inspire perceptions of beauty, art, and increased personal well-being that underlie our innate connections with nature. Along the way, the author immerses the reader into his landscapes with keen-eyed observations that underlie our innate personal connections with nature. He shows how we gain insights and increased well-being when we go afield to explore. As he says, ‘Sometimes nothing is more important than going off into the woods and contemplating the frog chorus of a vernal pool.’”

Author:

“Joel Everett Harding is the pen name of a professional field ecologist who has spent decades exploring the wild places nature offers us. The author has professional credentials in a variety of scientific fields, including ecosystem ecology, wildlife biology, animal behavior, and habitat restorations. He has been a scientist to private industry, federal, state and local governments and nonprofit organizations. His personal adventures and scientific investigations have taken him to landscapes throughout North America and elsewhere.

He has enjoyed ‘collecting’ ecosystems and wildscape experiences of all sizes, from puddles to rainforests and everything in-between. His books have focused on a creative nonfiction style using techniques found in works of adventurous fiction where character, plot and action prevail. Thus, his compelling stories read like novels that captivate readers with their themes of realistic mysteries, exploration, and dilemma resolutions. Joel lives in the rural mid-Atlantic Piedmont region, and when not visiting the wild places, he exchanges his pen for brushes to visually paint scenes and landscapes that have inspired him.”

Appraisal:

This book is unique in that it has aspects of multiple non-fiction genres that you don’t typically see together.

First, it is partly an autobiography or memoir in that it relates true stories of things that have happened to the author over his lifetime, many of them related to his work as a “professional field ecologist” with others happening as part of his personal life, on family vacations for one example. What ties them all together is they relate things that happened in the outdoors in a wide variety of places and environments. He discusses the specific “ecoregion” where each takes place and how the environment impacted the experience. (Ecoregions are a method of defining different areas of the US and elsewhere, categorizing the unique elements of the environment in each area.)

In many ways this felt like a travel memoir with the author describing his experience as well as lots of detail about the area it was happening in. Like would happen with a travel book I found myself comparing his experience (what he saw, thought of the area, etc.) with my own experience with the area, if I’d been there before. For areas I hadn’t visited, I enjoyed visiting vicariously via the author’s description.

Last, this was a bit of a science book covering multiple areas of science at different points including ecology, biology, and geography, discussing not just the current situation in that area, but how things had changed on planet Earth over thousands of years causing changes in the geology and climate resulting in the current condition in the area in question.

Some sections were intense adventures while others were enjoyable romps and interesting learning experiences. If any of the subjects covered interest you, this book is one worth giving a read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing misses.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 120-125,000 words

Review: The Halcyon Crisis by Drew Harrison

 Genre: Thriller

Description:

“Former FBI crisis negotiator Johnathan Harper was trying to enjoy his retirement… a cruise vacation was supposed to be the ideal getaway, a chance to finally make some new friends.

But the perfect vacation proved the perfect target. When a gang of sophisticated, highly trained pirates takes over a cruise ship, passengers and crew must enter a desperate fight for survival on the high seas. John finds himself involuntarily thrust back into his old line of work, grappling with the ghosts of his greatest personal failing… and as John knows all too well, negotiation only works from the outside of the locked room.

When the pirates eject all Halcyon crew on the ship’s lifeboats, they accidentally left one behind: Willa Thompson. Now, she’ll have to leverage her knowledge of the ship’s secrets to successfully infiltrate the pirate forces… a saboteur among the enemy, locked in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

And while the pirates negotiate with the Navy for their pay day, not everyone on the ship merely sits idly by… travel blogger Nina Collins finds herself suddenly at the center of a small group of tourists planning a guest resistance. But when the enemy is masked, and when imposters move among the tourists, who can Nina truly trust?”

Author:

The only information I could find about this author is that they appear to have one other book, a fantasy/sci-fi story called Starfall.

Appraisal:

This is an intense read that draws you in, getting you to care about the characters and wanting them to make it through their situation, just like a thriller should. There are a couple story lines, one from the past and one current, that come together eventually and wondering about them and how they will relate was one of the mysteries of the book that kept me engrossed. The story also kept me thinking, guessing, and wondering about numerous things. Who the good guys were wasn’t always obvious (nor was it any more obvious for the characters in the story than it was for me). Thriller fans should find this to be a good read and unique in many ways from their normal fare.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 100-105,000 words