An entertaining novel [Not On MY Watch] from beginning to end. Well-paced with believable characters throughout, especially private Cassie Sing, a fearless, pint-sized protagonist you can't help but root for as she makes decisions with far-reaching implications. Looking forward to further work from the author.
For more on M. P. Web, follow him on Amazon, GoodReads, or his LinkedIn Blog.
For more on Jeff Bailey, go to his Home Page or follow him on Amazon, GoodReads, or his LinkedIn Blog.
I just got back from a trip to Angler Island, the fictional locale of Brad LaMar’s newest YA adventure Sci-Fi novel. We’ve all heard of Star Wars being called a classic ‘space opera.’ Well, Angler Island is YA ‘Sci-Fi opera.’ An opera of the highest order. Several good guys, several bad guys and a convoluted cat and mouse game.
A family and their teenaged son, Evan, are on a family cruise. By a twist of fate, they find themselves marooned on a mysterious island. There is no way off the island, but the previous residents have turned the island into a utopia: or so it would seem. Evan and his new friend Taylor begin to suspect that all is not as it was portrayed. What makes this such a compelling read is that there are several story threads all rushing to the same climatic scene, excellent. Of course, there was so much more to make this a very entertaining read.
The one thing that I look for in a good Sci-Fi is a solid, unpredictable ending and Angler Island has a doozie. Some mysteries are solved but others are created. The whole situation is more confusing at the end than in the middle. That said, the ending would seem to be the perfect lead-in to a follow-up book, maybe even a whole series of books. We can only hope.
My favorite character in the chaos was the genetically enhanced monkey that led everyone on a non-stop chase, lol. For me Brad LaMar’s Angler Island was more than a fun read and worthy of my five stars. Well done.For more on Brad A. LaMar, follow him on YouTube, LinkedIn, or .GoodReads.
Jeff Bailey's Not On My Watch offers a peek behind the scenes at the U.S. military. Bailey raises the stakes with a terrifyingly realistic plot, placing Cassie Sing, a soon-to-be full-fledged Marine into the protagonist's role. She must thwart the nefarious attempts of bad guys seeking to get away with murder and the theft of nuclear weapons. I enjoyed the female lead who demonstrates courage and a cool head under dire circumstances. Bailey's knowledge of the inner workings of the Marine Corps and his way of weaving it throughout the story are impressive.
For more on Nellie Neeman, follow her on Amazon, GoodReads, or her LinkedIn Blog.
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I especially enjoy reading a complicated and twisty crime-based conspiracy thriller and A Climate For Death didn’t disappoint. I decided to read A Climate For Death after finishing R.T. Lund’s other thriller, Treachery. Needless to say, I’m now a certified fan.
A Climate for Death opens with a plane crashing into a lighthouse in the middle of the night, in the far north, in the middle of winter. The murdered pilot is the only occupant. An excellent chess match of an investigation unfolds in an intriguing series of masterful investigative reveals and moves. Of course, the investigation is hampered by, and aided by the extreme weather. The characters and their motives (good and bad) are well developed, have good depth, and support the story nicely. For me, A Climate for Death was an entertaining read with a believable, contemporary plot. Five stars R.T., five stars.For more information on R. T. Lund, see his Home Page, or follow him on Amazon, GoodReads, and his LinkedIn Blog.
The title pretty much sums up what you can expect. Lance Corporal Cassie Sing is a young female marine who fights extreme fires, including aircraft and structural. After completing a training exercise, her team is dispatched to fight a range fire. Separated from her peers, Cassie witnesses a heavy military truck exiting the back gate of the base. When it is stopped by the MP's, the truck's occupants kill them and flee. Having no weapons or way to contact anyone, Cassie sets out after the men in the truck. After catching and climbing in the back, she finds herself a stowaway in the company of two stolen nuclear warheads.
Thumbs up!
For more on MJ Preston, follow him on Wild Blue Press, Amazon, GoodReads, or his LinkedIn Blog.
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J.T. Fluhart lives in Southern Arkansas with his wife, Alma, their two kids as well as Kat their cat and Max, their huge German shepherd dog. (Max is alive and well, J.T. assures you!) J.T. has travelled extensively around the world and draws upon his experiences to create relatable characters and interesting adventures for his readers to enjoy. He is currently in his third year of law school. Upon graduation and now with the completion of his first novel, his last bucket list items will be achieved.
Q: What prompted you to start writing?
A: My imagination. Even when I was a young kid, making up stories about imaginative adventures as something I enjoyed. In Super Moon Protocol, where Rob shared a notebook with his friend, and each took turns contributing to the story is true. I had a group of friends in grade school, and we would do this. Sad to say the stories didn’t always turn out the best, and, 'yes' we fought and argued
sometimes, but over all we had fun doing it. I mostly wrote short stories until I felt I had a great story plot to fill a novel, which is where SMP was created. Writing has always been something I enjoy.
Q: Describe the genre of your books.
A: This is tough. I consider myself a multi-genre writer…. A blender of genres, if you will. I wrote an article on this very topic for Mystery and Suspense Magazine. Like in real life, we don’t live in a certain genre. We have adventures, mysteries, romance and so on. These memories culminate our life’s story. So, I try to write real to life and in doing so I find I cross back and forth between genres. But if I had to be pinned down, adventure and suspense…. With a touch of sci-fi and a sprinkle of romance and fantasy.
Q: Most readers have an all-time favorite book and author. What are your all-time favorite book and author?
A: These are tough questions… I read my first grown-up novel, The Chamber, at ten years old by John Grisham and never read another kid’s book again. From there I discovered Tom Clancy and my mind was blown. Then Stephen King and my imagination took on a whole new twist. I now follow about a dozen authors spread across the reading spectrum. So very hard to have just one favorite as they each are extremely talented in their craft.
Q: What publishing awards and honors have you received that you’re most proud of?
A: None…. [Thus far. JAB] However, I do hope one day the SMP series gets picked up as a Netflix series or something. I think it would be greatly entertaining in that space for viewers.
A: As a reader, read all kinds of fiction and even some non-fiction. Variety is the spice of life and having more context around topics and subject matter makes the reading experience even more enjoyable.
Q: Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you handle it?
A: I have not, but not to say one day I might. I tend to write my books in my head, or at least have the bones in place from start to finish before I even type the first words. Then once I start typing to
put the meat on the bones I tend to move quickly. My biggest challenge isn’t writer’s block, it can be writer’s indecision. I tend to always find more than a single path to get to a point or section of the story and it can be difficult to choose which I want to end up using.
Q: Every writer I know is also, an avid reader. I know I am. What new author have you discovered lately that you’re reading? Tell us about him or her.
A: I like to take long walks and try to do so every day. I listen to Audible a lot and came across Jonathan Frederick…. Binge listening to all his books now. His writing style and depth of human nature makes very real, relatable characters wrought with the issues faced by average people especially in rural America. His wit and cynicism entertain and propels until the twists and turns have you glued to the story, hating the book is coming to its end.
A: I don’t know if it should be mine…. Like I’ve mentioned, so many more talented authors out there. However, if I were blessed to have a reader’s attention for even a short time, I would be most grateful. My first novel works to keep readers in adventurous suspense with subtle humorous, real connections to reality, but never really grounding them in it completely. I write to entertain; not make someone feel like they are looking in a mirror all the time. So, if at the end of my book readers feel entertained and wanting to read the next one, then I achieved my goal.
Q: What are you working on for your next release?
A: SMP is the first of a three-book series. The next is Lockdown Protocol and I hope is released by the end of 2022 or early 2023. I am in my last year of law school and once I graduate, I intend to make writing a higher priority in my life. [I for one will be looking for Lockdown Protocol. JAB]
For more on Jonathan Fluhart, follow him on Amazon, Goodreads, or his LinkedIn Blog.
For more on Jeff Bailey, go to his Home Page, or follow him on GoodReads or his LinkedIn Blog.
Today's book selection:
22 Dutch Road by T.C. Schueler was absolutely top shelf. The hero, Billy Buchanan, has to go back to his hometown to help with his late father’s estate at 22 Dutch Road and to receive a small interim check. Billy and his mom need to the check to stave off the financial wolves. When he arrives at the estate, he is surprised by the ring of eight-foot carved stone statues of warriors ringing the manor house just inside the property line. That’s about the only normal part of 22 Dutch Road. Everything that followed was … well, was … bordering on the bazaar, starting with having the statues seeming to turn to follow him with their gaze.
I especially liked that Schueler took his time telling, or rather showing the story in words as though he was describing a movie. His presentation was very in depth. He told of the characters mental states, feelings, interactions, and the effects they had on each other. The extra insights definitely added to the story line. I mean, he took several pages to describe a simple hand of high-stakes poker that played to the story. Several pages - and every word was captivating and important to later scenes.
The ending was what made it all. Several tiers if cliff-hanger upon cliff-hanger. Even after the credits rolled (as it were) closure was brought to some of the plot elements and to the surviving characters.
I have just three words for T.C. Schueler: Unique, Unique, Unique. A great mix of light horror and sci-fi. I am now a big fan and can’t wait for his next book.
I can’t think of a way to summarize all the great aspects of What Leora Never Knew . This story is a sweeping family quest. Joy Neal Kidne...
