Book Review: Kai by Derek Vasconi

Kai 

by Derek Vasconi 

Paperback: 362 pages
Publisher: Derek Vasconi (May 22, 2015)


Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Derek Vasconi. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

My thoughts:

Okay, I liked KAI. The way the author describes every scene, uhm very hair-raising. Can't read when I'm alone! If you are following this blog, you know that I only read when everyone is out of the house/sleeping. Reading KAI, well, had to do it when kids are in the house. Too many distractions I know but I really need them with me lol. 

KAI is really good but is complex. Just the kind of story that you should closely follow or you'll be confused. I'm thinking maybe it's the alternating stories of the main characters (Seul Bi and Satsuki), and the rhyming Japanese names. 

All in all, it was a good book. I enjoyed reading KAI, added to my re-read list.

Purchase your copy

About the book: 

The bastard child of Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 and Stephen King’s CARRIE, KAI explores how one innocent girl becomes the target of enormous rage living inside another girl-who is seemingly from another world. 

Satsuki Takamoto is an invisible otaku teenager in Hiroshima. The only thing she has going for her is the upcoming birth of her sister. No longer will she be alone. But after tragedy strikes her family, Satsuki loses her one chance at happiness. She spirals into a deep depression, shutting out everyone and everything by locking herself inside her bedroom-for good. Her sadness, however, pales in comparison to her uncontrollable anger. It spreads like a nuclear fire, ambivalent to what or who it destroys, and won’t stop until Satsuki accepts her sister’s death. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world in Evanston, Illinois, Seul Bi Rissiello can’t sleep because every time she closes her eyes, she relives her adoptive parents’ gruesome deaths. Why is she thinking so much about them now, ten years afterward? As she struggles with working at a clinic for the mentally disturbed, Seul Bi starts to unravel under the weight of living a lonely life and being twice an orphan. Her life devolves into a series of ominous and dangerous hallucinations that threaten not only her sanity, but her very existence as well. 
As both girls struggle to understand what is happening to them, their enigmatic connection comes into focus, raising the question: What if all the suffering in your life was carefully choreographed by somebody you’ve never met?

Book Review: Mind Over Murder (A Jake Roberts Novel Book 2) by Cary Allen Stone

Mind Over Murder 

(A Jake Roberts Novel Book 2)

by Cary Allen Stone

Series: A Jake Roberts Novel
Paperback: 346 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (January 31, 2014)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 503 KB
Print Length: 348 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: B00I6M51AI
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Cary Allen Stone. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

I have been trying to write this review for weeks now but I just can't seem to find the right words to describe exactly how I felt reading this book. Plot-wise, just like the first book, Mind Over Murder was a good mystery-thriller too. Jared Hamilton's story had me biting my nails. I liked how the author weave his story, there's a right amount of action and suspense. Oh well, while I found the book enthralling, I want to be honest here. I was soooo disappointed with the characters death. Sorry, a little spoiler there but it bothered me so much that I stopped reading for a week. It might not bother other readers (5-star reviews here) but it surely bothered me that I'm taking out one star for this second installment. 


About the book:

Detective Jake Roberts and FBI profiler Mika Scott return in the murder mystery Mind Over Murder––the long awaited sequel to After the Evil. Both await the arrival of the flight that brings the infamous serial killer Lori Powers back to the U.S. to face charges escorted by Interpol agents. 

Jared Hamilton is a genius, has earned multiple PhDs, and is twenty-five years old. His father Richard Hamilton is of one of the wealthiest men in the world. His mother Contessa was once an international supermodel. Jared has turned down offers by captains of industry, presidents of Ivy League universities, and Wall Street bankers. What Jared wants most is to be a criminal. He is already a world-class hacker and has committed a variety of felonies. Now he wants to experience the feel of blood on his hands. Jared wants to be a serial killer like Lori Powers and he wants Lori to be his consort. He devises a heinous plot to get Jake to bring Lori to him. When Jake discovers that he is Jarod’s next victim he puts together a plan, albeit illegal, to stop him. 

This is not your run-of-the-mill serial killer story. “Mind Over Murder” is the perfect serial killer read!

About the author:

Cary Allen Stone is a brilliant writer of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries. He writes with a keen eye for detail-the graphic violence is chillingly realistic. He delivers a taut, darkly introspective, cunning and well-executed plot by leaning towards the fallible side of his characters. He understands the criminal mind avoiding the stereotypes that dominate crime thrillers. There is a good balance of chemistry and conflict, good and evil that fans will find enthralling. His characters become embedded in our psyches and the pace of his unraveling of his thriller is a ride not easily forgotten. Cary Allen Stone is an important name to watch. This is one superb crime writer!--Grady Harp Top 100 ReviewerVine Voice 2014

In addition, he had a non-speaking character role in an AAA Club advertisement and has done voice-over radio commercials. He is currently working on his next Jake Roberts novel. He is a member of the Phoenix Writer's Club, the Arizona Authors Association and The Desert Sleuths, Author Social Media Support Group, International Thriller Writers.

Book Review: After The Evil by Cary Allen Stone

After The Evil 

Jake Roberts Series - Book 1

by Cary Allen Stone

Hardcover: 284 pages
Publisher: AuthorHouse (March 7, 2007)

Paperback: 338 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Revised edition (February 3, 2014)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 759 KB
Print Length: 339 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.


Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Cary Allen Stone. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Lori Powers kills prominent and abusive men to overcome the pain of losing her daughter to a suicide she caused. As she works as a flight attendant, it is so easy for her to murder her target and disappear without a trace. 

When Lori has killed about four men, the police started to worry. The crime scene is always clean and no one could get a clue where to begin the investigation. So they sent Jake Roberts, the best detective in town to solve the complicated murders, and it became even more complicated once  the detective met and fell in love with the killer.

After the Evil is a very good suspense book. Although the killer was revealed too soon, the story is still exciting. The mysteries of murders kept my eyes glued to the pages of the book. I admit, it was a bit of a struggle for me to read on as I find the story dark for moms like me. After experiencing trauma during my two pregnancies, I now couldn't handle children's death or suicide. But I finished reading this so it was an accomplishment for me.

If you are looking for a great suspense/mystery story, you might want to pick up this book. I assure you, your money is well spent on this one!

About the book:

Detective Jake Roberts and FBI profiler Mika Scott are in hot pursuit of the “Who’s Your Daddy” serial killer that preys on dominating and controlling men. During the investigation, Jake falls in love with flight attendant Lori Powers. Lori can’t silence the voices and her daughter Emily cries out from the grave. Pandemonium breaks out when Jake realizes Lori is the killer.

About the author:

Cary Allen Stone is a brilliant writer of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries. He writes with a keen eye for detail-the graphic violence is chillingly realistic. He delivers a taut, darkly introspective, cunning and well-executed plot by leaning towards the fallible side of his characters. He understands the criminal mind avoiding the stereotypes that dominate crime thrillers. There is a good balance of chemistry and conflict, good and evil that fans will find enthralling. His characters become embedded in our psyches and the pace of his unraveling of his thriller is a ride not easily forgotten. Cary Allen Stone is an important name to watch. This is one superb crime writer!--Grady Harp Top 100 ReviewerVine Voice 2014

In addition, he had a non-speaking character role in an AAA Club advertisement and has done voice-over radio commercials. He is currently working on his next Jake Roberts novel. He is a member of the Phoenix Writer's Club, the Arizona Authors Association and The Desert Sleuths, Author Social Media Support Group, International Thriller Writers.

Book Review: The Last Mile (#3 Lithia Trilogy) by Blair Richmond

The Last Mile 

(the Lithia Trilogy, Book 3)

by Blair Richmond

Series: Lithia Trilogy (Book 3)
Paperback: 244 pages
Publisher: Ashland Creek Press (October 1, 2014)
Amazon Paperback Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 796 KB
Print Length: 165 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Ashland Creek Press (October 4, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Kindle Link

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from Ashland Creek Press. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Katherine lost her only living family, her father, in the last book. While she mourns his death, she's happy to learn that her father loved her. At least that one final day of his life. 

Even though Katherine still has feelings for Alex, I am glad that she was able to finally decide to be with Roman. Not that I like Roman for her. She made me happy by choosing only one guy. ;) 

The story is again well written. It has enough twists and action that made this a good conclusion to the series. Only wished the author would write bonus chapters .... like after a year or so... ;) Oh, I will definitely miss everyone in this book.  

Out of Breath (5 stars)  /  The Ghost Runner (5 stars)

About the book:

In the final book in the acclaimed Lithia Trilogy, Kat has new losses to mourn but also new reasons to live. On the brink of new beginnings, she is back together with Roman, their relationship deepening more and more even as she wonders whether she may still harbor feelings for Alex.

Yet Kat finds it difficult to focus on such things as college and romance, with terror still haunting the hills of Lithia and threatening the entire town. As several recent earthquakes baffle scientists and put residents on edge, it seems that something more dangerous may be looming in Lithia's future.

Trying to balance a busy life while keeping Lithia safe isn't easy--and soon Kat realizes that nothing is a higher priority than saving her hometown, along with its abundance of land and animals, from devastation. The only problem is that she can't find a way to do this without leaving Lithia forever--or risking her own life and the lives of those she loves. And her future with Roman appears as unsteady as the ground under her feet...

In a novel that weaves together stories of love, the environment, and Shakespeare, the natural and supernatural worlds collide in this stunning conclusion to the Lithia Trilogy.

About the author:

Blair Richmond is the pen name of an author from the Pacific Northwest.

Website: http://blairrichmond.blogspot.com

Book Review: The Ghost Runner by Blair Richmond

The Ghost Runner 

Author: Blair Richmond
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Ashland Creek Press (October 15, 2012)
Amazon Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 346 KB
Print Length: 267 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1618220179
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Ashland Creek Press (October 9, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 
Amazon Link

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from Ashland Creek Press. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Katherine's life is improving. Months ago, she was homeless, well, after she ran away from home. When she met David and Stacey in Lithia, they gave her life back. It seemed like everything is back to normal, not only she was given basic needs, she's also been given an opportunity to go back in college. However, she misses Stacey so much. She felt "homeless" again after Stacey's death. According to some people in the community, Stacey died in a bear attack. Katherine knows it wasn't a bear but she cannot divulge what she knows because David and the police wouldn't believe her - that a vampire is responsible for Stacey's death. And the worst thing is knowing Stacey was killed by someone special to her.

And Katherine's father is looking for her. She was beyond shocked when her father showed up in her school. That can't happen, his father should have not been able to visit her because the father she knows is dead and Katherine is sure because she's the one who killed him. Who is this man and why is he following Katherine?

The Ghost Runner is the follow-up book to Out of Breath, book 1 to the Lithia Trilogy. This time, the story focuses on Katherine's family. This book has "wowed" me a few times because of the twists. The revelations were kind of surprising for me, except how Katherine's mother died. I knew who killed her mother, actually even before knowing about Stacey's killer.

Katherine.... I really like her but I often get annoyed when she's mad at either Alex or Roman. I think she's changed. In this book, it's like she can't decide what's best for her. I hate it when a character is indecisive, especially with boys. It is alright to feel uncertain at times but throughout the story? Please just choose one! There was one question in the first book that I was looking forward to be answered in the second book. What is Roman's relationship with Stacey and why did he kill her?? I thought there would be an explanation at some point but there was none. I was intrigued because Katherine felt the tension between Stacey and Roman whenever they're close to each other.

Anyway, I enjoyed The Ghost Runner because I see Alex more here. He's such a very charming guy, I love how he takes care of Katherine. He's very gentle, romantic and selfless. If I have to choose between Alex and Roman, it would be Alex. Wish the author would write more about Alex in the next book.

I loved The Ghost Runner as much as I loved the first book, Out of Breath. Can't wait to read book #3!

About the book:

You can't outrun the past...

In The Ghost Runner, Kat is still in Lithia, trying not to see Roman’s face everywhere she looks. It’s not easy, but she tries to move on: She starts taking classes at the local college, keeps up with her job at the running store, and is beginning a relationship with Alex.

Yet Kat’s past is never far behind, and as old ghosts begin to catch up with her, she finds herself fighting to defend the things she believes in, from the hope of a new family to the deeply wooded forests that she has begun to call home. As her relationship with Alex begins to crumble, a new secret from her past emerges, and she is once again torn between those she loves as she struggles to reconcile her dark past with her hopes for a brighter future.

The Ghost Runner, continuing Kat's adventures in Out of Breath, brings us further into the mysterious town of Lithia, where the old traditions of logging and gold mining—and the new traditions of development—collide with conservation. Meanwhile, the spirits of the town keep watch over everything—and occasionally find it necessary to intervene...

The Lithia Trilogy, which blends adventure and the paranormal with environmental awareness and Shakespeare, offers an exciting new series in young adult fiction.

About the author:

Blair Richmond is the pen name of an author from the Pacific Northwest.
Website: http://blairrichmond.blogspot.com

Book Review: Out of Breath by Blair Richmond

Out Of Breath
Book One to the Lithia Trilogy

Author: Blair Richmond
Paperback: 274 pages
Publisher: Ashland Creek Press (October 11, 2011)
Amazon Link


Kindle Edition
File Size: 355 KB
Print Length: 275 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0979647576
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Ashland Creek Press (September 22, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Link


Note: I received a review copy of this book free from Ashland Creek Press. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:


Out of Breath tells the story of Katherine, a vegetarian runner from Texas. She was born and raised in Lithia, a town in Oregon, but when her mother died, his dad lost his job and believed that life would be better outside Lithia. Too many bad things happened in Texas so Katherine decides to return to her hometown to start a new life, this time without his father. 

At first, after reading the first three chapters, the story line didn't appeal much to me. Thought it was just an ordinary story for a paranormal-ish book. When I get to read the part where Katherine met Stacey and David, Out of Breath became a page-turner. I didn't stop until I read the whole book. I love how the author wove the story. Normally, paranormal romance books depend on the love story but Out of Breath is different. The story could actually stand out even without the main character's love interest/s. This is what I'm looking for in a novel. You don't have to wait for the romance part every single page. The story could be very well accepted as it is and the romance part is just a bonus to the readers. I love Katherine's personality, she's tough and strong for a female lead. If there is hesitation on some things, it would easily be resolved. What else? I love how the setting of the story is described. Imagine a place with forests, environmentalists, vegan people, etc.  

As for the book cover, nice right? The paranormal part was surprising. With the book cover in mind, I thought differently. I'm not gonna spoil it for you so you decide which otherworldly beings are in this book. And would you believe these otherworldly beings are also vegan?? Interesting story!

Okay, while I loved this book, I just want to say that I had a little "connection problem" with the "romance part".  It's just that I can't feel excitement with Alex and Roman, Katherine's love interests in the story. I love Alex (not sure about Roman though) but I felt something is lacking, probably because I have this delicate heart *wink* when it comes to dealing with love triangle issues in books. 

Overall, I truly loved Out of Breath. If you are looking for a series to start, pick-up this book then! Now so happy to be reading book 2, Ghost Runner ;)! 

About the book:


Nineteen-year-old Kat Jones has been a competitive runner since she was a young girl, but after her mother's death, the path her life was supposed to take begins to crumble around her -- until one day, she finds herself on the run in a literal sense, this time in a race for her very life.

Kat's journey takes her to the Pacific Northwest town of Lithia, the place of her last good memories, of the days when her mother was still alive. But soon after her arrival, strange things begin to happen in Lithia -- and when one of her new friends disappears under mysterious circumstances, Kat begins to realize that Lithia's inhabitants are not all of this world. Worst of all, she is falling in love with one of these otherworldly locals, and the friend who hopes to save her has secrets of his own.

As Kat tries to rebuild her life, she is also training for a race that will turn out to be her biggest challenge yet, as she must outrun not only the demons of her past but the demons of the here and now, who threaten her very existence and that of the entire town.

At once a paranormal love story and an environmental allegory, Out of Breath offers an exciting new voice in young adult fiction.


About the author:

Blair Richmond is the pen name of an author from the Pacific Northwest.

Website: http://blairrichmond.blogspot.com

Book Review: Dead Religion by David Beers

Dead Religion

Author: David Beers
Paperback: 210 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (September 7, 2012)
Amazon Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 333 KB
Print Length: 210 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
Amazon Link

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from David Beers. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

The story started out great. Past the 50+ pages I stopped reading due to some paperworks I had to finish. Reading Dead Religion the second time, I found myself confused and lost with the story and characters. It was hard to remember things. 

I have to admit that I rarely finish a book in one sitting since I work full time, school, kids, hobbies, etc. So I need a book that I can easily connect with, without refreshing my memory every time I picked it up. You know something like a tv series. And sadly, Dead Religion is not that book. It was annoying that I can't tell who's who and I end up flipping back to the earlier pages to be connected with the characters and story again. I soon lost interest reading only 5-10 pages a day. I couldn't even recognize the main characters anymore and I think it was mainly because of the alternating point of views of all the characters in the story. 

Overall, story/plot wise, it's something original for me, Dead Religion tells the story about ancient Aztec gods, how the "new people" are connected with these ancient gods. If you are into those ancient history things and do not mind the alternating POV's, then you might want to read this. 

To read positive reviews, click here.

About the book: 

A hotel explodes in Mexico City, and all available evidence points to an American citizen, Alex Valdez, as the terrorist. The FBI is desperate to find the truth before the Mexican government can. Dead Religion follows the trail of FBI agent James Allison, who leaves his family and journeys to Mexico in order to find what secrets lay behind the destroyed hotel and all the lives lost with it. To do that though, Alex Valdez’s life must be laid bare—the blood rite his parents left him and the ‘God’ they felt had been unleashed on the world. Agent Allison races to find the truth in Mexico City, to uncover Valdez’s life, before he finds himself face to face with the same terror.

About the author: 

David Beers is in his mid twenties. He blogs at http://justafewmorehours.blogspot.com. He is currently finishing up his MBA, and working on his second novel--tentatively titled End Times.

Book Review: Out of Shadow by J.S. Winn

Out of Shadow

Kindle Edition

Author: J.S. Winn

File Size: 354 KB

Print Length: 238 pages

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Amazon Link

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, J.S. Winn. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Becca was raped and her husband was murdered. When the police conducted the investigation, somehow she became the suspect because in the police report, there was no forced entry in any of the doors and windows of the house. And as for the rape, the hospital ran a DNA test and turned out the samples only matched to his husband's DNA. Now, after the investigation, even Becca doubts herself as she once had developed some kind of a mental illness years ago.

Becca is having nightmares almost on a daily basis so she hires a psychologist, Sara, to help her recover. The story is told in alternating POV's, Becca and Sara. 

It's hard to tell if I enjoyed reading this book. Okay - this is a good suspense book. It was a very fast read, the story is gripping, something that you won't stop reading until you read the last pages of the book. The problem lies in me. I easily guessed the bad guy here, like I over-analyzed things. Bad, bad idea! I knew it was him right after he said something to Becca. I also knew about the thing with Adrian and Sara. So it didn't surprise me at all. I can't tell much as I think anything I say could be a spoiler and it's really not good to have an idea about the story. 

I've read other online reviews and I agree with them that this is a must read book. Even if I knew what was gonna happen just by reading more than a quarter of the story, I'm still giving this book a 4-star rating for the writing style and the connection of the twists in the story.

About the book:

Out of the Shadow tells the story of two women drawn together in the present to uncover a crime from the past

Having survived a rape and her husband's murder, all Becca Rosen wants to do is move on with her life, but how can she when she's being stalked by a psychopath with an attitude---and an agenda. The police are no help because they're convinced, with her history of mental illness, Becca has faked the rape to get away with murder. On top of that, Becca has begun to have flashbacks and nightmares of childhood abuse, possibly at the hands of the rapist. Not knowing where to turn, and feeling like she might go crazy again, Becca hires Psychologist, Sarah Abrams, to help her unearth who's behind the crimes of the past...and the present.

Three men come into Becca's life around the same time. While each of these men has his charms, Becca can't be certain whether any one of them is the real killer. Or could it be someone else? Together Becca and Sarah start on a course of hypnotherapy to discover the abuser's identity. Will their work reveal the real killer before it's too late, or will Becca once again fall prey to this demented criminal?

About the author:

J S Winn earned a graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD from the University of Metaphysical Sciences. For over 25 years she practiced psychotherapy. Her previous mystery novel set in the American Southwest, Kiva Fire, garnered much critical praise. She has had a play produced by the Actor’s Alliance Festival in San Diego, and her poetry has been anthologized by the San Diego Writer’s Workshop in For the Love of Writing. Her play “Gotcha!” was selected for a reading at the Village Arts Theater in Carlsbad, California in May 2012.

She presently lives by the beach in San Diego County, California.

For more information about Out of the Shadow, please visit http://www.jswinn.com or contact the author at author@jswinn.com

Book Review: Soul Retribution by H.B. Salzer

Soul Retribution



Author: H.B. Salzer
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (March 21, 2012)

Amazon Link

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, H.B. Salzer. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts: 

Toni and Amanda have gifts. Both mother and daughter get visions about people's death even before it happens and they use it to help people. Due to financial problems, Toni agrees to do something evil for money. Adam wants to have a good life so he asks Toni to deal with the devil, his soul in exchange for a wealthy life. Problem is, the devil takes Toni's soul instead of Adam's. Now, Amanda wants revenge for her mother so she seeks the man responsible for her misery.

I read this book in less than five hours. The story flowed nicely, liked the mystery and twists.      The characters are believable and situations are realistic. I can deeply relate to Amanda, the main character of the story. I feel her pain when her mother died. On the other hand, Adam's character is also likable. He wants to have a wealthy life not because he's that greedy to want it, but he did it for his family. The author clearly has talent in weaving a mystery story though one thing I note, the writing style is very basic, straight and simple. Of course, I would always prefer this over those books I have read in the past with complex writing style. I know I'm not a writer but I'm just saying if this book is the author's first, she could improve over time.


About the book:

Driven by the untimely death of her mother, Amanda is compelled to seek out Adam, the man responsible for deceiving her mother during a spell gone awry, and sacrifice his soul to save her mother’s. Soul Retribution takes you through Amanda’s journey as she struggles to execute her plan, despite her conflicting emotions, and give her mother the serene eternity she deserves.

Book Review: Scars on the Face of God: The Devils Bible by C.G. Bauer

Scars on the Face of God: The Devil's Bible 


Author: CG Bauer
Paperback: 266 pages
Publisher: Drollerie Press (November 1, 2009)
Amazon Link


Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, C.G. Bauer. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.


Ratings: ★ ★


My thoughts:


I started and stopped reading this book a number of times and I can't really get past the first quarter of the book. The book moves at a slow pace and neither the plot nor the characters held my attention. I never liked the main character, Wump and even Father Duncan, the local priest. The story is too "wordy" for my taste even the description for each character is too long which I thought too boring to read. The book just didn't work for me. Please note that what bothers me might not bother other readers at all. Here are some positive reviews for this book. Read here.

About the book:


Hex signs protect every barn and outbuilding. Babies disappear at birth. When a brick wall unearthed at the site of a new restaurant collapses, and raw sewage carries hundreds of baby bones into the pit left behind, it looks like the devil's made Three Bridges his playground.


About the author:

C. G. Bauer is author of the horror novel SCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD, which horror novelist Scott Nicholson dubbed "hotter than the flames of hell." Raised in Philadelphia (the setting for SCARS), he now lives in Doylestown, PA, with his lovely wife Terry and their supermutt Rory. His short fiction has appeared in Thuglit, Shroud Magazine #11 and "100 Horrors", and has been podcasted by Well Told Tales (WTT #60 = 94,000+ free audio downloads). He's been recognized by the National Writers Association, the Writers Room of Bucks County and the Maryland Writers Association. For more info, visit cgbauer.wordpress.com.

Book Review: Bitten by Dan O'Brien

Bitten


Author: Dan O'Brien
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: iUniverse.com (September 16, 2010)
Amazon Link



Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Dan O'Brien. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

I had high hopes for this book as I'm really into werewolf stories. The book started out strong, nice plot, a lot of action but it slowed down after the first quarter, picked up after a few more chapters and then slowed down again when I was almost halfway. I just lost interest in the main character, Lauren Westlake, there's nothing special with this FBI agent. I hate to compare but I'm thinking of Anita Blake whenever she's discussing some case with the police, seemed like a baby FBI agent to me. I also didn't like the werewolf guy, Dominic and I never felt their connection even when they are on a date. 

I didn't like the writing style, the book is written in third person, with too many short narrative lines which I guess led to my dislike in reading the book. It would have been better if the author wrote more character dialogues instead of the narrative lines. 

A werewolf book I didn't finish reading. To read some positive reviews of the book, click here.

About the book:

A predator stalks a cold northern Minnesotan town. There is talk of wolves walking on two legs and attacking people in the deep woods. Lauren Westlake, resourceful and determined F.B.I Agent, has found a connection between the strange murders in the north and a case file almost a hundred years old. Traveling to the cold north, she begins an investigation that spirals deep into the darkness of mythology and nightmares. Filled with creatures of the night and an ancient romance, the revelation of who hunts beneath the moon is more grisly than anyone could have imagined.

About the author:

Dan O'Brien is a writer and screenwriter. He currently attends a California university and is pursuing a graduate degree in Psychology. He has written over 10 novels, several screenplays and is working on a graphic novel. A philosopher and martial artist, his days are filled with writing and training. 

ARC Book Review: Coming Out Can Be Murder by Renee James

Coming Out Can Be Murder

Author: Renee James
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Windy City Publishers (June 1, 2012)
Author's Blog

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Renee James. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

I do not remember EVER reading any GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transsexual) book. When I was asked to read and review this book, I instantly liked the synopsis, it looked interesting but I was afraid that there may be some scenes in the book that I may not like. True enough, there are scenes in the book which I had to skip because I just don't feel comfortable reading them but I still continued reading. Why? because honestly, the plot is great. The stories written in the book have been so informative - I now know the difference between "transgender" and "transsexual", I really thought they have the same meaning. 

Oh I loved Bobbi! She's the main character in the story and I learned a lot from her. It was interesting to read Bob Logan's transformation into a cute and very lovable Bobbi Logan. Bobbi was once a married man, and I feel for Bobbi's wife. She must have felt horrible hearing her husband is leaving her because he wants to be a girl like her. What a heartbreak!

I also liked Cecelia, Bobbi's mentor, Marilee, her psychiatrist, especially Thomas. I was so drawn in their world and deeply affected by the stories written here. I may not fully understand how they feel but at least I had the chance to see or experience their world.

Overall, this was not an easy book to read for me due to some "gay scenes" but I HIGHLY recommend this book for those readers looking for a unique experience, certainly worth reading!
  
About the book:

Coming Out Can Be Murder is narrated by Bobbi Logan, a Chicago hairdresser who begins investigating the murder of a trans woman friend when neither the media nor the police seem to take notice of her brutal death.
Fighting the demons of her own gender transition, Bobbi navigates Chicago’s mysterious transgender underground to find the killer, only to become his next target.

Coming Out Can Be Murder combines a fast-moving plot with a unique character study, putting the reader in the mind and body of a sensitive, articulate transsexual woman as she begins living full time in her true gender. And Bobbi takes the reader on an extraordinary journey through Chicago’s vibrant transgender community and the city’s famous Boystown neighborhood, from its high-brow cafes to its pulsating dance clubs.

James, an active member of the Chicago transgender community, sketches a variety of characters in Coming Out, from a seductive transgender sex worker to a politically connected power broker whose smooth demeanor hides the vicious personality of a sexual predator.

Among the most memorable characters is Bobbi’s mentor, Cecelia, a brash, over-sized, larger-than-life trans woman who refuses to be intimidated by the disapproval of others.

“Cecelia is the trans woman people remember seeing in a restaurant or store,” says James. “She’s too tall and doesn’t look feminine, but she dresses well and has great composure. You don’t know anything about her because you don’t know how to start a conversation. In this book, you hear her talk and you get to know her.”

The other character most talked about by early reviewers is Betsy, Bobbi’s ex-wife. While many marriages involving transgender people end in hostility and acrimony, Betsy and Bobbi never quit loving each other after their divorce. Their love just takes a different form.

Bleue Benton, Manager of the Oak Park (IL) Public Library’s nationally acclaimed transgender literature collection, hails Coming Out Can Be Murder as “an important contribution to the field…a great story with beautiful self reflection.”

Adds Ms. Benton, “Renee James has written a groundbreaking mystery. Her smart, perceptive, and engaging heroine leads us through gender identity issues as she seeks understanding, acceptance, and justice. This page-turner is important and needs to be read.”

Coming Out Can Be Murder goes on sale June 1 in paper, Kindle and eBook formats. The book is available in book stores, through on-line services like Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and wherever books are sold.

About the author:

Renee James is the pen name of a Chicago-area writer who lives in two genders.
In her male identity, James has been a full time writer for several years, following a long career as a magazine editor and owner. James has won dozens of awards for journalistic excellence and authored a biography.

James is also a husband, father and grandfather. She is a war veteran, licensed hairdresser, and wilderness adventurer. She has struggled with gender identity issues for decades.

Ms. James has been active in the Chicago transgender community for many years. She edited the Chicago Gender Society newsletter for five years, and participates in many of the groups and activities that make the Chicago transgender community one of the most vibrant in the world.

Coming Out Can Be Murder is the by-product of a fictional journal Ms. James wrote on business trips during her magazine editing years. The journal was a reflection on what her life might have been like if she had chosen to become a transsexual woman rather than marry and raise a family as a bi-gendered male.

“After a while, I realized that the fictional character I created was someone much different than me. She was very interesting and much different than any character I had encountered in commercial fiction,” said Ms. James. “She was flawed and frightened, but she had a powerful inner resolve and good human qualities. These things made her a unique heroine, and she deserved her own story.”

Ms. James believes the enduring quality of Coming Out Can Be Murder is its humanity. “This is a story about the difference between appearance and reality, and it’s about making hard choices and living with them,” said James.

For more information about Renee James, go to
www.ReneeJamesAuthor.com.