Reprise Review: Interludes by Marc Twine

 Genre: Short Story Collection

Description:

“A collection of short stories designed for people on-the-go. Each tale offers respite for busy people in a hectic world. Every quick read is perfect for coffee breaks, lunch breaks—or just those moments when you simply need a break from the routine.”

Author:

Marc Twine describes himself as a “retired critical care nurse, history buff, and short story aficionado.”

Appraisal:

Twenty-three short stories that average a couple thousand words each. The perfect length for a quick read. When I got to the end and saw the author’s short bio that mentioned he is a history buff, it was no surprise, as many of the stories integrate history into them in some fashion. The author also mentions liking to travel which explains the reason why his stories often take place in very specific places from the hill country of Texas to Chicago and New York, to Australia and Europe. The unique qualities of the places figure into those stories.

All of that is good, but what really stood out for me reading these stories were two other things. One, that these stories felt complete. I never felt like I was left hanging, or that I needed to fill in too many of the gaps myself, which is almost to be expected in a collection with stories this size. Second, the author has a talent of ending a story on just the right note. So many of the stories I was rolling along, liking the story, when suddenly I hit the end. But the last paragraph, sentence, sometimes even the last word (onions was the word in one case) was exactly what was needed to tie everything up perfectly. I was impressed.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 45-50,000 words

Review: Never Have I Ever by Harker Jones

 

Genre: Horror/LGBTQ

Description:

“Trust no one. Because it could be anyone.

When eight teenagers in a small Michigan town start receiving texts urging them to play Never Have I Ever, they find themselves caught up in a deadly game of secrets, repentance and retribution that may be connected to a girl who disappeared the year before.

As they start getting killed by someone in a scarecrow costume — or is it a costume? — the school bully sets out to discover who’s playing the prank in hopes of redeeming his past behavior.

And staying alive.

But will he figure it out before that past catches up to him?”

Author:

After growing up on a dirt road in a small Michigan town, Harker Jones moved to Los Angeles where he is an author, both of books and for magazines as well as a screenwriter and editor. For more, check out his website.

Appraisal:

This is an interesting book. If you were a teen in the late 90s or a parent of a teen in that same era then some of the references might give you flashbacks of that time. (The genre is horror and for some taking you back to then might make it even scarier.) Even if you can’t relate to that era you’ll probably still be able to relate to what the teen years are like for most of us. If you’ve had experience living in a small town and how life there can be different then you’ll relate to what the kids in this book go through even more. Along with the horror aspect you’ve got a mystery or two at work which kept this reader engaged as I tried to figure out all the pieces, guessing wrong way more than I want to admit as I tried to figure out what was going on and anticipate how it was going to end. The result was an engaging and entertaining read, even if some of those flashbacks to the late 90s weren’t so great.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A small amount of adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Review: The 9th Witness by Rebecca Forster

Genre: Legal Thriller

Description:

“No good deed goes unpunished: this time it's going to be brutal.

Christmas is coming and the world is joyful for everyone but Josie Bates. A devastating miscarriage, her employer’s pending retirement, and her husband’s overseas job have left her alone and adrift—until Lily Daye dies and names Josie executor of her estate. Josie has no idea who this woman is, but her will is simple and her possessions meager. In the spirit of the season, Josie accepts the job. Yet behind Lily’s seemingly modest existence lies a complex, mysterious life. When an eccentric tech mogul turns up to contest the will, the only spirit Josie is channeling is one of outrage that her life is being upended and Lily’s last wishes disrespected. Up against a high-powered, ruthless attorney, a court on a schedule, and an entitled man with more money than God, Josie is determined to protect her client’s interests or die trying.”

Author:

“Rebecca Forster is the USA Today bestselling author of Keeping Counsel. She has written in many genres but her legal thrillers have been called, 'Perfect. Impossible to put down,' by the CBS legal correspondent

She holds a BA from Loyola University, Chicago and an MBA from Loyola University, Los Angeles.

Married to a superior court judge and the mother of two sons, she teaches at UCLA writers program, volunteers in classrooms and speaks in many venues around the country.”

For more, visit Ms. Forster’s website. 

Appraisal:

I’ve read and loved lots of Rebecca Forster’s books over the years, in multiple series. If forced to pick a favorite The Witness Series with Josie Bates would probably be my pick. This one had a lot of elements that kept me engaged with a tendency to reveal something at the end of the chapter that made me want to immediately start reading the next chapter. Josie spends some time in court and experiences some tense situations that make the legal thriller classification a good fit for this. There is a lot of mystery to it (with her client, Lily Daye, being deceased, Josie has to figure out what Lily’s estate consists of, where the person who is supposed to inherit it is, and as the story unfolds lots of other mysteries pop up). We’ve also got some other twists dealing with new technology and Lily’s past that only complicate matters more. It makes for an engaging, fun read that kept me guessing as to where things were headed right to the end.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

This review is based on an advance reviewer copy, so I’m unable to gauge the final product in this area.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Review: Takes More Than Love by Jenna Winters

 Genre: Memoir

Description:

“If Jenn had known her husband's family before they'd gotten married, there might never have been a wedding at all.

Now she has to confront the reality that her new family holds ignorant—and, at times, racist—views, and that spending time around them triggers her ingrained trauma of growing up Black in the U.S.

Why is it so hard for her to speak out against their prejudice? And, more importantly, what does it mean that her husband is silent in the face of all this?

This transformative memoir follows Jenn as she confronts the past, helps her husband on his own journey to racial awareness, and finds the inner strength to be an advocate for others.

Both harrowing and uplifting, this book is for anyone who has ever been othered, as well as those in close relationships with those from different walks of life. It challenges us all to confront our unconscious bias and seek true reconciliation.”

Author:

According to the publisher’s website Jenna Winters “lives with her husband and four children in Omaha, ​Nebraska. Whenever she has a spare moment, she can be ​found enjoying a book (she carries one with her everywhere ​she goes). The only thing she loves more than reading is ​traveling. She believes that leaving the comfort zone of one’s ​own community is one of the greatest ways to build empathy ​for other people.”

Appraisal:

One of the many great things about reading books is how they can help us understand other people who are in situations much different than our own, which is what this book did for me. The opposite of that, seeing how someone struggling with the same things you struggle with and potentially getting ideas of how they deal with comparable struggles is another area where some books are very valuable, and for other readers out there, this book could well do that. Some might even find themselves on both sides in different ways, for example you might not understand the struggles of being a minority race in the US who has to cope with racism, but you might find yourself having to help a spouse understand why something is difficult for you because they have never experienced those situations (maybe helping a man understand issues that a woman encounters that he never would).

The point, of course, is that better understanding people from all walks of life, both how their lives are different and how they’re the same helps everyone. I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to become a better person and improve their understanding of the world and those around them.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 60-65,000 words

Review: The Ishtar Ignition by Timothy Black

 

Genre: Erotica/Science Fiction

Description:

A novella continuing the adventures of aviatrix Charlotte Frost (personal motto: ‘fuck it or kill it’) who is being pursued (for reasons not in this book) by the Matriarchy at the urging of the Godmother AI. Her space ship has somehow landed in a massive hangar, which is where the action takes place. It is full of potentially lethal tech, which has been largely powered down. The tech is vaguely familiar to Captain Frost. Frost straps on her tool belt, and she and her trusty sex Doll (the gender shifting Arslan-Tash) get to work on an exit strategy.

Author:

Black’s Amazon bio reads thus: “Born a modern-day nomad in the Deep South, Timothy Black wandered through most of the southern United States in an attempt to find his life, love, and home. After studying Geology, Astronomy, and the Occult, he found himself with a degree in Philosophy and a habit of writing odd things. A serial killer of coffee and whiskey sours, he has since found his den in the Pacific Northwest with two raucous bird ladies that peck him when he gets too far out of line. That's a whole lot of beaking.” There is another Timothy Black on Amazon, who is a retired teacher. He is not this Black.

Appraisal:

This is a lot of fun. Captain Frost’s space ship is called the Harlot’s Promise and is powered by orgasms produced by the practice of tantric sex. The plot is small but perfectly formed: the girl on girl action is clever. Black has corralled a number of ancient middle eastern deities, myths, tantric energy, and alternative religious and political  pathways to create a complex military matriarchal state in opposition to the majority patriarchy to power this SF adventure. All these little dogies, hitched together, gallop along very nicely indeed.

The only problem is that this is book 2 and it doesn’t really stand alone. So now you know that, do start with the first one, The Clockwork Courtesan.

The third book in the series (The Engines of Eros) was published in August 2024. So with the whole trilogy now available, the frustrating deficiencies I experienced should melt away. I did feel the lack of the grounding that first book would have provided. But I had a very nice time all the same, thank you very much. Call me. 🤙 😉

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Format/Typo Issues:

There are a few clunks, but the book has excellent pace and you will ride right through them.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by: Judi Moore

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Reprise Review: Shadows Fall (Totem Book 7) by Christine Rains

 

Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Mystery/Mythology

Description:

“Ametta Dorn is hosting her first family Thanksgiving feast. Everything must be flawless from the appetizers to the desserts. But the totem quest weighs heavily on her and her family. If she can’t even fold a perfect crane napkin, then how can she help her family find the next token?

That totem is closer than any of them realize. The Shadowmen have opened a door to their world, and they’ve targeted Ametta as the weak link in her family. She will show everyone she's just as capable as they are. Except her daring might be the very thing that loses not only the raven totem but also her life.”

Author:

“Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not reading or writing, she's going on adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of S.C.I.F.I. and Untethered Realms. She has one novel and several novellas and short stories published. Her newest urban fantasy series, Totem, is almost complete at nine books.”

To learn more visit Ms. Rains website or stalk her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Ametta is a perfectionist in all areas of her life, and even though she has obtained a token of the totem, she still feels a need to prove herself. Which lead her into unforeseen trouble. Events leading up to Thanksgiving seem to be targeting Ametta specifically. The Shadowmen have selected her as the weakest link in her family.

The story moves fast with shocking revelations exposed. Truth and answers are unclear, even for Sedge. This Thanksgiving will forever be marked by devastation instead of the Dorn family’s perfectly flawless Thanksgiving celebration. Shadows Fall is an exciting and emotional read. You won’t want to miss this addition to the TOTEM series.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Shadow Falls is book seven in Ms. Rains TOTEM series of nine novellas. It’s important to read this series in order as the story develops.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant proofing errors.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Review: BITS by C. J. Kichuk

 Genre: Technothriller

Description:

"What does it mean to be human—or perhaps human 2.0?"

This question sets the stage for the thrilling journey that awaits in BITS, an action-packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In a world where the lines between artificial intelligence and human sentience are blurred, we are forced to question what it truly means to be human.

We meet Clayton Rhodes, a seasoned FBI agent with a complicated past and a 25-year career under his belt. After a traumatic experience, Clayton is at a crossroads in his life. But when he is offered a chance to work with a renowned psychiatrist on an experimental project involving AI, he sees it as an opportunity to redeem himself and get back to active duty.

Tasked with teaching an AI entity the intricate art of undercover operations, Clayton hopes this opportunity will be his ticket back to active-duty status, a chance to exorcise the ghosts of his past and reclaim his life. However, what begins as a straightforward assignment spirals into a mind-bending odyssey.

Clayton's journey into the world of AI shatters his expectations, disrupts his plans and overshadows his desires, leaving him to navigate a labyrinth that challenges his very perception of reality.

Long after the masterfully delivered dose of adrenaline fades, BITS leaves the reader with much to ponder.”

Author:

“C.J. Kichuk has taken has taken his years of experience in software development, cyber security, and management consulting, and blended in the creative energy of his years as a songwriter and performer. His debut novel BITS is the result of his ‘what if’ approach to life. Living in Austin, Texas, when not spinning yarns, he can often be found in his home studio writing and recording music.”

Appraisal:

The thriller aspects of this story would make for a good read. Throwing in all the unexpected twists and turns that it takes due to the involvement of artificial intelligence and you’ve got a story that will have you on the edge of your seat, never quite sure what to expect next. That the things depicted in this story might not be wild science fiction someone is imagining could happen in the distant future, but instead things that seem to be, if not possible today, well within what might happen in the near future, makes for that much more of an intense read. The book’s description says it leaves the reader with much to ponder and I agree, this should get you considering AI and its potential repercussions, both good and bad.

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:110-115,000 words