Midnight on Death Row by Mark Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jonas Calver, an attorney, has a brief encounter with a young woman one night. He buys a drink, and they talk. She has a father on death row. They seperate and go their ways, till one night she calls him for help and then never shows up where they agree to meet.
Jonas in now on a journey to find her, and in the process to help to clear her father's name.

While the book was overall interesting it got bogged down in my opinion, in the politics of why things were happening. The big corporate banks are the problem, spend a chapter in the history of them and why they are the problem. This happens a few times and I felt like I was captive to the lessons being taught because something being said might be important to the story, but in the end it was not.

Not recommended for young readers. There is a lot of graphic violence in the story and some nudity (though not graphic). Also, a fair amount of in character racial slurs.

You know the end, but how we get there is interesting.

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Pineapple Hurricane: A Pineapple Port Mystery: Book Eleven by Amy Vansant

Pineapple Hurricane: A Pineapple Port Mystery: Book Eleven by Amy Vansant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just when you thought they could not fit another character in this series, Amy V. goes ahead and does it.

An early hurricane is approaching Florida. The snow birds have not left yet. The food is being horded, and someone is getting back at them. Meanwhile, some hoarders are dying as they prepare their houses for the storm. They look like accidents but....

Charlotte and the gang have to figure out who is doing these things only to find out they are the targets. Can she do it before the storm is over, or even before she is killed.

Implied violence but none 'on screen'. Clean story. Safe read for all. If you have not read earlier books in the series you might want to pick one up. You can keep up without too much trouble though.

I did receive an ARC. This is an honest review.

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Rhea's Vault by D.M. Pruden

Rhea's Vault by D.M. Pruden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rhea's Vault is the 3rd in a series that tells the story of Doctor Melanie Destin. We know of the doctor from the Mars Ascendant series where she gains the nickname Mother of Mars. That is probably my biggest nit to pick in reading this series. I know Mel has to live to take on another day (unless Mr. Pruden has a clone of her in the wings), so I know she has to survive the death traps she is in, it is just how she is going to do it.

Dr. Mel is the ships doctor on the Requiem space freighter. Should be a quiet and simple job. In other books in the series she takes on a run away and tries to help her of some nanites that have taken over her system who later gets a more lethal concoction. Now she is working for an agent of the Mars secret police who says he knows where the cure is, it is Rhea's Vault, a vault held by the Jovian collective, a group of 5 families who rule a great deal of space.

Her Mars connection insist the cure is there, but the vault is so secure that a small piece of space dust will be burned up before it gets close. What chance will Mel and here associates have to get in.

That is where the excitement comes in.

A word of warning. Mel has a potty mouth. I understand the need to have a character act like that however I do feel the author uses the F-bomb as a shock value. For me, it is not shocking anymore and gets in the way of a good story that it has to be used. Also there is an incident of sexual encounter off screen that gets referenced throughout the rest of the book. For that reason if you are a parent of a YA reader you might want to check the book out before you let your child read it.

Good story, good action, kept my interest, I recommend it.

I did receive an ARC of this book but this is an honest review.

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Into The Black by Beth Barany

Into The Black by Beth Barany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beth Barney is an author who writes strong characters who are woman. If that bothers you, sorry. She does it, and she does it well. By the way, the men in the stories are strong, they are just not the lead chatterers.

Into the Black is the first in the series of books staring the character Janey McCallister. Janey is the leas investigator of a glamours hotel, gambling, spa in the sky. And on her shift a robbery has taken place of a very valuable jewel. As she tries to investigate, she is bothered by a mysterious insurance investigator who seems to show up before she does. Forced to work together by her boss there is some heat flowing. They find the thief but then another even changes everything.
Through all of this, Janey has to face her fears. And that may be the hardest part of all.

While there is a little bit of kissing going on I would consider the book safe for YA and above. Great book that keeps you guessing what will come next and makes sure you have the info to figure it out.

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Phobos Station by D.M. Pruden

Phobos Station by D.M. Pruden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Phobos Station was provided to me by the author. What follows is an original opinion.

This book picks up where Armstrong Station leaves off. Having read that book will help, but everything you need to know is provided in the story.

In our future, man has gone to the stars, but he has not changed. While many are team players, there are many who would not think twice about injecting you with nanites that need to be fed to keep them from killing you, all so that you can be controlled. The good people seem to be better, and the evil people worse.

Melanie Destin comes into the situation trying to save a young woman who has the nanites in her, ones she was injected with so that she would be forced into prostitution. She will come face to face with the person behind this, one of the most evil men she has ever met. She will also learn what it means to be a team player, and what family means.

My only problem is Mel is the future star of the 'Mother of Mars' series. Because of that we can assume she will survive. It is kind of like watching Star Wars I, II, and III. We know Anakin is going to live, it is just how is he going to turn. Still, it does have its moments where we think maybe we got it wrong.

There is marginal violence in the book, the amount needed to move a story along. Mel also seems to have a bit of a potty mouth dropping the f bomb a lot. I see it as necessary character essential but she does seem to do a lot less of it in future stories of her. Maybe it is where she is at in this time of life. I think the author may have cleaned things up a bit. For those two reasons, I can not recommend this for pre-teens and on the age of YA readers. Still the story is good, and has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing who all the players are.

Bottom line, the future is dangerous, and Mel is there to help.

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Time Slips & Tax Thieves by Rachel Ford

Time Slips & Tax Thieves by Rachel Ford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided a review copy, the review is an honest review.

Time travel stories have always been my favorite, as far back as I was a child growing up in the 60s. So when I get a chance to read one I will always try to. I had not looked at the previous stories in this series so I did not know there was a history of the characters..

The story starts off fairly slow, on a camping trip of all things. The time travel device does not show up till a few chapters in, and that got me near the point of giving up on it. That and the narration. He stops at the end of every paragraph for almost 2 full seconds. If you have a chance, speed it up to about 1.4 speed, you will thank me. I did not do that thill about 1/2 way through. But the slow pace and slow reading was not a great thing.

It was interesting in a time travel story that it was more a philosophical discussion on things like soul mates, is taxing good or bad, addiction, and the multiverse. Yet, in this story they all seem to fit.

Overall, it is a good clean story, with an engaging story line. I would recommend it to all.

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Rethinking Sexuality: God's Design and Why It Matters

Rethinking Sexuality: God's Design and Why It Matters by Juli Slattery


Because of a life situation I am in, I wanted to read this book. I have family embracing the LGBT community. I work at a retail store on weekends and many of my co-workers (and customers) are open about their sexuality. As a Christian, what stance should I take on these things. That was why I requested and received the review copy from NetGalley.

The book starts with what Christian Sexuality is. In that part I did not find anything new to me. I am there and though I struggle with it from time to time, I follow the 'rules'.

Then about half way through the book, she talks about interaction with the LGBT community at large. Her story of a mother of a gay girl who struggled with her talks about what I am going through. We can be all truth and lose the person, or all grace and lose ourselves. In the place of either or, we need to do both. Love the person, accept them for who they are and try to open dialogue. On the other hand, we need to not throw away our faith just because.

Another key point is what we need to do and how to address it. One awkward sermon a year is not enough if we want to not lose our children, our ourselves to an open lifestyle.We have to know for ourselves what Spiritual Purity is. If we do not know what the Bible does say, how can we hope to help anyone.

A little dry for the average reader. A good book for Bible Study groups (has questions in the back). I would recommend it for people who need a glance into this subject.

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Humbug: The Unwinding of Ebenezer Scrooge by Tony Bertauski

Humbug: The Unwinding of Ebenezer Scrooge by Tony Bertauski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of A Christmas Carol. I fell in love with it when I was a child and Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol was first on TV. It is my one tradition at the Christmas season. I have seen many versions and read the original many times.

If you are a purist, this is not the version you want to read. While Scrooge is the usual humbug and Marley is dead, and we have ghost of Christmas's past, present and future, that is where the similarities end. Scrooge and Marley founded a software startup called Avocado Industries, yes, you can sub Apple in there if you want to. Marley passes on Christmas Eve and Scrooge's problems start.

As I listened to the audio version, mostly while I was driving, there was a little bit of time lag between the listening that cause a bit of confusion but that is my problem, not the author.

I did feel the story dragged on a little too much at times, that might be because of the listening and not reading. I is hard to say.

Give it a listen (or read). No sex, violence (well a doll gets ripped apart), or anything of an 'adult' nature. Clean for all to read.


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The 1922 Club Murder by Stacy M. Jones

The 1922 Club Murder by Stacy M. Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clean story of Riley Sullivan and her trek south to Little Rock, Arkansas. She meets up with online love who is married (unknown to her) and goes on with her life. She gets a job as a Crime Beat Reporter for a local newspaper. Co-incidentally, her boyfriend is a detective with the Little Rock police so they often trade clues with each other.

In this story, there is a crime at the 1922 Club, a club that uses a old bootlegger mansion as a private supper club. One day the chef of the club is murdered and Riley needs to find the killer to get a scoop for the paper.

Story is good, but about halfway through a sub plot that has nothing to do with the main story starts, and it is distracting to the story at hand. Since this is a prequel and I have not read the ones that follow, this may be a set up for the books that are to come. Still, it did nothing for the plot of solving the mystery.
Clean cozy type of mystery that can be read by all.



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In The Shadow Of The Past: A Prague Crime Novel by P a Wilson

In The Shadow Of The Past: A Prague Crime Novel by P a Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sharka is in a new city in a new country, trying to get away from a past that threatens her. Her former boss, holding fake evidence on her killing someone, needs her help. His daughter, Rio, has been kidnapped ad he only trust Sharka to handle the job. Shakara does not want it, but Jack insists and pays her well. Teaming up with a local man by the name of Radim (who always seems to have a friend that can help) she uncovers the mystery of why Rio was kidnapped and why Jack wants her at any cost.
Good thought out characters and well developed plot make this a great story to read. A little violent for younger readers. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I received an ARC of this book. This is an honest revew.

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THE PORT FEE: A Storm Ketchum Adventure by Garrett Dennis

THE PORT FEE: A Storm Ketchum Adventure by Garrett Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mr. Dennis once again weaves a tale of suspense. Storm 'Ketch' Ketchum is once more donning his mystery cap to see what is going on. Along for the ride is his ever growing list of friends. But when his girlfriend lies in a coma from his investigation and his grandson is kidnapped by meddling, there is no good that can gome of this.
My review is based on the Audible copy of the book. Contains small violence so not recommended for preteens and below.

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Always On (Theology for the Life of the World): Practicing Faith in a New Media Landscape by Angela Williams Gorrell

Always On (Theology for the Life of the World): Practicing Faith in a New Media Landscape by Angela Williams Gorrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book reads like a paper that was written for graduate school. That is not bad. Just a warning if you are expecting something a little lighter in non-fiction. The author gives examples from life, hers and the public in general. Of the good and the bad of being always on in every day life. Recommend it if you do not mind scholarly tone.

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Healing to Prosperity: Restoration Through God’s Way by Alex Young

Healing to Prosperity: Restoration Through God’s Way by Alex Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Healing for the broken

Healing to Prosperity

Dr. Alex Young has woven a story about a woman named Charity with her own story in this book about emotional healing. If you decide to read this book, consider them to be the same person. It is one of the confusing parts of the book, and you can thank me later.
All of us have moments in our life that cause pain. A few people have incident after incident. Or maybe are stuck in an abusive relationship. This book is for those people. If you are not then read it to help a friend who is broken.
It is a guide book. Steps are given to help you to recover from your normal to s true normal. My only problem with this book is the focus on helping woman. The author acknowledges this fact. I can understand to some degree but it still is a shortcoming of the book and in a future edition she may try to bring in some extra chapters for men. I recommend for most everyone.



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Sing Me To Heaven by Emily A Combs

Sing Me To Heaven by Emily A Combs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What is a simple formula turns in to an informative read. Each hymn is assigned a category. The story of that hymn, both how it is written and how it helped the writer are told. The faith that is displayed by the author is amazing and I only hope that I can be that faithful to God.
Safe for all to read, and to me it was enjoyable.

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#MURDER: A Suspense Thriller Short Story by William Oday

#MURDER: A Suspense Thriller Short Story by William Oday
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Short story from the author that I got as a gift for being on his mailing list.

Rachel is your typical stereotype of the current generation, got to get the right hashtag for the image being posted (hence the title). Her parents want an adventure that they thought would be fun, so they travel to a mountain lodge. What follows next is scary as one by one, the people in the lodge start diapering and blood is found.
You will have to read it to see what happens next.
Some scary scenes so it might be good to keep the kids and pre-teens away from this one. Otherwise, fun short read.

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The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker

The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker


I really was interested in this book as I had read books by the co-author, Ted Decker, though not by Rachelle Decker the other author. Was the book good, in its own way, yes. It however was not what I have come to expect from Mr. Decker. In fact, his style is no where near evident. I am curious how much of this he authored.

First up, I am not a politically correct person, but the 'girl' in the title is a bit misleading. When we first meet her, Grace is a child, but that lasts a chapter. After that she is a grown woman. She is 'married' and pregnant. The title should reflect that, but that is a minor point.

Is the book good, in it's own way, but it is not what I would call a never put it down book. In fact I put it down often. The characters appeared to be stereotypical caricatures of Christianity. The questioning person, Grace, our hero, is right to question all that is going on. Her brother starts that way but ends up not questioning. The rest of the people, both seen and unseen, are representations of where many people are in their faith. I was waiting for the Jesus figure to appear, and I was not disappointed. The only surprise was who it was. That was not a big one for me, as I saw no other reason to create this one person for the story. The whole thing was a bit predictable. That may be why I did not enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

The story was meant as an allegory, like maybe, C.S. Lewis's books. So many people may enjoy it if they are of the questioning mind about being a follower of Christ. That and the message that love will cast out fear are the two things that give this book the rating I gave it.

Christian book, no sex scenes. Violence, there is a taking of a life but done in a non-violent way, though I would be hesitant to let young people read it, your millage may vary. Fans of Decker may or may not like it.

I received and e-copy of the book through Net Stacks, the publisher and the Interviews and Reviews web site. This has been an honest review.

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The Universe Builders: Bernie and the Time Lords: humorous epic fantasy / science fiction adventure by Steve LeBel

The Universe Builders: Bernie and the Time Lords: humorous epic fantasy / science fiction adventure by Steve LeBel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received and advance (Beta) copy of this book, what follows is an honest review.
Bernie is a god on a planet full of gods. The gods do not work, they let the people on planets they create make the products they need to sell. Now, there are some who work, they are the people who create these worlds, not all gods can. All his life Bernie wanted to be a universe builder and just by mistakes of his rival in earlier books, he lucks into the job. Bernie has something that the other builders do not have. When a universe stops working, the gods blink the population of the universe out of existence and start again, not a cheep undertaking. Bernie is in the repair area and is always under pressure from his boss to 'blink them' fix what cause it and move on. His conscious will not let him kill the people of the worlds.
In previous stories, Bernie has done well with saving the universes, but this new one is a problem. Every time he works on fixing the problem, when he comes back, things have changed drastically as if someone else was messing with this world. Who could it be, and why? No one else has access to it. While back on his home world Bernie along with Suzie and Lenny run into another mystery to be solved.

If you enjoy a good sci-fi time travel book then this is one to look into. It is designated as YA for young adult, but this 66 year old enjoyed it. It is clean fun. Nothing for you to keep the kids from reading and I am sure most would identify with lovable Bernie.

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Kaine's Reparation by D.M. Pruden

Kaine's Reparation by D.M. Pruden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided a copy of the book by the author. What follows in an honest review.

I have read other books in the D. M. Pruden library. I had not read the previous ones in this series. While there are some holes in my reading of the book, they are filled in interestingly by the author for what I need to know.

Kaine, in a previous story, had a choice to let an evil hoard of aliens attack or destroy the jump gates holding society together. In this book, he deals with the aftermath of his decision. While they have slowed the horde down, they have not stopped it, and it is slowly inching it's way across the galaxy and to earth as we know it.

There is word of an alien weapon that could stop this advance, but the crew of the ship Scimitar must find a way to find the parts needed and join them with the parts on earth to put the weapon together back. Is the weapon going to doom them, or is it going to help them.

The situation on earth is chaos. Political government of earth is in a shambles. One side wants to put the weapon together and the other side has it.

I enjoyed the book. It held my interest well. There were enough places where what I thought would happen logically next, did not, but it was not out of the 'pull a rabbit out of a hat' type of thing.

I recommend to all who like a good science fiction story. Nothing to hide from the kids in this one.

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Dark Unicorn: A Unicorn Shifter Novel by Taylor Haiden

Dark Unicorn: A Unicorn Shifter Novel by Taylor Haiden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wanted to give this 4.5 stars. I hate cliffhanger endings. I had read a beta copy of this book and would have dropped it to 4 if that ending had been in place. The ending ends with a mile cliffhanger but all story lines have been wrapped up sufficiently.

So the basic story. Boy (Thackery) loves girl (Wren). She likes him. Wren being the princess she is, does not want to get married just to please her father the king. By the way, as the story opens, her (evil) brother has stolen the heart shaped rock that provides her family and the kingdom with magic. Without it the kingdom will fall to chaos. The king sends Wren to recover the stone at any price (yes, kill her brother). He also orders Thackery to go with her and he still loves her.
As their magic is fading they head off through a magical woods and somehow make it through. They know a rumor that says there is a magical creature in a town, a unicorn, who can help them recover the stone, at a price, he wants his horn back and the stone and the horn are at the same place. So off they go, an interesting love triangle. Wren loves the unicorn (Calen), Calen loves any woman but more he loves himself, and Thackery loves Wren. (Yes you may need a scorecard to keep up with all of this).

The rest of the story and attempting to retrieve the stone is the meat of the book and I will leave that to you. Somehow they are able to ward off magic attacks to get to the stone and horn. What happens next is what you need to read.

While I enjoyed the book I recommend the book, I would advise there is almost a sex scene in it, but it does not complete. I say that because Christian friends of mine may not share my views here. You have been warned. Also, the nature of magic could be a problem for some, not sure why because you love Tolkien and Lewis.

Preteen and up. Lots of kissing going on (after all, the unicorn loves any woman he comes in contact with.

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The League of Orbis Novus

The League of Orbis Novus by C.C. Prestel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an e-copy of the book from the author. What follows is my honest opinion.

I have had a philosophical debate with others much like what the author of the book tries to present here. In my debate with friends the idea was that someone comes up with a cure for cancer that has to be put in the water supply so everyone will get it. Do you encourage them to distribute it or say that it is wrong, people have free choice.

In this book Orbis Novus has decided to stop a bigger problem, that being the opiate epidemic in the world. How and why are the mystery here and it plays out across the globe.

The story revolves around Jack, a reporter for a Las Vegas newspaper/web site. He is assigned a fluff piece about internet hoaxes and discovers a group called Orbis Novus who claim the will solve the opiate problem on December 1. He reports on it and other hoaxes and the next thing he knows, he is invited to interview them for a story.

Anything else I might say could spoil it for you. It was a little slow starting, we seem to be randomly introduced to characters that seem to have no bearing on the story and it seems confusing. Especially since the point of view changes from Jack to them. But the groundwork is being set up for the end, and it is a big ending.

Recommend it for anyone who likes a good thriller story. It is clean, thought our hero and his girlfriend do spend the night together there are no graphic descriptions. If this were a movie it would be PG13, mostly for violence. While it is safe for all, young children would not understand and pre-teen and young teens might not understand what the fuss is about.

It was a good book and glad I did not give up on it.


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