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The Brim Reaper (Style & Error Mystery #3)
Diane Vallere

The Sexual Adventures of Time and Space

The Sexual Adventures of Time and Space - Brian Sfinas The Sexual Adventures of Time and Space by Brian Sfinas is a fictional novel about the phenomena of lucid dreaming and is, in no way, related to sexual adventures or erotic material. A group of friends, after becoming addicted to the concept of lucid dreaming, discover a way to medically induce themselves into a coma in order to extend their lucid dreaming. Unfortunately, one night something goes awry and someone dies. Now, the friends must scramble to cover it up.

*Note* - Lucid dreaming is the art of dreaming while being aware that oneself is in a dream state. The dreamer can then consciously explore and control their dream.

Written as a first-person narrative the novel does read quite odd at times. This is not a novel with a traditional story and standard pace; instead it appears to be a journal written by the protagonist, Michael, as he recounts the adventures of himself and friends as they experiment with the concept of lucid dreaming. The tone is very conversational and it does feel as though the reader is peering into a private diary as opposed to reading a novel that is depicting a story that was actually intended to be told. It’s a unique writing style but one that works for this particular tale. The erratic nature of the writing, the quick and choppy sentence structure. The lack of flow and continuity. In any other novel it would feel disjointed and cold but in The Sexual Adventures of Time and Space, it works. It’s the voice of the character and it allows the reader a glimpse into his psyche and nature.

Michael, the protagonist and author of the journal, is a well-developed and intriguing character. Readers are given great insight into him as the thoughts, feelings, fears, doubts, curiosity expressed throughout the novel belong to him and are therefore fully exposed. The remaining characters in the novel are not quite as fully described and therefore feel like only shadows of their true selves. They are not as completely developed as they could have been although they are still likable (for the most part). Michael feels mostly disassociated from the others and never expresses a truly believable emotional reaction to any of the characters or the events that unfold. He is logical and curious, obsessed with the idea of lucid dreaming opposed to the actual impact of the lucid dreaming and the induced coma-state on his friends. All of the characters do add dimension to the story but they do not feel fully composed.

Overall, it’s a very unique book and an original concept although, for a book based on the idea of lucid dreaming, there is very little in the novel that actually takes place within the dreamscape. The novel is highly imaginative and Sfinas does a wonderful job of creating tension and intrigue within a book that really doesn’t lend itself to mystery. It’s a fascinating story and one that should be considered. Despite my enjoyment of the book I have to admit that it isn’t a book that would be appreciated or enjoyed by every reader. I recommend that any potential reader take advantage of the option to “Look Inside” on Amazon to preview the first few pages before purchasing.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Daddy Was a Punk Rocker - Adam Sharp Daddy Was a Punk Rocker is a memoir of a little boy’s anguished heartbreak over the father he never had. Adam wanted a conventional father – one who would sing lullabies, shoot soccer balls and provide for his family. Instead, Adam’s father sang on stage, shoot heroin and rebel against society. Adam’s life begins in tragedy born to a mother who never wanted him and a father who was never present. He is a lost little boy who is forced to grow up without a parent’s love or devoted attention. He is a little boy who tries so hard to be perfect in an attempt to earn his mother’s love and his father’s attention. Daddy Was a Punk Rocker is heartbreaking yet heartwarming; it is depressing yet inspiring; it is a must-read.

The “characters” in this memoir, Adam’s family, are flawed; flawed well beyond what most readers will be able to truly identified with but the feeling of feeling of being “not quite good enough” is quite relatable. At some point in their lives most people have felt like they can’t live up to the expectations placed upon them by family, friends, teachers, bosses, etc. Adam’s hurt comes from being born to a heroin-addicted mother who never wanted to be pregnant, by an absent father who always promised to be there for him and yet never was and other relatives who were never really fully present. Adam’s feeling of self-doubt and personal worthlessness led him off on a journey that has included living in at least 9 locations throughout Europe, Australia, various Islands, Mexico and the United States. He has held over 30 jobs including coaching sports, a waiter in a casino, and a stilt-walker. He has lived a life of searching for affirmation that, at some point, he has become good enough.

Does Adam ever reach a point where he feels good enough? Can anyone ever truly heal from a childhood and life of loneliness and neglect? Daddy Was a Punk Rocker does include some heartwarming stories and tender moments. Adam works a few highly unique jobs, meets and marries a lovely woman named Lee and becomes a world traveler. Can this happiness last? You have to read the book to find out where Adam’s life journey is now. It is a challenging book and it isn't a book for everyone. It will evoke powerful emotions from a reader and may turn off some people. It's probably not a book for sensitive readers but it's certainly a book worth giving a chance.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Shine: How to Walk the Talk

Shine: How to Walk the Talk - Nancy Segovia Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16

The Bible tells us we need to “shine before men,” but what does this mean and how do we do it? This is the question that Nancy Segovia addresses in her brief inspirational novella, “Shine: How to Walk the Talk.” At 100 pages, this little book brings the questions and challenges of living a life of devoted faith to the everyman reader. Written from the first-person POV, Shine is a conversational book between author and reader as Segovia uses parables, folk tales and personal stories to examine scripture and inspire faith.

Segovia has a very clear and deep understanding of God’s love and how to go about developing and strengthening a relationship with Him. The book opens with what should be a very simple prompt, to “share our thoughts about Jesus, about whom we believed Him to be.” This was the prompt Segovia’s pastor offered one Sunday and she challenges readers to consider the same. Is He your savior? Redeemer? What about your friend? Confidante? Teacher? Segovia brings this relationship down to a simple form, to perceive Jesus as a friend who will never hurt you, fail you, or desert you. The rest of the book then focuses on how to share the depth of that friendship with the world by “walking the talk” and letting your light shine before men.

Shine: How to Walk the Talk will appeal to all readers regardless of where they are in their relationship with the Lord. Segovia examines scriptures and then applies these verses to everyday life. The lessons are simple and relatable. The end of each chapter provides a little prayer that applies to the lesson and associates the new understanding to behavior. Anyone interested in growing their faith and drawing closer to God will enjoy this short little inspirational book.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Extreme Unction

Extreme Unction - J. David Core Extreme Unction by JD Core is a mystery novel that tackles the legality of assisted suicide or euthanasia. Using religion as the backdrop for this ethical dilemma, Core weaves a mystery that attempts to solve the question, “Did Father Coneely use poisoned oil during the last rites to kill an already very sick man?” As a secondary mystery, why won’t Lupa Schwartz grant reporter Cattleya “Cat” Hoskin an interview? Cat’s father once worked for Lupa’s grandfather, who was a master detective. Lupa, now a great detective in his own right, has never shied away from media press so why won’t he grant Cat the interview she requests? Cat agrees to report on the investigation into the poisoned anointment oil death but that doesn’t mean that she’s willing to drop her demand for an interview with Schwartz. The two stories are deeply interwoven throughout the novel and provide an enticing mystery.

The mystery itself was curious and thought-provoking. When a sick Catholic man is hospitalized his family calls Father Coneely to administer Last Rites, just in case. After the man passes away it is discovered that the anointing oil had been poisoned! Father Coneely becomes the primary suspect not only because he administered the anointing oil but also because he was a vocal supporter of euthanasia and, just the previous night, had mentioned in conversation that he could euthanize someone by coating his fingers with candle wax and using poisoned oil. It doesn’t look so good for the Father but did he do it? Or is the guilty party someone after life insurance money or some other benefit? The idea was creative and compelling. While not as complex as it could have been and a little predictable in parts it still has the makings of a good mystery and, at less than 270 pages, is well worth the day or two it would take to read.

The opening paragraph of Extreme Unction was beautifully descript. It was a description of entering Pittsburgh at night and the beautiful panorama of the city. The words painted a wonderful picture of the city and I was captivated. However, in the very next paragraph the writing shifted and it became a first-person narrative that read similar to a private journal. It was a clumsy transition and I was disappointed in the text that followed. The well-written script from the first paragraph is never recaptured during the rest of the novel. The remainder of the story does not disappoint, it just becomes more heavily focused on content and less on written presentation. There are certainly flaws in the writing as there are grammatical errors, spelling errors and the occasional instance where a word was either omitted or misused. I found that I enjoyed the plot of the story well enough to overlook the errors but they are notable and may frustrate a more detailed reader.

Extreme Unction is neither the most complex of mysteries nor the most beautifully written of novels but it does build a great mystery around a unique concept and involve very eccentric and likable characters. Lupa Schwartz, with his collection of antique cars, very routine schedule, and other oddities is both intriguing and very enjoyable. Cat Hoskin is determined and curious while Father Coneely draws out a reader’s sympathies despite being a likely murderer. It’s a great easy read.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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The Fairest of Them All: A Novel - Carolyn Turgeon The Fairest of Them All is a re-imaging of the classic fairy tale stories of Rapunzel and Snow White. The idea is unique. One fateful evening, Rapunzel has a torrid affair with a handsome prince who happens to be betrothed to another woman. After spending a passionate night together Prince Josef returns to marry his betrothed while Rapunzel stays within her tower with the witch, Mathena. After the mysterious death of his wife Josef, now King, returns to the tower to claim Rapunzel as his new bride thus making her Queen and the step-mother of his young daughter, Snow White. While this novel is full of potential for a unique re-telling of these classic tales both the story and the characters fall flat.

The story idea is the greatest strength of this novel but how much credit can be awarded to a book simply because of a good idea? It is the execution of this idea that must be evaluated and the execution in The Fairest of Them All is poor and lacking. The text immediately reads cold and disconnected. Turgeon desperately wants the reader to connect with a young and optimistic Rapunzel who is joyful and kind. Instead, it feels forced and disingenuous. Prince Josef arrives at the tower seeking the young girl he heard singing and first meets young Rapunzel. Their encounter was supposed to be the first meeting of two destined lovers; two people who were meant to spend their lives together but are star-crossed and will have to overcome major obstacles to be together. The passion wasn’t truly there. Josef appears lecherous and Rapunzel is simply a timid and curious young girl. The “love” story was absent replaced by pure physical desire.

The characters themselves were also poorly developed. Of all of the characters the one that felt the most genuine was Rapunzel herself. She was the one character that was multi-faceted and who truly developed and changed throughout the novel. She reacted with authentic emotion to the events of her life and her actions were understandably motivated, despite being wicked. By contrast, King Josef and Snow White were poorly written. There was little, if any, development beyond what has been depicted in their classic tales. Snow White was perfect simply for the sake of being perfect. There was no development of her character neither was there any explanation for her perfection. It was a battle between a well-written re-imagined Rapunzel and a bland classic Snow White. It didn’t work. The struggle between these two characters would have been better served if Snow White was re-imagined as well and given more dimension than being flawlessly perfect.

Turgeon does take creative license with the story. Her novel does include a few shocking surprises which does at least justify her re-imagining of these classic tales. The Fairest of Them All does have a few dark moments bringing this in line with the tone of a Brother’s Grimm fairy tale, although it still falls short of being a novel. I could have done without the sexual content (both implied and otherwise) as well as the other distasteful content. I struggle with identifying an appropriate audience for the novel as I would never recommend it to a teen due to some of the content yet it reads as far too immature for an adult reader. For anyone interested in a re-imagined fairy tale I would recommend reviewing the works of an author like Gregory Maguire who truly elevates classic tales with his re-imagined stories. Turgeon’s novel, while creative, simply struggles.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Entwined Paths (Book Two of the Landon Saga)

Entwined Paths (Book Two of the Landon Saga) - Tell Cotten It’s 1872 and a reckless band of outlaws has robbed a stagecoach, killed two men and kidnapped an innocent young woman. When word of the tragedy gets back to town the local lawmen, Yancy and Cooper Landon, find themselves (along with two other tag-along’s) in pursuit. In the story that follows Cotton brings the reader deep inside a story of lawmen and outlaws, successfully capturing an authentic feeling of the old west. While Entwined Paths is book #2 of the Landon Family Saga it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. It does reference book #1 but it does not rely upon it. Having missed reading Confessions of a Gunfighter should not prohibit any reader from picking up Entwined Paths although I highly recommend them both to any western novel fan.

Cotton absolutely shines when it comes to developing characters and writing dialogue. These are, by far, the greatest strengths of Entwined Paths. The cast of characters in Entwined Paths consists of some very obvious good guys such as lawmen Yancy and Cooper Landon; there are very obvious bad guys such as Utah “Stew” Baine and Cliff Curtis; then there are guys like Brian Clark and Lee Mattingly that seem to walk a fine line between good or bad depending upon the situation. Cotton deftly develops each character to near perfection and builds a strong emotional connection between character and reader. The minor characters such as Rusty, Clay, Clyde, Ned, Tussle, etc. are all well-written and it is a pleasure to read about their adventures. An admirable quality in Cotton’s writing of Entwined Paths is the depiction of women. It is cliché western writing to write women as meek and burdened by the hard living of the wild west, as a “saloon girl” or working in a whorehouse. Cotton writes both Jessica and Josie as proud and strong women who are able to bravely face the trials that come their way. The dialogue, also, was superb. During every conversation it feels less like reading a book and more as though the reader is eavesdropping on a conversation. The dialect, vocabulary and diction also felt very authentic which helped to develop realism. A common flaw in western fiction is to fall into writing clichéd phrases but Cotton avoids that trap. The characters in Entwined Paths did use words such as “reckon” but it felt genuine instead forced.

The only thing lacking in Entwined Paths was the setting. It is the one area in which Cotton’s writing fell short. The pace, the plot, the characters and the dialogue were all incredible. Entwined Paths prove Cotton’s skill and talent as he wove together a very intricate story that brought characters together, then apart, then together again. Cotton wrote with such meticulous care when developing all aspects of Entwined Paths yet the setting seems to have been overlooked. The physical descriptions of the land, the towns and the camps were all lacking any genuine detail. During the ambush on the mesa the intensity of the scene was there as far as character conflict and emotional investment but it was a challenge to actually picture it. It was the one disappointment with the novel although the other aspects of the novel were so strong it’s easy to overlook.

Entwined Paths is a complex and well-written western fiction. It gives a reader everything they could ever want from a Wild West novel –lawmen, dirty outlaws, stagecoach robberies, kidnappings and shoot-outs. As with Confessions of a Gunfighter, the violence in the novel is limited to gunshots and a few punches. It is not heavily descript with graphic depictions of blood or gore which makes this an acceptable read for teens. Also notable, Entwined Paths is only one chapter of the Landon family saga so do not expect this story to end when you turn the final page. The adventures of this family go well beyond these entwined paths.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Entwined Paths

Entwined Paths (Book two of the Landon Saga) - Tell Cotten It’s 1872 and a reckless band of outlaws has robbed a stagecoach, killed two men and kidnapped an innocent young woman. When word of the tragedy gets back to town the local lawmen, Yancy and Cooper Landon, find themselves (along with two other tag-along’s) in pursuit. In the story that follows Cotton brings the reader deep inside a story of lawmen and outlaws, successfully capturing an authentic feeling of the old west. While Entwined Paths is book #2 of the Landon Family Saga it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. It does reference book #1 but it does not rely upon it. Having missed reading Confessions of a Gunfighter should not prohibit any reader from picking up Entwined Paths although I highly recommend them both to any western novel fan.

Cotton absolutely shines when it comes to developing characters and writing dialogue. These are, by far, the greatest strengths of Entwined Paths. The cast of characters in Entwined Paths consists of some very obvious good guys such as lawmen Yancy and Cooper Landon; there are very obvious bad guys such as Utah “Stew” Baine and Cliff Curtis; then there are guys like Brian Clark and Lee Mattingly that seem to walk a fine line between good or bad depending upon the situation. Cotton deftly develops each character to near perfection and builds a strong emotional connection between character and reader. The minor characters such as Rusty, Clay, Clyde, Ned, Tussle, etc. are all well-written and it is a pleasure to read about their adventures. An admirable quality in Cotton’s writing of Entwined Paths is the depiction of women. It is cliché western writing to write women as meek and burdened by the hard living of the wild west, as a “saloon girl” or working in a whorehouse. Cotton writes both Jessica and Josie as proud and strong women who are able to bravely face the trials that come their way. The dialogue, also, was superb. During every conversation it feels less like reading a book and more as though the reader is eavesdropping on a conversation. The dialect, vocabulary and diction also felt very authentic which helped to develop realism. A common flaw in western fiction is to fall into writing clichéd phrases but Cotton avoids that trap. The characters in Entwined Paths did use words such as “reckon” but it felt genuine instead forced.

The only thing lacking in Entwined Paths was the setting. It is the one area in which Cotton’s writing fell short. The pace, the plot, the characters and the dialogue were all incredible. Entwined Paths prove Cotton’s skill and talent as he wove together a very intricate story that brought characters together, then apart, then together again. Cotton wrote with such meticulous care when developing all aspects of Entwined Paths yet the setting seems to have been overlooked. The physical descriptions of the land, the towns and the camps were all lacking any genuine detail. During the ambush on the mesa the intensity of the scene was there as far as character conflict and emotional investment but it was a challenge to actually picture it. It was the one disappointment with the novel although the other aspects of the novel were so strong it’s easy to overlook.

Entwined Paths is a complex and well-written western fiction. It gives a reader everything they could ever want from a Wild West novel –lawmen, dirty outlaws, stagecoach robberies, kidnappings and shoot-outs. As with Confessions of a Gunfighter, the violence in the novel is limited to gunshots and a few punches. It is not heavily descript with graphic depictions of blood or gore which makes this an acceptable read for teens. Also notable, Entwined Paths is only one chapter of the Landon family saga so do not expect this story to end when you turn the final page. The adventures of this family go well beyond these entwined paths.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Buried Treasure

Buried Treasure - Jack  B. Downs In 1954 two-year old David disappears on a quiet Maryland street when his father, Sam, is briefly distracted. The kidnapping of young David shatters his small family – Sam, Maureen, and young son James. When baby Dylan joins the family soon after the kidnapping the family is already disconnected and cold. Ultimately abandoned by their parents the two young brothers must find a new way to survive. Their future won’t be easy; they will face heartbreak, bullying, racism, suicide and the constant anguish of a broken family. Buried Treasure is an emotionally trying mystery and will draw the reader deep inside the heartache of the Paxton family. One of the most intense and realistic mysteries I have read, this book belongs on the to-read list of every mystery fan.

The pace of Buried Treasure starts out a little bit slow. The first three chapters are mostly used to set-up the plot, the characters and the complications to come. At times it can read a little tedious but please persist because once chapter four begins the story is intense. Once the story picks up it grabs hold of the readers’ heart and it never lets go. There are times when the tragedy feels so real and so powerful that the reader can feel a strong personal connection to the grief. There are other times when Downs lightens the mood by delicately infusing slight humor and sensitivity. This is a novel about the bonds of family and trying to find a way to endure through even the most challenging of circumstances.

James and Dylan Paxton, the brothers, as well as the supporting characters were believable and authentic. James’ torment over the kidnapping of his baby brother, his father’s alcoholism and his mother’s abandonment felt very genuine. Dylan, after being born into a shattered family, had only known hurt and pain. He always sought love and safety despite being tormented by social stigma and being cast as a social outcast. On a constant search for healing and identity, James struck out against the world and Dylan clung close to his older brother. The anguish that defines the characters of Buried Treasure consumes not only the characters, but the reader as well. It is impossible to read this novel and not connect, on a deeply emotional level, with this mysterious tragedy. It feels as though the only salvation for these brothers is to answer the questions, “What happened to David? Who kidnapped him? Why did it have to happen?” At the core of it all is a deep family secret and one man’s suicide may be the answer to saving them all.

When James and Dylan finally come face-to-face with a terrible family secret, will they finally be able to heal, put the past behind them, and move on? Or will the enduring scars a family tragedy continue to collect victims? Buried Treasure provides the reader with lasting lessons of love and family, the bonds of brotherhood and faith as well as grief and healing. Downs writes with such emotion and sensitivity that it would be challenging to not bond deeply with his characters and novel. The ending of the novel is a riveting, and fitting, surprise. I highly recommend picking up a copy of Buried Treasure. It may leave you emotionally exhausted but definitely not disappointed.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Headhunter Poems

Headhunter Poems - Ken Greenley Headhunter Poems is a free verse poetry book that tackles the societal downfall that America is enduring. It covers issues such as the recession, or in his case, the Second Great Depression” as well as the environment, politics, and wasted life. The overall tone of the book is bleak and depressing; it is similar to the future of America according to the opinion of some readers. There is little room for optimism although there is the occasional glimmer of hope, just enough to keep a reader slightly above despondent. Headhunter Poems is thought-provoking, emotionally challenging and very entertaining. It’s worth a read but it may take a reader by surprise if not emotionally prepared for the depth of the content.

Originally plunging into this book having no clue as to what to expect from it, it was a big surprise. The cover alone is dark and the first poem is about a coffin. It’s not gory or gruesome; there is intent for dark humor and positivity but the tone for me was very bleak. It appears that the intent was for the poems to be darkly humorous and to provide a message of hope and endurance through even the bleakest and most hopeless of times. The concern I have with recommending this book to every reader is that anyone who is already feeling despair or doubt over the future could find themselves feeling even more depressed. A person must already have a glimmer of optimism and hope in order to appreciate the underlying currents of endurance within these poems.

The poems in Headhunter Poems are very straightforward and understandable. While they do contain metaphor and symbolism they are overly vague and do not require deep analysis to understand. They are written for the everyman reader and are regarding life events that are very relatable. The poems are technically written very well and cannot be criticized for lack of structure or rhythm. They are well-constructed and properly formatted; grammatically there are no errors. Overall, the book was well-written.

Greenley mentions, in his bio that, “The number of places he's lived is only exceeded by the number of jobs he's had” and he uses his vast experiences to provide deep insight into the content and themes of his poems. The poems have a broad scope of content and, as has been referenced multiple times, are darkly humorous but it is a humor that won’t appeal to all readers. If a reader enjoy dark content and black comedy then this is certainly a collection of poems worth reading.

Review by Caitlin Waldrop
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Headhunter Poems

Headhunter Poems - Ken Greenley, Angela Mark, Chuck Svoboda Headhunter Poems is a free verse poetry book that tackles the societal downfall that America is enduring. It covers issues such as the recession, or in his case, the Second Great Depression” as well as the environment, politics, and wasted life. The overall tone of the book is bleak and depressing; it is similar to the future of America according to the opinion of some readers. There is little room for optimism although there is the occasional glimmer of hope, just enough to keep a reader slightly above despondent. Headhunter Poems is thought-provoking, emotionally challenging and very entertaining. It’s worth a read but it may take a reader by surprise if not emotionally prepared for the depth of the content.

Originally plunging into this book having no clue as to what to expect from it, it was a big surprise. The cover alone is dark and the first poem is about a coffin. It’s not gory or gruesome; there is intent for dark humor and positivity but the tone for me was very bleak. It appears that the intent was for the poems to be darkly humorous and to provide a message of hope and endurance through even the bleakest and most hopeless of times. The concern I have with recommending this book to every reader is that anyone who is already feeling despair or doubt over the future could find themselves feeling even more depressed. A person must already have a glimmer of optimism and hope in order to appreciate the underlying currents of endurance within these poems.

The poems in Headhunter Poems are very straightforward and understandable. While they do contain metaphor and symbolism they are overly vague and do not require deep analysis to understand. They are written for the everyman reader and are regarding life events that are very relatable. The poems are technically written very well and cannot be criticized for lack of structure or rhythm. They are well-constructed and properly formatted; grammatically there are no errors. Overall, the book was well-written.

Greenley mentions, in his bio that, “The number of places he's lived is only exceeded by the number of jobs he's had” and he uses his vast experiences to provide deep insight into the content and themes of his poems. The poems have a broad scope of content and, as has been referenced multiple times, are darkly humorous but it is a humor that won’t appeal to all readers. If a reader enjoy dark content and black comedy then this is certainly a collection of poems worth reading.

Review by Caitlin Waldrop
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The Iranian Scorpion

The Iranian Scorpion - William Peace Complex, intense and deeply riveting it is impossible not to obsess over the intrigue of The Iranian Scorpion. Robert Dawson, a US DEA agent is sent to Afghanistan to halt the flow of heroin coming out of the country. Disguised as a field hand working in the opium crops and assisted by the delightful Kate Conway and the cunning Taliban leader Vizier Ashraf, Dawson finds himself captured and facing execution at the hands of a man known as “The Scorpion” after it is discovered that Dawson was behind his arrest. When Dawson’s father, General David Dawson, hears of Robert’s pending execution he vows to find and assassinate “The Scorpion” who just so happens to be a provincial governor of Iran. A powerful political thriller, The Iranian Scorpion is flawlessly gripping.

The characters in The Iranian Scorpion are very well-developed and feel truly authentic. They are perfectly flawed and appear genuinely human. Immediately a conversation between Robert and Kate hints at a subtle level of tension between Robert and his father, David. Robert is seeking fulfillment by chasing career goals that seem just out of reach. Kate has a poor history of damaged love relationships. They are world travelers and involved in deep political intrigue and undercover DEA work yet they seem entirely relatable which develops a strong bond between reader and story. It took less than ten pages for me to feel invested in their personal development and the story that was about to unfold.

The various storylines in The Iranian Scorpion are intricately woven but blend together well and avoid feeling disjointed or disconnected. This is a complex story yet it never feels overwhelming or confusing. There are multiple romantic relationships, undercover work, political intrigue and wrathful vengeance. In the hands of less-capable author this book could have easily become an unbearable mess but Peace is highly talented and his skill is clearly evident. Peace keeps the pace of the story intense and the plot is thrilling. There is violence (as should be expected considering the storyline) and there is some sexual content but nothing that is overly graphic or revolting.

The Iranian Scorpion has easily earned its place as one of my favorite books of 2013. The blended plotlines, the political games, the strong female characters and family tension and the religious conflict between Christianity and Islam (which Peace delicately handled) all combine to write what should be a bestseller and a must-read. Rarely do I recommend a book as highly as I recommend The Iranian Scorpion. William Peace is an amazingly talented writer and The Iranian Scorpion is an incredible novel.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Freak Story: 1967-1969

Freak Story: 1967-1969 - Jim Musgrave Freak Story is a unique novel in so many ways. The plot line, the characters and the stream-of-consciousness point of view combine to make Freak Story a pleasurable and fascinating read. Freak Story is a narrative of the life of Buddy Hartman who was adopted by a woman who wanted a child to please her husband. After her husband leaves Buddy’s new mother turns to prostitution and drugs to support herself and ease the pain of her new life. After struggling with, and overcoming, his own drug addiction Buddy decides to seek out his biological mother and discover his genetic identity. What happens next is perfectly messy and flawed and freakish as Buddy discovers his mother is one-half of the famous Hilton Twins who are actually Siamese Twins and former Vaudeville performers! Buddy then embarks on a mission to restore their entertainment careers and sort out his own true identity.

This book won’t appeal to a mass audience in quite the same way that Musgrave’s O’Malley mysteries do but when the right reader connects with Freak Story it will be poetic and freakishly beautiful. I was definitely the right audience for this book. The characters, the “freaks” if you will, were absolutely delightful! They were lovable, charming and easily stole the show. There were times I actually wished that the book was centered around Daisy and Violet (the Hilton Twins) instead of around Buddy. I could easily sit and read an entire novel based around their Vaudeville performing days. They were optimistic, cheerful and passionate about life; they were a direct contrast to Buddy’s adoptive mother who collapsed into sorrow and despair when faced with challenges of her own. This strong character contrast of Buddy’s two mothers provided great insight into human behavior. The women in Buddy’s life were well-written and really show Musgrave’s talent for developing his characters. As for Buddy himself, he has his own attributes that make him a “freak” of his time but how much do I tell without spoiling the book? It’s enough to say that the book is set in the late 1960’s when society as a whole isn’t very accepting of anyone who is different than the norm. There is a lot of racism, prejudice and intolerance, the Civil Rights movement is ongoing and Buddy doesn’t really belong to any accepted group. He’s a societal misfit and it’s easy to relate to him; most people will admit to feeling like an outcast or a “freak” at some point.

One minor criticism with Freak Story is the strong shift in writing style during dialogue. I never noticed such a shift when reading Musgrave’s mystery, Disappearance at Mount Sinai and I can only assume it’s due to the different time period and POV. Disappearance at Mount Sinai is set in the late 1800’s in post-Civil War era America involving racist but “normal” people whereas Freak Story is set in 1960’s Civil Rights era America during involving “freaks” and a judgmental society. The descriptive narrative of Freak Story was poetic and beautifully written but the same eloquence wasn’t captured in the dialogue. At times the dialogue felt cold despite the surrounding script being captivating. It was an odd shift but then again, this was an odd book. It’s easy to overlook the flawed dialogue and it may not even be something that the majority of readers notice.

It is impossible to compare Freak Story 1967-1969 to any other book I’ve ever read because it is such an unique and interesting tale. The best I can do is compare it to the 2003 Tim Burton film “Big Fish” starring Ewan McGregor. In both situations a son is trying to understand his parents, his lineage and himself by exploring a family history that consists of people and circumstances that challenge convention. Personally, I loved Freak Story 1967-1969 and would recommend giving it a chance. Even if it doesn’t sound like something you would normally read I think you will find yourself in love.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Planet Willie - Josh Shoemake Willie Lee, once the victim of a gunshot to the head, now returns to earth as an angel working as a detective in the Paradise Police Department’s Lost Souls Division. As a detective for the Lost Souls Division, Willie is able to re-inhabit his human body and explore the earth to save lost souls. When Harry Shore sends up a prayer asking for helping saving the soul of his daughter, Fernanda, Willie is dispatched on a new mission – locate Fernanda and save her lost soul.

Initially, Planet Willie sounded unique and offered an original storyline. In the end, it proved to be just a little bit too different and too unique for my preferences. Planet Willie is written from a first-person POV and Willie lacks any real censor when it comes to, well, everything. There is no discretion which I found unusual for a character that is supposed to be depicting a soul-saving angel. At times the text was snarky and sarcastic, at other times it was slightly offensive and at others it was amusing.

The plot started out a bit slow. There is a lot of internal dialogue and build up to the action which left me feeling disinterested in the development of the story. It was able to recapture my attention after a few chapters but by that time I felt mostly disconnected. The plot alternated between a slow and tedious pace and attention-grabbing action. When I was in to the story I didn’t want to put it down but when it started to slow down again I could go for days before picking it back up. I never felt fully committed to the book.

The cast of characters were just as nonsensical as the rest of the book. Willie’s adventures back on earth searching for Fernanda led him to encounter a wild group of Albanians, a Mexican businessman, a mobster in a wheelchair and one, Billy Sidell. The crazy characters that Shoemake created to fill the world of Planet Willie were elaborate and exotic but I couldn’t enjoy them to the degree I wanted to because I wasn’t able to connect with the story itself.

There is no one fatal flaw in Planet Willie. To the right audience it is a hilarious off-beat detective novel with a side of spirituality and a prevailing politically-incorrect attitude, unfortunately I am not the right audience. If you’re not easily offended, are looking for something a bit absurd and a little outlandish and you love a good mystery then I would recommend you check out Planet Willie. A quick Google search of the book or a glance at its GoodReads page will confirm that there is an audience for this book and that many readers did enjoy it. It’s worth a chance.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Disappearance at Mount Sinai - Jim Musgrave In 1866 Detective, and Civil War veteran, Pat O'Malley's returns to the Five Points neighborhood of New York City to investigate the biggest case of his career. O’Malley is hired to search for Dr. Arthur Mergenthaler, a wealthy Jewish inventor and entrepreneur, after he goes missing from a protected wing of Mount Sinai hospital but after a hidden passage is discovered and another body turns up O’Malley begins to understand this case runs far deeper than he had imagined. Surrounded by a culture of anti-Semitism and racism, O’Malley disguises himself as an Oxford England Professor to infiltrate the anti-Semite’s group and return to the deep South to solve the case and locate the missing doctor.

Disappearance at Mount Sinai is the second Pat O’Malley mystery by Jim Musgrave but it is easily read as a stand-alone book. Set in post-Civil War America during a time of rampant racism and anti-Semitism the Irish Detective O’Malley from the Five Points neighborhood is hired to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy Jewish doctor. Musgrave captures the intense conflict of faith, race and prejudice from this era in American history almost immediately and it never lets go. The underlying current of prejudice and hate is what makes this story so intoxicating.

There is little to criticize about Disappearance at Mount Sinai and Musgrave’s talent shined with this mystery novel. The characters were delightful despite being flawed and hateful. I especially enjoyed the conflict between Pat O’Malley and his father. Detective Pat O’Malley is everything his father is not. He is sober and tolerant of various races and cultures whereas his father owns and operates bar in a rough Irish neighborhood in Five Points all the while hating anyone who is different than his own Irish folks. Their strained and yet deeply involved relationship was one of my favorite character highlights of the book. When you add Rebecca Charming, Shannon O’Hare, the Mergenthaler family and the anti-Semite group the cast becomes colorful and beyond fascinating. Disappearance at Mount Sinai does occasionally reference previous character interaction from Musgrave’s first O’Malley mystery but it only serves to provide a glimpse at history, there are never any gaps in story because this is the second in a series.

With every turn of the page this mystery became more complex and more intense. As would be expected, O’Malley originally questions the hospital staff and the immediate family about the disappearance of Dr. Mergenthaler. A few interviews and a couple of visits later O’Malley understands that this mystery goes well beyond this simple family. This case will prove to require all of O’Malley’s detective skills as he goes undercover to pursue an investigation against the military and top-ranking politicians and officials. Every page is thrilling and curious as the complexity of the case grows and threatens to spin out of control.

Jim Musgrave is an award-winning author and it’s easy to see why. The characters are well-developed and feel authentic, he captures the essence of America’s reconstructive era perfectly and the pace of the story is steady. The mystery is complex and dramatic without being far-fetched or cliché. Musgrave even nailed the dialogue and interactions between such strongly divided cultures. The conclusion, just like the rest of the book, does not disappoint. Disappearance at Mount Sinai is absolutely a mystery worth reading.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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Kimo's War

Kimo's War - James J. Frey Kimo’s War is a military fiction novel that attempts to describe LT Kimo (Key-mo) Kitazono’s psychotic break and struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Described as “a complex psychological and comedic narrative of the life and mind of LT Kimo Kitazono and his alter ego, Lapu (Hawaiian God of Darkness), who materializes as a defense mechanism in Kimo's mind during the War” I fully expected a dark novel that would provide disturbing insight into the front lines of war. Author James Frey has an extensive military background of his own which he brought into Kimo’s War to add authenticity to Kimo’s voice and story. The story, an Iraq war veteran who struggles to overcome his PTSD, has the potential to be an incredible military-fiction novel but it reads like a first-draft manuscript and overall, is disappointing.

The first, and most obvious, problem with the book is the overwhelming number of spelling, grammar and syntax errors. Within the first 10 pages I noted at least a dozen errors including the use of the plural women instead of woman when writing about a single character, the omission of the word “a” in the sentence “as new transaction” and a sentence fragment written as “…with the that wasn’t busy…” It was distracting. It became challenging to read as there are errors throughout the entire book. There is also a large number of parenthesis and side notes throughout the text that seem odd and out of place. The book would be better served to add these additional notations and asides as footnotes on the page or in an index at the end of the book. It’s possible that Frey was trying to write the story from the voice of Kimo with the parentheses being the voice of Lapu, the alter-ego, but it didn’t convey in the story. Instead if felt disjointed and as though they were side notes from the author to himself to review and expand upon when the second draft was written but the book never got that far. **I was notified by the author that the copy I received for review was pre-edit and did not contain all corrections and revisions. That being said, the errors I refer to regarding spelling, grammar and syntax may not apply to the latest versions of this book.** Ashley 08-16-13

The character voice was another thing I struggled with in this book. Kimo, the protagonist, struggles with PTSD and controlling his angry and vengeful alter-ego Lapu who is always trying to break out and take control. It’s similar to a multiple-personality psychotic break but Frey doesn’t take it quite that far. It would have been a better story if he had gone all the way and had Kimo’s psyche completely break. Kimo’s War is written from the third-person perspective but the character voice frequently gets lost and instead it feel as though Frey himself is ranting about the military or the media or civilians in general. I often felt as though I was reading a bitter journal by Frey instead of a fictional story of Kimo’s struggle. Frey has obvious issues with the government, military leaders, and US media which he makes no attempt to hide. There is a lot of anger in this book and it feels like it comes from Frey, not from Kimo. Kimo’s voice is lost. He’s there but he’s not dominant.

As a fan of military fiction novels and especially those that discuss the psychological struggles of war I had hoped to find a deep and complex novel about the PTSD suffered by Iraq war veterans. I was excited to read Kimo’s War and really wanted to love it. It has potential and the story is there it just needs to be edited, re-worked and finessed. My advice to Frey would be to pull the book, find a good editor, review the manuscript, edit and re-write, and then re-publish. He has such deep personal experiences to draw from, the complex psychological struggle is there and the idea is compelling. It could be great but, in this version, it’s not ready.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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**I was notified by the author that the copy I received for review was pre-edit and did not contain all corrections and revisions. That being said, the errors I refer to regarding spelling, grammar and syntax may not apply to the latest versions of this book.** Ashley 08-16-13
Song of the River: 1 (The Storyteller Trilogy) - Sue Harrison Abandoned as a baby, Chakliuk is raised as the adopted son of K’os and grows to be his tribe’s most treasured storyteller. As an adult he is sent off to marry Snow-In-Her-Hair, the daughter of the Shaman of the neighboring Near River People. On their wedding day a double murder occurs which sets Chakliuk off on an incredible journey. I had high hopes for this book. I have read and enjoyed a lot of books based around historical tribes or Native American villages and expected to enjoy this one as well. In the end I liked Song of the River but it was just an average read.

One of my biggest challenges with this book were the character names. The author, Sue Harrison, has studied six Native American languages and extensively researched culture and anthropology during the time she spent writing her first novel. Based on her research I have no reason to doubt the authenticity of their names but they felt awkward to me. The characters would have names like Chakliuk and K’os while others had names like Snow-In-Her-Hair. I struggled with the shift in names. It probably seems like such a minor little thing but with so many characters and such a complex story it felt odd to shift back and forth in style so frequently. I did enjoy, for the most part, the characters themselves. It took a little while for me to get into them but the more I read the more I found myself connecting with them. The best character for me was K’os, Chakliuk’s adoptive mother. She was cold, cunning and deceptive making her a great character to hate.

The story was a little slow in the very beginning and I hoped it would pick up but it didn’t. It wasn’t painfully slow but it wasn’t a book I became obsessed with and struggled to put down. I was able to pick it up, read a few chapters, and put it back down to do other things or go to sleep. The story pace was consistent but that made it lack any real intensity or excitement. It’s also notable that this is Book #1 in a trilogy and therefore lacks a real climax or final ending. I’ll probably pick up Book #2 because I did enjoy this story enough to want to continue reading. This is a book I would recommend as a vacation read since it isn’t a book that consumes a reader but rather that can be read in short sittings. It is worth reading but it’s not one I felt myself becoming obsessed with finishing.

Review by Ashley LaMar
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