Review: '50sville: The Town You Will Absolutely Love, or Else...

'50sville: The Town You Will Absolutely Love, or Else... by Paul A. Ibbetson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

I really wanted this to be a great book. And it was until it ended. I have a thing about ending books that are part of a series. If you are going to end it, leave a light cliffhanger, not a major plot point. For that one star gets taken away.

The story was OK, but it just seemed like the characters were playing out the roles the author had assigned them. They did not seem to have a life of their own.

If the book was a complete set of the series I might consider buying it. At this point I was disappointed in it by itself and would expect the cliffhanger problem to continue so it is not one I plan to pick up. Recommended only if you want to buy the whole set. Nothing objectionable so it is OK for all ages.

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Review: The 30-Day Praise Challenge

The 30-Day Praise Challenge by Becky Harling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Available through Amazon

I do not suffer the cancer that the author does, but I have suffered from depression so I thought this might be a good read for me. I was not disappointed. While I still deal with depression, I now have a new tool in my arsenal to fight it.

The book as three parts to it. Part 1 is the challenge and why you should do it. Part three is moving on after the challenge is done, but the meat is in the middle section, the 30 days of praise. Each day starts with an invitation, scriptures adapted as if they were God speaking. Then the listen section where you are given 2 to 3 praise and worship songs to listen to. Next is a prayer written for you to pray based on what the invitation was about, also scriptural based. Lastly is the journal, writing your thoughts about this day's material by prompting you with questions.

Each days music is not hard to find. I was able to put a spotify list of all the songs. For me this part took the most time, but I am a rush type of guy and this forced me to take my time and listen.

Recommended for Christians who are having trouble with praise or want to take it to the next level. Also for people going through trauma or depression.

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Review: Undertow of Loyalty

Undertow of Loyalty by M.D. Davies
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I received an advance copy of this book. What follows, as always, is an honest review.

While I had read the advertising blurb for this book, when I started reading it I forgot all about it. I am glad that I did. There were so many twist and turns in the first half of the book that I was a little bit shocked by each reveal.

Neil Henberlin comes to work after a weekend with his wife in another city to find his office empty and everyone looking at him strange. As a salesman for computer systems used in the oil field, it appears that the person he was working with on a big sale is dead, and he is also declared dead next to her, in an apartment he has kept on the side. Obviously he is not dead, and the mystery starts. Who was it next to her and what is his involvement?

Since the blurb for the book tells you that he is a spy, then it is not a spoiler, but again, that is revealed a few chapters later and it took me by surprise. This is one of the many twists and turns of the first half of the book. At this point, Neil is living three lives and trying to keep each one straight.

The second half of the book, after the killer is revealed, is more of a suspense story. Will the killer be caught and brought to justice? What was the frame of mind of the killer? I will confess, the reveal of the killer wound up being a surprise to me.

Good suspenseful story. Due to the graphic nature of the murders in the book, I would recommend for older teens through adults. It would be recommended to those who like a good mystery/thriller book.

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Review: Reviled

Reviled by Dean C. Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
Received an ARC copy and am providing an honest review.

Reviled picks up where the 1st book in the series left off. Soren, a hero who has used nano tech to enhance himself in a city that has rebranded itself into districts with themes, is dead. His makeshift family, want to help him so the wizard/tech person puts into him some nanites that he thinks will help, and then into a reviving fluid, only to have these nanites take over all of Soren except the mind chip he has placed into his brain to help his memory. The beast that comes out wants to take control, making Soren both Frankenstein and Frankenstein at the same time.

Much of the things that we found in the first book is repeated here. Large expansive fight scenes, plot turns and twists, and yes, even a stream of conscious scene. While the stream of conscious scenes in the book do not work for me, I understand the need and the way they fit in the story. This one happens during a romantic period between Soren and his love interest/mother figure to the family they take in. For that reason I could not recommend this to younger teens as it gets a little to weird.

You may need to make a scorecard to keep track of all the people in this story. Along with the cast of the first story there are a host of others that are introduced. At times I got one character confused with another and had to go back and reread something to make sure I got the character correct. That may have been my problem as I sometimes squeeze reading in when I am a little tired.

I recommend this book to all with the caveats that I have mentioned before. Because of the violence and the weird romance scene it would not be suitable for children. If you like a little science and fantasy mixed together, this would be worth your time.

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Review: Claus (Rise of the Miser): A Science Fiction Adventure

Claus (Rise of the Miser): A Science Fiction Adventure by Tony Bertauski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I received an advanced copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.

This book is a stand alone book but it is part of a series. Many times series books like this have to bring you up to speed about the characters. Since I do not have the others in the series I was a little concerned about information not being there I needed. I need not have worried. If the up to speed stuff was there it was not noticeable. Everything was quite clear.

In this book we focus on a young girl and her father who have been called away to a special project. Away from their home in Alaska to a warm caribbean climate in the days before Christmas. In this special resort, they appear to be the only guest. The girl finds a young boy in a room that he cannot leave. Why he cannot and what it means is a mystery she needs to solve.

Meanwhile, while Santa is out on a dry run, he is kidnapped by a mysterious woman in a cloak that seems to glow with heat. Santa needs to get back to the North Pole in time for Christmas or Christmas will not happen.

The author does a good job of bringing all the elements together. The story has a good flow to it and things happen for a reason, not just to fill pages.

I recommend this book for all ages, though I am sure that younger children would not get much out of it. It is an entertaining story about how the elves, and Santa came about, why a woman would want to end Christmas (or does she) and what a family truly can be. Pick it up for some holiday science fiction.

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Review: Reborn

Reborn by Dean C. Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I have received an ARC copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.

In Reborn, we have a story of wizards and science combined, along with spiritualism. Our main character, Soren, is a man who has used technology to enhance himself so that he can fight the evils that are being released on the city of Syracuse, NY by Victor, the protagonist. Victor seems to see the math patterns in everything, and uses this to unleash beings from an alternate universe. When Victor gets in over his head, the statement the enemy of my enemy is my friend comes into play.

Along with these two 'wizards', we have various other superheros that take control of the things that Victor is letting loose. Four of these come under the wing of Soren as he tries to mentor them. All have their moment when the end of the world seems to be here.

The book starts off with action at the very start and there is very little 'quiet time' but we do have a continuous series of character development taking place. I felt there was a lot of 'new age' philosophy in the story. If this was on purpose or just the nature of how the story takes place, I do not know. I mention this because some people would react to this in reading and not like it. I do not mind it, it is part of the story and I can read around it even though I do not have new age beliefs.

There is one brief sexual encounter done in a tasteful way. There are a few amount of cuss words but they take place in the flow of the story and do not appear to be done in a way to shock a person.

This is a story that does have a distinct ending, but it is a set up for book 2 of the series with a small cliff hanger.

I can recommend this book to people from older teens and up. There was one chapter which appeared to be a stream of consciousness part of the story. Some of the images in that section could be a little to much for younger children. I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading book two.



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Review: The Sacred Symbol: A Historical Conspiracy Mystery Thriller

The Sacred Symbol: A Historical Conspiracy Mystery Thriller by Paula Wynne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I had the pleasure of reading this book for Ms Wayne as she sought out help for making sure the technical things are accurate. It was a pleasure to read it and I look forward to reading it again.

The author has blended the past and the current day in two stories that intermingle with each other. What has happened is directly reflected to what is happening now.

A grotto from the past holds secrets of healing properties. There are men who would kill to get to the secret of that grotto. One of them wants not only access to the grotto, but access to the private papers that he believe are hidden their, ones that Christopher Columbus wrote.
In the past, a young girl knows of a threat to Columbus and wants to try to warn him but how can she seek an audience with him.

The book kept me turning the pages to want to know what was coming next. I would recommend it for all ages though I am sure that most younger children would not have any interest in it. If you like stories that have a lot of suspense to them, then this would be for you.

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Review: Walk Like a Warrior: Inspirational True Stories of God's Encouragement on the Trail Less-Traveled

Walk Like a Warrior: Inspirational True Stories of God's Encouragement on the Trail Less-Traveled by Shara Bueler-Repka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

I received a free copy of this book from the website Interviews and Reviews and the author. What follows is an honest review.

Devotional books like this can be a mixed bag. Some can be so deep and spiritual that they are hard to understand. Others can be so light and fluffy you wonder what message they were trying to get across, though you find it entertaining. This author seems to give us the middle ground. Theology that seems to be balanced and understandable as well as real stories from her life and some of the people she knows.

Each chapter is a detail part of her life and the lessons that God has taught her, or reminded her of. They revolve around a part of her life or a series of events that are tied together. In each one, God provides for what she needs. The stories are not chronological, but I have noticed that they seem to get a little deeper in the inspiration it teaches.

All age groups could be able to read this and I would recommend for those who have a love of the outdoors and of horses.

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Review: Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances

Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances by Kimberly L. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
What an amazing story about an amazing woman. It opens with a suburban housewife and ends with a woman that is broken and ready to be used by God.

Kimberly Smith has written of her life and her attempt to rescue the children of a country torn by war. But she is not only trying to keep the children safe but minister to the people of the area. What she went through without the aid of her husband, who had diabetes and had to remain home as it got worse, becomes a secret that she cannot tell others, not even her husband. Secrets, however, lead you further into darkness.

I would recommend this book to older teens through adult. There is one sequence that is rather strong in describing an evil act. There is also much death in the book that I feel that children and young teens would not be able to process very well.

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Review: Mars Now: Mars Journey: Book 4: A SciFi Thriller Series

Mars Now: Mars Journey: Book 4: A SciFi Thriller Series by Bill Hargenrader
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I received a review copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.

This is the most recent of the Mars Now series of book. While each book stands alone and tells its own story, as a set they tell a much bigger story. Each book has a progression of its own story. When you go on to the next book, we often start back at the beginning again. It has been my one frustration with the series but I understand why it is being done.

This volume focuses more on The Mars Now competition. This competition is how the Mars Now organization is funding it's way on to the flight to Mars, and the ability to set people down on Mars itself. Our hero Bill has one way of thinking of how it is to be done, the producer of the reality TV show has another. Think of Survivor crossed with Big Brother and you get the idea.

It is an enjoyable read and I would say that it is safe for all readers to read.
I would recommend to all who enjoy a bit of Sci-Fi,


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Review: Miracle Declutter: Tidying up to Improve and Organize Your Life

Miracle Declutter: Tidying up to Improve and Organize Your Life by Dave Bracco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes. What follows is a honest review.

Decluttering a home is more than just doing the physical tasks. If it was, then there would be no problem with doing it. Most of the reason that people clutter has to do with things that go back to childhood. This book attacks both parts of the cluttering puzzle. It works with the nuts and bolts of organization first. Later in the book it helps with understanding why you clutter and changing your mind set. The author also is not shy about saying that some cluttering may be cause by a medical disorder. For that professional help may be needed.

It is good that this book focuses on them both. Changing the area you live in without changing the mind is not going to help as old habits will return. Changing the other way will not work as you are not changing the world around you.

I would have no problem with suggesting this book to people who have a need to declutter they way that they live.

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Review: After/Life: Denial: A Paranormal Ghost Romance

After/Life: Denial: A Paranormal Ghost Romance by Scarlett Whispers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

This book is the part of a series. Based on the preview of the next book I have a feeling that each book name will be dealing with the different stages of grief. While the story is complete in itself it leaves enough threads hanging that you know another one was coming even before the preview was shown.
Molly and Sam are sweethearts, she is tough as nails and he is gentle and firm. Molly is a cop and Sam handles the evidence. No one understands why they are together but they are. Molly and partner are after the big drug lord in town and will stop at nothing to get him. Much more of the story would be giving spoilers, so that is not something I will do, though reading the description you know someone dies.

After death, what is there? I am not sure if the author is going after the karma theory of Buddha or the purgatory theory of the Catholic Church. It is not what I believe happens after death but it does make for an interesting read. All those little things you did that hurt someone, how do you make up for them in the afterlife.

Small amount of sexual activity (not in detail) would not make this book safe for children. If you are into serial stories than this book could be for you. I dropped a star because I am not one in favor of serial reads. As I said, this has an ending to it but to me not a satisfying one.


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Review: Flowers Vs. Zombies (Book 6) Native

Flowers Vs. Zombies (Book 6) Native by Perrin Briar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

I received an ARC copy. What follows is an honest review.

Like the other books in the Flowers vs. Zombies this book can stand alone but leaves hooks into the next book in the series. This makes reading it a little more enjoyable than books that just end in the middle of things.

There are basically four storylines going on at the same time. While that can seem to be a little crowded, each part of the story gets the amount of time needed.

Main story is that of the Flower's family and their struggles to help someone who has come to them and their fight against pirates. While there are some zombies in the story, they are not the protagonist here like they have been in previous books.

Storyline is understandable but you do have to pay attention. With the multiple story lines going on you may have to go back and read some parts again.

Recommended for all ages. There is a little violence in it. But that is what you will have when you are fighting zombies and/or pirates. If you are into zombies and have read the rest of the books in the series it will appeal to you

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Chocolate With a Side of Murder by Meredith Potts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

I received a copy from Authors XP web site and the author. It was a copy from Audible. What follows is an honest review of the Audio Book.

The audio books take a little longer for me to 'read' shall we say. I have a half hour ride to and from work. In the morning I will listen to my Bible reading plan for the day. In the evening I will listen to what ever book I have in the cue at the moment.

Ms. Potts has started an interesting series here. A barista who likes to solve crimes who happens to have a detective boyfriend. Most of the cozy mysteries I have read follow the same pattern. Heroine, with boyfriend, murder to someone they know, they have to solve. It is a predictable pattern, but it works. If it did not we would not have so many cozy authors out there.

While the pattern is predictable, the story does not have to be. It also has to let you know the clues so you can solve it yourself. It is OK to throw in red herrings but to pull something out of the hat at the last minute is not good. This was a problem here. While the clue that helped solve it was there right from the start of the murder, there was some off camera work that really would have been done by the police already. For that reason I dropped 1/2 star.

The other 1/2 star was because of the various sub stories that were put in the book. They did nothing to advance the story. I feel that they may be used in future Daley Buzz stories in the series. For this story they did nothing to contribute that I could tell.

The reading was pretty good. I did feel once or twice the woman reading it lost track of the character voice she was reading it in, seemingly with the men characters. This really did not distract from the story line.

Being a cozy it is clean. No violence is depicted. So it would be OK for all to read. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a light mystery to read with a little bit of humor thrown in.

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Review: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor

12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
This book is an interesting Christmas story. The story takes place in the time frame that Charles Dickens would have written and has a Dickens feel to it.

While we kind of know how the book will turn out based on the characters focused on, it is interesting to see how we get to that point. Our basic story is told through the eyes of a woman left at the altar and now is destitute due to the fact that her husband to be who has allegedly stolen money from the family business as well as from the man himself, who is in prison. Both of them are invited to a mansion and if they or one of the other guests can stay the 12 days of Christmas, then they will get what they want the most in life. Only one of the group can get it.

What would you do to get what you want the most in life. Would you kill or hurt someone? One by one the residents leave for various reasons. Who will be there in the end?

It is a clean book with just a little bit of a passionate kiss from a couple who were to be married. For that reason it could be recommended for any age. I would have no problems with recommending this to any one who wants a short interesting read. of a Christmas story.

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Review: Flowers Vs. Zombies (Book 5) Buried

Flowers Vs. Zombies (Book 5) Buried by Perrin Briar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I received an ARC version of this book to review and as always, I give an honest review.

Kind of interesting that this was the first book that I read in this series. I was dropped into the middle of a lot of action but it was easy to pick up as we went along.

The name of the book series is obviously a play on Plants vs. Zombies. The Flowers are a family who have had to take up residence on a deserted island because of a zombie outbreak on the ship they were on. While the Zombies are brainless and cannot easily fight, that changes one day when they seem to fight with a logic. What has happened. One Zombie has mutated and become (cue the dramatic music) The Overlord in Black.

The Overlord wants the Flowers dead, and that is the substance of the book. It is believable in the actions that are being taken.

Zombie books are not what I would recommend to children but I think teens and adults would be OK. There is a little bit of violence (you got to kill the zombies you know). If you like Zombie stories this is for you. It is not my normal tastes but that is OK.

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Review: Nancy Drew And The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie #1

Nancy Drew And The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie #1 by Anthony Del Col
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Diamond Book Distributors/Dynamite Entertainment and am providing an honest review.

When I was a child, back in the 60's I was introduced to the Hardy Boys books. Every month I would get the next one in the series. I fell in love with both mysteries and reading with those books. Never did read any Nancy Drew, those were for girls. After I had read a few my dad told me that he had read them growing up. That confused me because they talked about all sorts of modern things that would never be in existence when he was a child. I found out later that every generation had their version of the Hardy Boys written under the same pen name. And since Nancy Drew was from the same publisher, it was safe to assume that her books were the same.

I say all that because every generation did have their own version. I have read people say this was a bad mashup because it took something from the past and brought it current. I have no problems with that at all. This generation needs its own version and something that will appeal to it.

Trust me, this is not the Hardy Boys I grew up with. While they had a little grit in them, this is GRITTY. It is done in a noir style. While the three have cell phones and the like, it has a feel of a much different type. If you were to watch Rverdale on CW TV network, you would have the same feel.

Basic story line. The Boys are being framed for the murder of their dad, who everyone assumes was a crooked cop. The boys know they are not guilty and that their dad was not crooked or committed suicide. They team up with Nancy Drew, who is visiting with her dad, a district judge. Everyone, even our main characters, seem to have secrets that they do not want let out. Fun point, look for the side characters in this book. Clever winks and nods to our childhood stories.

Teens would be the lowest age that I would suggest this book for. I would recommend this to any one that enjoys graphic novels. I know some people would conciser 'comics' are not real writing, I would differ. Great read, will be looking for the others.


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Review: Dancing with Elephants: Mindfulness Training For Those Living With Dementia, Chronic Illness or an Aging Brain

Dancing with Elephants: Mindfulness Training For Those Living With Dementia, Chronic Illness or an Aging Brain by Jarem Sawatsky

Available at Amazon

 My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.

The author has Huntington's disease. As the disease progresses in a human body the person loses control over their movements. Some have likened the lack of control to that of an elephant dancing, hence we have the name of the book.

When faced with a disease like Huntington's of which there is no cure, one has to decide what they will do with their life and what remains. Many will try to fight it, some, like the author will embrace it. This does not mean they will not hold on to every bit of life they can, but that they will live a life where there will not be a lot of drama. Decisions will be made before they need to be, arrangements made that need to be done. That is the thrust of this book.

One needs to get support not just for the person, but to their love ones as well. In this book, the author suggests making circles of people from all walks of life, that can treat each part of you, not just the medical ones the doctors can.

It is a well written book. I would recommend it to any going through a terminal illness, of their own or a loved one. I also found many inspirational moments in the book as well. While I have cancer, it is a slow moving one so I do not have the same trauma that many do. Still I think many just going through life could gain from this as well.




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Review: Eggs over Arsenic: A 19th Century Historical Murder Mystery

Eggs over Arsenic: A 19th Century Historical Murder Mystery by Clay Boutwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Clay Boutwell has done another good job with the interesting mystery in this classic who done it.

An art critic is murder. Only one way to get to the poison to killed him. On top of that a house full of suspects, many who had the motive, others had the means. As Carl Brooke (a Sherlock Holmes type) and Captain Barnwell (policeman investigating) try to find out the person who did the murder, the ones most likely to may not be the one who did it.

Keeps you guessing until the end but go back and read it and the clues are there.

Other than the murder, it is safe to read for all age groups. Even the murder is just talked about not seen.

Recommended for people who want a good quick mystery to read.

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Review: Child of Mars

Child of Mars by D.M. Pruden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I was provided an ARC copy for review. What follows is an honest review.

Child of Mars is the third in the Mars Ascendant series. Unlike many 'series' books this is not one that you need to have read the others in the series. I can say that because I have not read them. This provides the reader with the information they need as they needed it and weaves it into the story with skill.

At the begining of the book, we seem to be looking at three different stories. However, as time goes on, we see where each part merges into the other. We have a little girl being rescued, why we do not know. We have a doctor running her routes on the planet Mars to help the people. While this is all going on we are allowed to look into the dictator of Mars.

All the characters are given their moment to shine though in the bad guys stories, shine might not be the proper word. But each tells the story from their point of view and the stories all weave together. Each character also stays true to themselves as the move through the story.

The plot of the rescue and trying to get the little girl away from her captors along with the doctor, who is actually the reason Mars can be inhabited, is one that held my interest. I am encouraged to go back and read the previous books now.

I recommend this book to any one that has an interest in science fiction. There is enough blood and violence that I would not encourage children to read it. Most adults would be able to handle what happens as the story progresses.

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