Reprise Review: Our Summer of Discontent by S.L. Baum

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Description:

“Summer. A time for travel, relaxation, and above all - fun. But for Charity, her family, and her friends, this summer holds more in store than any of them anticipate.

While Charity learns to harness her newfound powers, others around her discover their own surprising abilities. And a vacation to New York becomes a catalyst that has their paths crossing with the unexpected, yet again.

Emotions run high as life-altering games taunt and test them all. Who will win and who will lose, during their Summer of Discontent?”

Author:

A former high school math teacher, S.L. Baum now works as a substitute elementary school teacher, chauffer for her kids, and novelist. She lives with her family in the Southwestern United States. This book is the fourth in Baum’s The Immortal Ones series. For more, visit Baum’s website.

Appraisal:

Since getting my Kindle, I’ve read a lot of YA books and this series is one of my favorites. One of the main reasons is the main character, Charity. As an “immortal one,” Charity stopped aging at a point where she appears to be in her late teens. While she’s much older and has experienced much more in life than an average teen, Charity has to maintain the illusion of being the age she appears. This tension, between the older, more mature woman inside, and how Charity has to appear to most of the world, is an uncommon twist that gives her character more complexity than the average teen. I think it also makes Charity more likeable because she shows all the positive attributes of someone of her physical age, without many of the faults someone of that age might have. Baum continues to put Charity and her cohorts in more and more difficult situations, and I continue to care and root for her.

One thing that is different in this volume is the use of several different point-of-view characters, seven if my count is correct. This could be confusing for some people, although Baum attempts to minimize the confusion with an explanation in a note to readers at the beginning, maintaining a consistent point-of-view character within individual chapters, and identifying who that character will be as part of the chapter heading. Some readers will love this (the disparate points of view add to how the reader views and interprets what is happening), while others may struggle keeping track in spite of the contextual cues provided.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

This is the fourth book in the series. I would advise reading the first two books in the series, A Chance for Charity and My Link in Time. The third book, Of Fire and Brimstone, is not needed to understand the back-story of the characters featured in this volume, but may be needed for understanding in future books in the series.

Added for Reprise Review: Our Summer of Discontent by S.L. Baum was a nominee in the Young Adult category for B&P 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran September 6, 2012

Format/Typo Issues:

I reviewed based on a pre-release beta copy and am unable to comment in this area.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Review: Beg for Mercy by Keith Nixon

Genre: Thriller/Noir/Police Procedural

Description:

“Fifteen years ago Duncan Usher was sent to prison for killing his wife, Valerie. Young Detective Solomon Gray was first at the scene. His biggest case yet.

But Duncan Usher didn't kill Valerie. While someone was strangling Val, Usher had another man's blood on his hands. Usher took the fall for Val's death, but now he's out. Released on a technicality. He's held a grudge all this time, and he won't stop until he gets revenge on the dirty cop who framed him. Usher sets his sights on DS Solomon Gray.

And he has no qualms about using Gray's son, Tom, as a pawn to get what he wants.

Beg for Mercy is the third book in a series featuring Detective Sergeant Solomon Gray.”

Author:

During the day Keith Nixon is employed in a “senior sales role” by a high-tech company in the UK. But when he gets home you’ll find him working on this next book in one of two unrelated genres, either hard-boiled crime fiction or historical fiction.

Appraisal:

If you’ve read the two prior books in this series you’ll be familiar with not only Solomon Gray, the series protagonist, but also his coworkers in the local police department, plus Frank McGavin, the local crime boss. While he got a brief mention previously, it wasn’t obvious that McGavin essentially took over for Duncan Usher, who was convicted of murder in Solomon’s first big case. When Usher is unexpectedly released from prison due to a technicality, it kicks off an investigation of the original investigation and those involved in in.

The story switches back and forth with scenes from “Then” (15 years ago when Gray was on the team investigating the murder of Usher’s wife) and “Now,” as Gray tries to piece together what happened and what went wrong back “Then.” The mystery and Gray’s investigation are what you’d hope for and expect in a good thriller such as this. I also  found it interesting in that knowing some of the characters from previous books, then contrasting their interactions in the first investigation (back ”then”) to how things are “now,” gives a different and more complete feel for how they’ve evolved over time, not only as policemen, but as coworkers.

Last, all through this series has been the specter of Tom, Solomon Gray’s missing son, hanging over every investigation. Gray is always looking for clues, digging behind the scenes where he can, convinced that Tom is alive somewhere and that he’s going to find the person with the answer if he keeps looking. I’ve wondered whether there was anything to find, thinking Tom’s body had probably been swimming with the fishes of buried in a grave that was never going to be discovered. But Gray appears to make enough progress on this quest in this book that I’m not nearly as pessimistic. Maybe the next book will be the one to finally find out what happened to Tom.

If you like darkish crime fiction, especially with a little British flavor (make that flavour), this series including this latest installment is a good fit.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

UK spelling and slang.

Some adult language.

This is the third book in this series. It can be read as a stand alone with the needed back story being explained as needed.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words

Review: Burglars & Blintzes by Morgan C. Talbot

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Description:

“Moorehaven is swarming with guests during summer’s last hurrah, and Pippa has her hands full at the mystery-author B&B. When her gossip-group connections inform her that a local construction project has unearthed a skeleton with a pocketful of Spanish gold, the news spreads, and treasure hunters flood the beaches. But the skeleton has a more recent connection to the area than anyone suspected, unearthing a shameful secret that hits far too close to home.

A marine salvage team rolls into town, seeking the rest of the treasure. When they hire Pippa’s boyfriend, Lake, to be their pilot, the team’s pretty spelunker quickly stakes a claim, rousing Pippa’s jealousy. But Pippa’s been playing tug-of-war over Lake ever since his ex-wife, Mallory Tavish, became the new acting chief of police.

When a killer’s strike brings tragedy to Moorehaven’s door, Pippa must rally her friends, family, and mystery-writing guests to catch the murderer before she loses someone she can’t live without and all the warmth of summer dies with one last gasp.”

Author:

“USA Today Bestselling Author Morgan Talbot is an outdoorsy girl with a deep and abiding love for the natural sciences. Her degrees involve English and jujitsu. She enjoys hiking, camping, and wandering in the woods looking for the trail to the car, but there isn't enough chocolate on the planet to bribe her into rock climbing.”

Appraisal:

This is the second cozy mystery in this series and for cozy mystery fans makes for a good read. The setting, a bed and breakfast that limits its guests to mystery writers. This means there is never a shortage of amateur sleuths hanging around to throw their two cents in about the murders that apparently happen frequently in the fictional Seacrest, a small town on the beautiful and rugged Oregon Coast where it is located. As with every small town, there are plenty of rumors, everyone knows (or thinks they know) everyone else’s business. All of this combines to give our protagonist, Pippa Winterbourne, plenty of things to check out and ponder, as she tries to find the guilty parties. Burglars and Blintzes is an entertaining read that kept me guessing to the end.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 90-95,000 words

Review: Starswept by Mary Fan

Genre: Science Fiction/Coming of Age/Romance/Young Adult

Description:

“In 2157, the Adryil—an advanced race of telepathic humanoids—contacted Earth. A century later, 15-year-old violist Iris Lei considers herself lucky to attend Papilio, a prestigious performing arts school powered by their technology. Born penniless, Iris’s one shot at a better life is to attract an Adryil patron. But only the best get hired, and competition is fierce.

A sudden encounter with an Adryil boy upends her world. Iris longs to learn about him and his faraway realm, but after the authorities arrest him for trespassing, the only evidence she has of his existence is the mysterious alien device he slipped to her.

When she starts hearing his voice in her head, she wonders if her world of backstabbing artists and pressure for perfection is driving her insane. Then, she discovers that her visions of him are real—by way of telepathy—and soon finds herself lost in the kind of impossible love she depicts in her music.

But even as their bond deepens, Iris realizes that he’s hiding something from her—and it’s dangerous. Her quest for answers leads her past her sheltered world to a strange planet lightyears away, where she uncovers secrets about Earth’s alien allies that shatter everything she knows.”

Author:

“Mary Fan lives in New Jersey, where she is currently working in financial marketing. She has also resided in North Carolina, Hong Kong, and Beijing, China. She has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember and especially enjoys the infinite possibilities and out-of-this-world experiences of science fiction and fantasy.

Mary has a B.A. in Music, specializing in composition, from Princeton University and enjoys writing songs as much as writing stories. She also enjoys kickboxing, opera singing, and exploring new things—she’ll try almost anything once.

Appraisal:

I don’t generally read Science Fiction or dystopia, which earth is suffering from in Starswept. But the beautiful book cover drew me in and it’s good to stretch my wings once in a while.

Iris Lei is lucky enough to be born to parents while they were attending Papilio, a prestigious performing arts school, which therefore grants Iris automatic admission. She knows very little about her parents. But suspects her father aged out and must work off his debt for the education he received at Papillo, somewhere on earth, most likely in a poor paying factory job. Her mother was considered lucky to attract an Adryil patron, an advanced race of telepathic humanoids, who hire only the best artists.

At the age of fifteen Iris lives and breathes through her viola and the music it creates. One day an Adryil boy breaks into the school and passes Iris a piece of alien technology he can’t be caught with. Iris is smart enough to hide the piece from the security bots before they catch her with it. She has no idea what it is capable of, but it fascinates her and she keeps it with her at all times, especially when she discovers the boy she met can speak to her telepathically and via holograms as long as she has the device.

I found the first half of the book to move slowly as the author introduces her characters and paints the scenery of the school and the town outside of the school with its unfortunate inhabitants. It was interesting and in-depth for a full understanding of the world Ms. Fan has created.

The second half moves full on into science fiction as Iris is chosen by an Adryil patron. She’s excited to go on a starship to the alien planet in hopes of finding her mother and the mysterious alien boy who has captured her interest visiting her by holograms for the past weeks. The story takes off when Iris meets Cara, a member of the quartet Iris was hired to complete. The storyline is full of intriguing twists, rebel forces, and battles. Iris finds herself in situations that stretches her physical and emotional endurance well beyond what she thought she could endure. It’s an emotional rollercoaster ride that complicates a budding romance, destroys another committed relationship, and tears apart a family. All in all a captivating start to this new series.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Reprise Review: Bad Book by K.S. Brooks, Stephen Hise, JD Mader

Genre: Satire/Parody

Description:

“The name’s Case. No first name. He is a man among men and therefore only one name is sufficient. Women want to smack him – men want to smack him, too, just harder. Join Case on his epic travels through multiple literary genres as he ruins horror, space-adventure, noir detective, spy-thriller, westerns, classics of literature, pop culture icons and more with his own unique panache.”

Author:

Three people who write a bunch. Want more?

K.S. Brooks has written everything from thrillers to children’s books (I count eleven, not including those where she was a coauthor or contributing author, which adds another handful – the number of fingers on Honey Boo Boo’s hand if you count this book).

Stephen Hise is the author of the suspense novel Upgrade and has contributed to several others including Creepier by the Dozen, a short story anthology written by Hise, his son, and his daughter. He’s also the founder and (with Brooks) the co-administrator of the Indies Unlimited website.

JD Mader has two novels to his credit, a short story collection, and a collection of essays to scare any dad-to-be, You Hate Me Because I’m Pregnant (a survival guide for expectant dads). He’s also contributed to and co-written several others.

For more, visit the individual websites for Brooks, Hise, and Mader.

Appraisal:

Humor may be dependent on the reader, but if you can’t laugh at this book, you must have had a funny-bone-ectomy as a child. The laughs started with a disclaimer that begins …

Bad Book meets or exceeds the recommended daily allowance of vowels and consonants, and is safe and effective when used as directed. Use of Bad Book in any manner inconsistent with its intended purpose nullifies its warranty, which is neither expressed nor implied.

… and finishes with, “If you experience an erection that lasts more than four hours, congratulations.” It only gets better from there. As the hero (villain, idiot, or at least protagonist) Chase bounces from genre to genre the authors poke fun at every one with references to the wild (or is it mild) old west and even the books J.K. Rowling wrote before The Casual Vacancy.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and tottered around to see some geezer dressed in a long gown and a pointy hat like that old dude in that book about that weird little kid that goes off to some magical school to find a ring. What’s the name of that thing again – “Hobbits Take Manhattan,” or something like that.

How could you go wrong for less than a dollar to get your own copy of the Kindle Edition. (Hurry, they may try to cash in on the critical acclaim and bump the price up to three digits. Even split three ways, they’ll be hundredaires in no time.)

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: Bad Book was a nominee in the Humor category for B&P 2014 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran June 25, 2013.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words

Review: Living the Good Death by Scott Baron

Genre: Dark Comedy/Satire/Paranormal Romance

Description:

“Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the kind of day when things just don’t go your way. Like when your botched suicide attempt and claims of supernatural powers get you hauled to the emergency room, placed under observation, then transferred to a locked-down psych facility.

The girl who thought she was Death had failed miserably in her efforts to shed the troublesome human body in which she was trapped. The result? Finding herself surrounded by nutjobs, locked in a mental ward ruled by a humorless doctor with a Napoleon complex and a penchant for sleight of hand. Sure, she did technically bring it on herself, but how was she to know that trying to off herself in public and using her outside voice to proclaim she was Death incarnate would result in a psych ward lockdown?

With that problematic little blunder behind her, the concerns now vexing her were pressing. Escape, both from the mental hospital, as well as from this plane of existence, was vital, but equally so was addressing the other issue haunting her. The big one. The one that could end the world. The issue that with Death missing, people would rather inconveniently no longer die like they were supposed to. Eventually, things would hit critical mass. She just didn’t know when.

The situation was, well, grim, to say the very least. An irony not lost on the girl claiming to be the Death.”

Author:

“A native Californian, Scott Baron was born in Hollywood, which he claims may be the reason for his off-kilter sense of humor. Before taking up residence in Venice Beach, he spent a few years studying abroad before settling into the film and television industry, where he has worked off and on for some time. Scott not only writes, but is also involved in indie film and theater both in the U.S. and abroad.”

Appraisal:

The girl who thought she was Death is having a very bad time. She has no idea if she has done something wrong to be banished to a human form when she awakens on a dirty carpet in a low rent motel with a foggy memory. She has tried to off herself in different ways and fails miserably each time to die. Her last attempt was the most horrific and landed her in a not so modern psych facility that needs patients to maintain their bottom line. It often frustrated Doctor Vaughan, head of the institution, to work inside certain reputable guidelines. He assigns the girl who thought she was Death the name of Dorothy who is an escapee from a facility out west.

The cast of quirky characters inside and outside of the institution are well developed and diverse. The story is unique, mostly entertaining, and a bit dark. There are a few times non-vital information was repeated, which made the story quite wordy. I felt like Randy and Andrea were cheated by being used as pawns in the story. And who the hell was Curtis? Was he a pawn as well, being used by a higher power to teach a lesson to Death? As you can probably feel by now I was a little disappointed in the way the story played out in the end. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad story. This is just my opinion.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

  

FYI:

There are a few F-bombs.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing issues.

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Reprise Review: Hope for the Wicked by Edward Lorn

Genre: Suspense

Description:

“Sometimes, bad people do good deeds.

Larry and Mo Laughlin are retired killers tu

rned private investigators with monetary woes. So when their handler introduces them to the Trudeaus, one final job is placed on the docket.

Jacob and Bernice Trudeau need their teenage daughter, Amy, found, and they also want the men responsible dead. Two million dollars is an offer Larry and Mo can’t refuse.

To find Amy, the Laughlin’s must travel to Mexico, where they are thrust into a world of debauchery so foul they will be forever changed.

One crazed pimp, a veterinarian turned doc-for-hire, and an enigmatic facility called ‘The Show’ lie in wait for the wayward couple.

Is there any hope for the wicked?”

Author:

“Edward Lorn is an American horror author presently residing in the southeast United States. He enjoys storytelling, reading, and writing biographies in the third person.”

For more, visit Lorn's website.

Appraisal:

Edward Lorn describes himself as a horror writer, yet the books of his I’ve liked the most are those that are something more. Case in point, Hope for the Wicked has some scenes that are very graphic and show Lorn’s talents for horror, but the book goes well beyond what I think of when considering the horror genre. This is a suspense novel, with all that implies, but has the twist that the main characters of the story are, at least on the surface, bad people. Or maybe that should be good people who do bad things. Maybe even for a good reason. You’ll have to decide.

I love books that have characters who aren’t clearly good guys or bad guys (if they are, they’re one dimensional and boooring). If the story can get you considering the big questions about good and evil, as this did, even better. That it was a story that kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how it would all turn out, with a few surprises thrown in, was perfect.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Adult language and graphic content.

Added for Reprise Review: Hope for the Wicked by Edward Lorn was a nominee in the Thriller/Suspense category for B&P 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran February 22, 2013

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Review: Would You Rather Be in the Coffin Than Give the Eulogy by Jan Hurst-Nicholson

Genre: Non-Fiction

Description:

“The ability to speak in public is probably the most rewarding skill you will ever learn. It will not only improve your career prospects, but will also boost your self-confidence at social functions (you may never become the life and soul of the party, but at least you won't have to remain a wallflower!)

Have you ever:

·         Been nervous about a promotion because it involved public speaking?

·         Been afraid to speak up in meetings?

·         Turned down an invitation to speak at your garden club or similar (or choked horribly in the attempt)?

·         Been unsure about proposing a toast, or introducing and thanking a speaker?

Then you will benefit from the tips and guidelines in this book. Self-confidence comes from knowing the correct way of doing things - and how to avoid the pitfalls.”

Author:

A native of the UK who now lives in South Africa, Jan Hurst-Nicholson is the award-winning author of numerous books in multiple genres. You can read about them, as well as more about Jan by visiting her website.

Appraisal:

The title of this book comes from the punchline of a Jerry Seinfeld joke. It’s his reaction to hearing that studies have found most people fear public speaking more than death. It’s true that most of us fear public speaking. Yet most of us have situations where we need to do this. Some of those situations, say explaining something in your team meeting at work, aren’t even what most of us view as public speaking, but they require some of the same skills, and many of us react the same. Whether at work, in social and family situations, or to help meet our commitments in church and community groups, public speaking skills are something we could all benefit from obtaining.

This book aims to be an extensive reference to help obtain those skills. It has sections that have hints for preparing and delivering a speech. Another section focuses on different kinds of speaking situations with discussion on the unique aspects to be aware of and prepared for in each.

The author mentions spending 35 years as the member of a club that was focused on learning public speaking skills. It’s apparent she’s learned a lot and that knowledge is reflected in this book.

If the book falls short, it is because building public speaking skills exclusively by reading is tough. The opportunity to practice speaking and obtain knowledgeable feedback as part of a club or group, as Ms Hurst-Nicholson did, is the other part of the equation for many people. I’m surprised the author didn’t at least briefly outline the advantages of this and include some suggestions on how to find such a club. (Many clubs are associated with Toastmasters International. That and your favorite search engine will get you headed the right direction.) To be fair, there are a couple sentences as part of the last paragraph of actual content in the book that mention the potential of finding a club, but given the emphasis and location, I suspect it won’t register with most readers. My advice is to do both. Buy the book. Join a club.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Uses UK spelling conventions.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 25-30,000 words

Reprise Review: Zellwood: A Dog Story by Rebecca Stroud

Genre: Short Story/Literary Fiction

Description:

“Have you ever lost a beloved pet? Have you grieved and mourned yet still feel empty? May the road to Zellwood help you find an end to that sad journey.”

Author:

Rebecca Stroud loves animals. In addition to working as a reporter and newspaper columnist her career has included a series of jobs with animal hospitals, wildlife sanctuaries, and the SPCA as well as being politically active in issues involving animals. In addition to this short story, Stroud has four other works available from Amazon for your Kindle: a small short story collection (Three Dog Night), a novella (Do Unto Others), a novel (Devil’s Moon), and a volume called The Animal Advocate, which is a collection of her previously published newspaper columns. She has a blog, also called The Animal Advocate, if you’d like to find out more, or check out her Amazon Author Page.

Appraisal:

A short story, done well, is almost like story concentrate. No filler or spare words, yet still including what needs saying. If properly focused there is still plenty of room for evocative description, needed back-story, and characterization, without feeling as though something important was left out. This is one of those short stories, done well.

It is a story of loss and, although the narrator doesn’t like the term, closure. A story about pets, how we relate to them, and how they relate to us.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Original review ran December 2, 2011

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 1000-2000 words