The New Book Review

Showing posts with label Fiction: Suspense. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Nine Fold Heaven: New Historial Fiction on Tour

Title – Nine Fold Heaven

Author – Mingmei Yip

Author's website link – http://www.mingmeiyip.com

Genre or category – Suspense, historic fiction

ISBN – 978-0758273543

In this mesmerizing new novel, Mingmei Yip draw readers deeper into the exotic world of 1930s Shanghai first explored in Skeleton Women and into the lives of the unforgettable singer-spy Camilla, the magician Shadow, and the gossip columnist Rainbow Chang.

The Nine Fold Heaven is the story of an ex spy and nightclub singer who undertakes an emotional and dangerous journey to reunite with her lost lovers and the baby she was told was stillborn, and to discover the secret of her parents’ murder.

Click here to read the prologue and first chapter:

About Mingmei Yip

Mingmei Yip has been writing and publishing since she was fourteen years old and now she has twelve books to her credit. Her five novels are published by Kensington Books and her two children’s books are published by Tuttle Publishing.

Mingmei’s new novel is The Nine Fold Heaven (2013), the story of an ex spy and nightclub singer who undertakes an emotional and dangerous journey to reunite with her lost lover and the baby she was told was stillborn, and to discover the secret of her parents’ murder.

Mingmei’s fourth novel is Skeleton Women (2012), a story about a singer spy, a magician, and a gossip columnist scheming to survive the gang wars in lawless 1930ies Shanghai.

Her other four novels are equally exciting:

Song of the Silk Road, (2011) is a romantic adventure on China’s legendary ancient trade route with the lure of a three million dollar reward.

Petals from the Sky, (2010) is a Buddhist love story about a woman who tries to escape her dysfunctional family only to find she’s been running away from her heart.

Peach Blossom Pavilion (2008) her first novel, is the story of the last prestitous musician-courtesan of China, received numerous favorable reviews and is now in its fifth printing.

Mingmei is also the author and illustrator of Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories (2005) and Grandma Panda’s China Storybook, (2013).

Mingmei is also a renowned qin (ancient string instrument) musician, calligrapher and painter. In Hong Kong, she was a columnist for seven major newspapers. She has appeared on over sixty TV and radio programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and the US.

Visit Mingmei at: www.mingmeiyip.com

Comments about Nine Fold Heaven from Amazon –

The latest book from author Mingmei Yip takes the reader on an epic journey -- both emotional and geographically. The Nine Fold Heaven is the story of a young Chinese woman, Camilla who is taken from an orphanage at the age of four, and forced to work for one of the worst gangs in Shanghai. Not that she has a bad life with them. In exchange for her various "services" to the gang, from sexual favors to singing entertainment to assassinations, she is well taken care of, as least in material objects. Her emotional life however, has been completely deprived and suffocated.

~*~

The prose and the description of the setting lends an authenticity to the story that made it feel like a real history to me. I was intrigued by the comparisons between Chinese culture and American culture (although this was in the 30s) and there are both positives and negatives to both in my opinion. The clashes between opposing viewpoints in politics and religion gave more dimension to the characters and created a thought-provoking larger conflict than just what Camilla was going through. But the most important thing, especially in historical fiction, is for the setting to feel realistic and I felt like the streets of Thirties Hong Kong and Shanghai were brought to life in this book.

~*~

Camilla is a noir heroine who readers will love to hate or hate to love. The author makes it clear she's a product of her environment and never apologizes for her behavior which she shouldn't. The narrative is colorful and an exotic mix of cultures and traditions and will bring the sounds and flavors of a troubled lawless past society to life.

Reviews for Mingmei Yip books -

Skeleton Women “A guilty pleasure....enjoy the exotic location and characters.... This is a large, luscious box of chocolates. Go on. You know you want to." -- RTBook 4 star Review

Song of the Silk Road “Lively…fascinating…filled with unique companions, unforeseen dangers, unexpected joys, and bitter sorrows…” -- Publisher’s Weekly

Petals from the Sky “Strong…powerful…emotional…vivid…poignant…” -- Coffee Time Romamce

Peach Blossom Pavilion “Engrossing…atmospheric tale…fantastical escape!” – Honolulu Advertiser

If you like strong women in exotic locations and like to learn about new people, places and times – Nine Fold Heaven is a must read.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Crime Novel with Sarcastic Protagonist

Title: Devil's Run

Author: Frank Hughes

Website: http://www.frankhughesauthor.com

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Pub Date: Aug. 16th, 2012

ISBN: 978-1478354550

Page count: 332pp

Publisher: CreateSpace

Reviewer: Kirkus Indie

Review Posted Online: Nov. 21st, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1st, 2013

Review weblink: https://www.kirkusreviews.com

KIRKUS REVIEW

A pedal-to-the-metal crime novel in which a sarcastic private investigator gets more than he bargained for while working a missing person case.

Former federal agent Nick Craig is a man who doesn’t “play well with others.” He is impudent, ill-mannered and quick to deliver acerbic one-liners. Working as a private investigator for a respected Manhattan-based security consultant, Craig grudgingly accepts what appears to be a routine case: to find a University of Washington student who has disappeared. The case quickly grows complicated as Craig explores the dorm room of Kenneth Boyd (whom his own lawyer father called “a wimp”). His belongings are gone, his computer’s history has been erased and his car has been meticulously wiped clean. The only lead is a picture of Boyd with an attractive young woman known around the campus as a hard-core environmental activist. Further investigation leads Craig to Vermont and the base of a radical environmentalist who is being watched by the FBI. After witnessing the murder of that radical and his colleague (and almost getting killed himself), Craig eventually lands in the mountains of Colorado where he finally stumbles on a grand-scale conspiracy—and all of its jaw-dropping revelations. While the storyline is ingeniously knotty, it also requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief; some of Craig’s exploits are incredible. But because the pacing is frantic and the narrative engaging, readers will undoubtedly not be too distracted.

This action-packed thrill ride, reminiscent of Ian Fleming and Nelson DeMille, will satisfy the most demanding literary adrenaline junkie.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

MuseItUp Author Publishes New Romantic Thriller

REFLECTION
By: Kim Cresswell
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
eBook ISBN: 978-1-77127-256-8
Publication Date: January 2013
Genres: Suspense, Thriller, Romance
Purchase at: MuseItUpPublishing.com, Amazon.com, Bookstrand, Omnilit, Kobo, Smashwords and B&N
Reviewed by: Ellen Fritz at Books4Tomorrow
Ellen's star rating: 5/5

Summary

Florida investigative reporter, Whitney Steel, has lived in the shadow of her legendary father long enough. To prove herself she needs to find the “Big” story.
She found it.
Now it may kill her.
After Whitney receives a lead pointing to the world’s first cloned human, now a small child, she vows to unravel the truth. However, sifting through the facts proves to have dangerous results, including death threats and murder.
When Whitney is nearly killed, but is saved by undercover FBI Special Agent, Blake Neely, he refuses to let her get in the way of his own objective—at least not right away.
Caught in a lethal game between a billionaire obsessed with genetic perfection, his hit man’s thirst for retribution, and a Colombian drug lord fresh out of prison determined to make Blake pay for his twin brother’s death over a decade ago…
Can they save an innocent child before it’s too late?
Faced with tough choices, with deadly consequences for many—Whitney soon realizes that sometimes a story becomes more than just a story.

Review by Ellen Fritz originally for Books4Tomorrow

A truly edge-of-your-seat, never-a-dull-moment read. Reflection has a dramatic start and just never slows down. When her ex-husband is killed while trying to tell her something important, investigative reporter, Whitney Steel, realizes that she may be on to the story of a lifetime. Too bad then that Nathan Shaw, Blake Neely and an enemy from her past want to prevent her obtaining the information for her story; and at the heart of all this, an innocent child.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it moves forward all the time with no lengthy descriptions or angsty inner dialogue. The romance in the story is tastefully written and skillfully distributed throughout the book so as to enhance rather than interfere with the main storyline.

The characters are fleshed out and vividly described thus giving the reader captivating mental images that truly makes the story come alive. I love a strong female protagonist who can hold her own, kick butt and doesn't indulge in self pity. Whitney Steel is exactly that. Blake Neely, the male protagonist, is extremely realistic with his inner battles about keeping Whitney safe, the death of his sister and, ultimately, his own mission. Let's not forget the bad guys in this story. Ruthless, mean and self-serving are just some of the adjectives that come to mind. Add to that vengeful and the author has some truly nasty but highly realistic antagonists to give our heroes a run for their money.

I highly recommend this five-star page-turner to those who love a suspense laden novel with constant action and well balanced romance. The extra complication at the end gives this book a unique quality, and, oops, let me stop before I give too much away! As the book has a slightly open end, let's hope that we'll soon see another book by the highly gifted Kim Cresswell. Ellen Fritz - Books4Tomorrow http://bookstomorrow.blogspot.ca/2013/03/review-reflection-by-kim-cresswell.html

What Others are Saying

“Reflection is an edge-of-your-seat suspense, with gut-wrenching emotion, and sexual tension that has you turning the page to see how it all turns out. This was one of the best suspense stories I've read, and Nathan Shaw is a villian you'll love to hate!” - Jerri Drennen, Author (Amazon Review)

“Reflection is a fast-paced thriller with something for every reader: scientific experiments, murderous encounters, and a complicated love story. Kim Cresswell’s debut work will leave you hanging on every page in a world where every word counts, every man’s word is suspect, and those ‘three little words’ mean more than anything when all is revealed.” -M.K. Chester, author of Surrender to the Roman (Carina Press)

“Glad to know there is a sequel coming as I really liked this one. The plot had a lot of typical Rom Sus elements, but somehow the whole was very fresh to me. The greatest element of the story for me was that the heroine, Whitney Steel (great name!) was believable mixture of being strong,and capable but vulnerable and sometimes misguided. The story was exciting and definitely left me wanting more!” -Lhenry (Goodreads Review) (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/527104585)

About the Author

Award-wining author, Kim Cresswell resides in Ontario, Canada. Trained as a legal assistant, Kim has been a storyteller all her life but took many detours including; working for a private investigator, running a graphic design business, and teaching computer classes at a local business school. After becoming disabled with Fibromyalgia and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome, Kim returned to her first love, writing.

She's also an avid reader who enjoys playing computer games, ghost hunting and loves anything paranormal.

Kim has a few new books in the works including; Retribution, the sequel to Reflection, slated for October. Lethal Journey, a suspense thriller, will be released later this summer.

Web Site: www.kimcresswell.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KimCresswellBooks

Twitter: @kimcresswell

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6898395.Kim_Cresswell

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REFLECTION - A reporter's determination to expose an illegal human cloning project places an innocent child in the crosshairs of a master criminal. 
MuseItUp Publishing:  http://tinyurl.com/ctwm5cp 
Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Reflection-ebook/dp/B00B5HRBZE
Paperback at Createspace eStore:  https://www.createspace.com/4144264
Kobo:  http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Reflection/book-_5-zhN2-20u_RUw8yO1Cxg/page1.html
Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/289845
Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflection-kim-cresswell/1114770566?ean=2940044344181
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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Literary Lady Reviews New Barbara Casey Novel

Title: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PRISSY

Author: Barbara Casey
Author’s Web site: www.barbaracaseyagency.com
Genre: Suspense/Women’s Fiction/Inspirational
Publisher: Strategic Media Books
Publisher’s Web site: www.strategicmediabooks.com
ISBN-13: 970-985244026

Reviewed by Patricia Daly-Lipe originally for Amazon

Reviewer’s Rating: 5 stars

REVIEW:

A good writer appeals to the readers' sense of wonder, delight, and mystery. The good writer also draws on our sense of pity, pain, and beauty. Author Barbara Casey has achieved all of this in her latest book, The Gospel According to Prissy. From concern for the protagonist, to fear for her and others, to the mystery surrounding some of the characters' motives, to delight in the wise words of a young child, this book will permeate the inner voice of every reader whether male or female, young or old as he or she identifies with some part of the story. This personal involvement enhances the power of her tale. Each time I put down the book, I could not let loose the drama unfolding. Chores accomplished, I ran back to the book, desperate to find out what was going to happen next. The story takes place in North Carolina, in current time, and so many inferences relate to our present environment politically, historically, and emotionally.

In the Bible, which young Prissy interprets in her own unique way, Moses told the Israelites that God sent them into the wilderness to "learn what is in your heart." And it is clearly from the heart that Barbara Casey writes. I encourage everyone to read The Gospel According to Prissy. During and after the tensions of the tale, in the end, this book will touch your heart.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER:
Patricia Daly-Lipe – Author of A Cruel Calm, Messages from Nature; Past President of the National League of American Pen Women-La Jolla Branch and Washington, DC Branch, and Historian for the National Society Daughters of American Colonists, DC.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Title of Book: RIPTIDE

Author: Amber Lea Easton

Author Website: http://amberleaeaston.com

Blog: http://www.amberleaeaston.blogspot.com

Twitter URL: @mtnmoxiegirl

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand

ISBN Number: 978-1-62241-791-9

Publication Date: August 2012

Genre of Book: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Mystery

Review provided by: World of Ink Network

Heat Level: Steamy

About the Book:

One violent night shatters Lauren Biltmore’s life. As an anchorwoman, she's accustomed to reporting the news rather than being the lead story. She escapes the spotlight by fleeing to her brother's home in the Cayman Islands. Haunted by nightmares, all she wants is a distraction from reality.

Distraction arrives via sexy screenwriter, Noah Reynolds. His take-me-to-bed looks mask a past ripe with scandal. He knows he should stay away from Lauren, especially when the worst night of her life unlocks his writer's block and while he's dealing with a stalker of his own, but ethics are his weakness.

Attraction sizzles beneath Caribbean sunshine. As their relationship grows, Noah's stalker intensifies her torment. Lauren wonders if her paranoia is justified or a carryover from her past. What's real? What's imagined? Tentative trust is tested as their love is swept up against a riptide of deceit, murder, and revenge.

EXCERPT (more suspenseful than sexy):

Heart thudding in her chest like steel drums, she jolted awake, and blinked at the stars glaring at her from the open hole in the ceiling. She froze with fear, every limb paralyzed, breathing labored. Someone watched her from the foot of the bed. She could feel their gaze on her...on them.

Noah slept next to her, completely unconscious judging by the steady rise and fall of his chest and the weight of his arm over her abdomen.

Look. It’s my imagination. No one’s there. I double-checked—no, triple-checked—all the locks before bed.

Her thoughts immediately went to the morning before...the blackout, the pictures, the fear. She exhaled slowly and raised her head.

A woman stood at the foot of the bed, hair hidden by a yellow scarf, face in shadow, dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and jeans. Real.

“Who are you?” She bolted upright, eyes wide as the woman turned and ran from the room.

Pushing Noah’s arm aside, she bolted from the bed. Anger replaced fear in an instant. Unable to control the emotions raging through her bloodstream, she ran into the living room. No one. She’d left all the lights on before going to the bedroom. She turned in a circle, plastic from the still unfinished kitchen crunching beneath her feet.

The deck door remained closed and locked. Nothing appeared disturbed.

Heart still slamming against her ribcage, she walked to the top of the stairs leading down to the laundry room. She took one step...and then another...slowly...unable to breathe until she reached the bottom. All the deadbolts remained locked.

No one had left.

She flattened her back against the wall and looked over her shoulder toward the top of the stairs. If no one had left, then the woman had to still be inside.

Ali? Alicia? Someone pretending? Questions rattled her mind as she ascended the stairs with her back kept firmly against the wall. She wanted to call out to Noah, but her voice lodged in her throat.

Once in the living room, she again checked the lock on the sliding glass door before staring down the hall toward the spare room she’d never entered. Fear battled anger until she thought her head would explode from the pressure of the two heated emotions.

As she passed the bathroom, she flicked on the light to make sure it was empty inside. It was. She pushed open the door to the spare room with her foot as she kept her back pressed against the door.

Dark. She slid into the room, her hand moving along the wall for a switch of some kind.

Then she heard footsteps behind her. Slow. Creeping.

“What’re you doing?” Noah asked from where he stood in the open doorway.

He flicked on the light, showing the room to be empty except for piles of boxes and tools. She stared at the open window at the far side of the space.

Without answering him, she walked over the mess and leaned out the window. Palm trees swayed with the night wind. Shadows danced in the darkness, black on black. In a moonless sky, stars fell toward the dark void where the ocean lay. .

“Lauren? Are you sleepwalking or something?” Noah’s hand dropped against her shoulder.

The truth of what she was seeing warred with the knowledge in her heart that someone had been standing at the foot of the bed. The intruder could have escaped out this window. It wasn’t a long drop for an athletic person.

I’m not going crazy, I’m not. God, I hope I’m not.

She shoved the window closed with more force than necessary and latched it. When she finally faced Noah, she felt like someone dancing on the edge of a cliff in the darkness, someone about to take a free fall into the abyss.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said, her voice husky with emotion.

“You look terrified.” He smoothed her hair back from her face, his thumbs caressing her cheekbones. “Did something happen that scared you?”

“You look better.” She flattened her hands against his chest and forced a grin. “How do you feel?”

“Hungry.” His grin reassured her that all was well in the world. “Want an omelet?”

She smiled and let her hands trail down his chest. Maybe she’d been dreaming, after all. Yesterday had been more than a little stressful.

“I hear you make the best omelets on the island—”

“In the world, actually.” He winked. “World famous omelet.”

“World famous, yes, of course, how could I resist?” She exhaled the nervous energy that still zapped through her system and leaned into him. The man had a way about him. There was no denying it.

“You can’t resist me. I’m like a drug.” He glanced behind her toward the window she’d forcefully closed. “Want to tell me why every light in the house is on and why you’re in here closing windows at three a.m.?”

“Not really.” She linked her hands behind his waist and looked up at him. “I like being here with you in the middle of the night, think I’ll make it a habit.”

He squinted at her, obviously curious about the reason behind her madness. Again, he glanced toward the window but said nothing.

Habit? Had she actually said that word? There’s no way she could stay here again, probably shouldn’t be here now, not when she was having blackouts, chatting it up with creepy redheads and hallucinating women standing at the foot of the bed. She’d successfully gone from one nightmare into the next and could no longer distinguish reality from fantasy.

She cringed when he looked away and turned off the light. She was such a liar, a dirty, rotten liar. A hypocrite. A fraud. She needed to control herself and slow this down before they both got in too deep.

BOOK TRAILER:

http://youtu.be/2YWX6FDUbfU

About the Author:

Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published fiction and nonfiction author. For twenty years, she's worked in the fields of journalism and advertising with a brief detour into the financial industry. Although she holds a BA in Communications & Journalism, she is a perpetual student of life who enjoys taking courses on a wide variety of subjects when time allows. Smart is sexy, according to Easton, which is why she writes about strong female characters who have their flaws and challenges, but who ultimately persevere.

Easton currently lives with her two teenagers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains where she gives thanks daily for the gorgeous view outside her window. She finds inspiration from traveling, the people she meets, nature and life’s twists and turns. At the end of the day, as long as she's writing, she considers herself to be simply "a lucky lady liv'n the dream."

You can find out more about Amber Lea Easton, Riptide and her World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/a2azncg

Submitted by:

To learn more about the World of Ink Tours visit http://worldofinknetwork.com

Virginia S Grenier

Founder & Partner, World of Ink Network

Bringing Authors and Readers Together

http://worldofinknetwork.com

Office: 435-625-1743

Follow us on Twitter

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Award-winning Author & Editor

http://vsgrenier.com

Member of League of Utah Writers/HWG chapter president

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Blogger Reviews Horror Novel

TITLE: Red Sand

AUTHOR: Ronan Cray
AUTHOR'S WEBSITE: http://ronancray.blogspot.com/
GENRE: Horror/Suspense
ISBN: 9781301737321
REVIEWER NAME: Mary Fan
REVIEWER'S WEBSITE: http://zigzagtl.blogspot.com

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

Reviewed by Mary Fan for her blog Zig Zag Time Line

RED SAND REVIEW:

The Princess Anne was just another cruise ship making its way across the ocean, ferrying people from all walks of life, each on board for his or her own purpose. Most are neither heroes nor villains, only ordinary human beings with ordinary problems.

Then their ship goes down, and a few lucky survivors are fished out of the water by inhabitants of a nearby desert island. The inhabitants aren’t savage natives—they’re fellow Westerners, survivors of a previous shipwreck. Having lived on the island for years, they’ve developed a system to keep food in their bellies. The survivors of the Princess Anne are put to work fishing, farming, and otherwise maintaining operations necessary for subsistence. But it soon becomes clear that there’s more to the island—and its inhabitants—that meets the eye. One by one, the Princess Anne’s survivors vanish, picked off by both nature’s and man’s brutality.

Red Sand is an ensemble show. Although some characters drive the plot more than others, Cray treats each one as if he or she is special, presenting the reader with lively backstories told from the characters’ points of views. He wants you to know them before he kills them. It’s a refreshing take on the genre—too many horror writers throw people away simply to illustrate the external dangers. But even though they are props in a bloody show, they’re nevertheless human beings, each with a story.

Cray seems all too aware of this. His cast isn’t made of faceless redshirts; they’re living, breathing people, each with his or her own motivations, on the island for different reasons. There’s Howie, the formerly henpecked widower whose wife left him a cruise ticket—and another wife to henpeck him. And Lauren, the coupon-clipping con artist running away to her new life. And Mason, the lonely single man seeking adventure and companionship. Cray lets you know at the very beginning, in his Author’s Note, that no one will come out alive.

But don’t be fooled by Cray’s seemingly innocuous backstories. Behind the developer of sympathetic characters lies an unapologetic sadist. The horror in Red Sand is more than gruesome—it’s the stomach-turning stuff of nightmares, largely thanks to Cray’s gift for description. Through vivid yet tight language, he brings each scene to life, whether it’s painting the setting or depicting a grisly death. For example, without spoiling too much, here's the death of poor Howie: "He thrashed his arms and legs, pushed against the sand, whipped his head in fury and terror, to no avail. Unbreakable bonds held him to the ground...It wrapped around his ribs and exerted pressure, oh so gentle pressure, until his scream tapered off into a wheezing his...The sun glinted off something near his eye. A slender tentacle slid into view, silhouetted against an azure haze. It drove in figure eights through his eye sockets."

The deaths are told from the close third perspectives of the victims, allowing a reader to feel their terror and hear their thoughts, which are often bizarrely incongruent with the circumstances. Cray’s writing also smacks of the philosophical at times, through dialogues discussing what it means to be cut off from civilization and internal ruminations on what was left behind.

But even knowing the characters’ inevitable fates, I found myself caught up in the story’s suspense. Mysteries abound on the island. The motivations of the islands’ de facto colonizers, so rational at first, soon become garbled. They maintain a rigid hierarchy, keeping themselves behind a salt wall while the Princess Anne’s survivors are made to camp outside. What is it that they fear? What are they hiding from the survivors? And what are they hiding from each other? Tuk, the leader, seems so benevolent at first, but it’s soon revealed that there’s much more to him than a determined John Smith-like survivor.

Red Sand is a fairly quick read. Cray’s vibrant writing makes it easy to get lost in the passages, whether it’s the colorfully told backstories or the intensely depicted scenes of violence. It’s more than just a gore fest—the plot and concepts are fascinating. All in all, a wonderfully entertaining—and sometimes scream-inducing—story.

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Learn more about reviewer Mary Fan:

Author of Artificial Absolutes (view trailer)
Book Review Blogger for Zigzag Timeline Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Pinterest
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

p.m. terrell's Newest Suspense Novel Reviewed

Vicki's Key
By p.m.terrel

Author's Web Site: www.pmterrell.com

Genre: Suspense
ISBN 978-1-935970-03-3

Reviewed by Amy Lignor, author of Tallent & Lowery, originally for Suspense Magazine

Terrell has certainly proven that she knows the ingredients to creating a mystery that's filled to the brim with seduction and intensity. And, if possible, she's getting better with each and every novel she creates.

Vicki Boyd is the most capable woman working for her boss, Sam, at the CIA. In fact, she has a gift that no other agent will ever know. She can, quite literally, fly inside her own mind to places never before seen to uncover everything from drug schemes to political plots. She can find these locales like the best GPS on the planet, and provide latitudes, longitudes, even speak about the clothing of the people who live there. Unfortunately, her gift brings her to witness a terrible crime and she leaves the CIA in order to achieve a stress-free life.

Taking a job as an assistant to an elderly woman who spends her time breeding tropical fish, Vicki finds herself in a brand new location--a quiet one, but one that will turn out even more frightening than her last CIA mission.

Upon arrival at the Maguire's house, she finds that her new employer has had a stroke and is confined to her bedroom. She meets her nephew, Dylan, and is charmed by his Irish accent. Dylan, with the help of the slightly angry housekeeper, shows Vicki around, but the woman who hired her remains a mystery.

When her CIA boss suddenly arrives back in her life and on the Maguire's porch, Vicki finds herself dragged into yet another perilous journey in her own mind, stumbling across the fact that she's stuck in a truly frightening situation with no way out.

Parts of this story will make the reader feel as if they are the ones walking up that flight of stairs leading to Mrs. Bates' door in Psycho. The obsessive romance, the dark recesses of Vicki's mind, and the trouble that's been brewing in the Black Swamp area will come to life in rapid succession, forming a truly riveting read!

~Author p.m.terrell is the award-winning, internationally acclaimed author of more than fourteen books. She is also the co-founder of The Book 'Em Foundation whose slogan is Buy a Book and Stop a Crook and the co-chair for Book 'Em North Carolina, an annual event that raises awareness of the link that exists between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. More about Book 'Em's next event can be found at www.bookemnc.net. Learn more about p.m.terrell at www.pmterrell.com.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Linda Barnett-Johnson Reviews Young Adult Novel

Book: The Dog Men

Author: Patricia Crandall

Genre: Young Adult, Suspense/thriller
Author's Web Site: http://patriciacrandallauthor.homestead.com/

Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/d5sdom5

Rank: 5 stars

Reviewed by Linda Barnett-Johnson, Editor and Virtual Assistant for Authors. Originally review for Amazon.

The Dog Men is one of those books that your older kids and adults should read. If you are interested in what goes on in the dog fighting world, then it's for you. But it's also for those people that care about animals. Unfortunately, this goes on more than we know.

The characters are young kids about 9 and 10. As you know, most young kids are curious. When they discover a terrible secret in their small town, they vow to do something about it.

Fun read and a good gift to those kids that want something different.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Book Tour Features "Siren of Paris"

Title – The Siren of Paris

Author – David Leroy

Author's website link - http://www.thesirenofparis.com/

Genre or category – Historical Fiction/Action and Suspense

ASIN: B0088CA098

The Siren of Paris by David Leroy

Excerpt:

“I have decided to go back to Paris. I know other Americans there, and I think I might be able to help out with the American Hospital.” He sounded rehearsed to Joan. “Sounds like you have this all thought out. I didn’t know you wanted to go into medicine full time. I could use the help around here, Marc. Why not stay in Saint-Nazaire?”

    “Joan, there is nothing here for me to do. The other nurses can help. There is no more work to be done with the yards. I need to go back. There, I might be able to make a difference.” The words fell away from his mouth over her covers and out the windows to the sea.

    “What has changed? What is the hurry all of a sudden? I mean, you were going to go up to England and stay with your friend, Allen.” She held her stomach as it cramped. “Why do you all of a sudden now want to go to Paris? What are you running from, Marc?” she whispered a little too loudly, unaware that Marc had heard her.

     “I’m not running away, Joan. I just need to be someplace where I am needed. I cannot go back to America and just resume my plush life in New York and forget about everyone I know in France. There are Americans in Paris, not many, but still, and I just think that’s the best place for me right now,” Marc’s voice stood firm.

     She listened and then said, “You found him, didn’t you. You found your friend and now …”

    “Yes.” “I understand now. I have appreciated you here these months. Without you, I would have had to deal with that German officer directly, and you made that a lot easier,” she went on.

    “He’s not as bad as you make him out to be. He’s just trying to survive like you are.”

     “When do you leave?”

    “Maybe tomorrow. I’ll find out in the morning.”

    “Do you know why you are going?”

    “Yes. I think back in Paris, I can help at the hospital, and help others who are trying to make it through.”

    “Not even close, Marc, not even close,” she said, looking out at the sea.

    “Joan, I can’t go north. Even if Allen were alive and I had a place to stay in London, I can’t get across the Channel.” He sounded like a child complaining to his mother. “I can’t really go south. I have no proof of my American citizenship. I lost everything on that ship out there.” He then looked out and checked if the tide was low, where the superstructure haunted the coastline. “If I even got over the border, I don’t know anyone in Spain and would not know where to go. And, besides, after everything now, I cannot go home. At least in Paris, I can do something.”

    “Marc, listen to me carefully. Do you know why I dragged you from the ocean that day? Do you know what drove me when I was nearly eight months pregnant to convince a French fisherman to go out there and get you swimmers? I got news for you, friend. It wasn’t because God called me and said, ‘Hey, you got to save these chaps.’ “I saved you, not because I was trying to save you, but because I was trying to save the one whom I had lost in the past. I was trying to save the one soldier who died who I thought I could save if only I had done this, or that. And that dead soldier, whom I could not save—drives me in ways I can’t quite get at. I lost my baby, Marc, because I was so driven by that need to save him. That is why I was out there that day, and dragged you from the sea back to my hospital. Angels do have demons, you know."

Description: (adapted from the Amazon description)

In German occupied Paris, a group of unlikely people collaborate to smuggle an Allied airman south to Spain. Among them is an American, Marc Tolbert. He had come to Paris in 1939, to study art, not suspecting he would become caught up in a war or feel driven to acts of heroism.

Marc, the French-born son of a prominent American family, had found companionship and excitement in the ex-pat scene in Paris. His new friend Dora introduced him to a circle that included the famous Sylvia Beach, owner of the bookstore Shakespeare & Company. He had accepted a job with William Bullitt, US ambassador to France. And while at art school, he'd fallen in love with the alluring model Marie.

    Under the increasing threat from Germany, as Americans scrambled to escape Paris, Marc found himself trapped by the war. He almost died, on June 17, 1940, aboard the RMS Lancastria. After returning to Paris, he helped smuggle Allied airmen through the American Hospital to the Paris Resistance underground, until a profound betrayal led him into the hands of the Gestapo and to Buchenwald.
The Siren of Paris, the debut work of historical fiction by David LeRoy, tells a searing story of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and war that brings to vivid life the shimmering City of Lights during its darkest hours during World War II.
Rigorously researched and vibrant in historical detail, The Siren of Paris reimagines one of history’s most turbulent times through the prism of an American abroad in Europe’s most harrowing days. Poignant, gripping, and thought-provoking, The Siren of Paris mines the human dilemma of revenge versus forgiveness and vividly captures the conflicted state of survival.

What People Are Saying:

This is a well-written and well-researched story that takes the reader to Paris and its surroundings during WWII as viewed through the experiences of Marc Tolbert, an American who was born in France.

The characters are well-developed and we get to know many of them as well as we might know our friends. The scenery is vividly painted and one feels like they are there watching the events unfold. -- Auriane

The Siren of Paris was truly an enjoyable book. I found the imagery of certain events during World War II (based on what had to be a lot of historical research) woven well into the underlying story of friendship, love, growth and self-actualization. I personally found it a great mixture.

The characters are engaging and you truly want to see what happens to each of them in the end. And as mentioned previously, the imagery was very well done to the point that it instilled great visuals for my imagination. -- Chuck

The author's meticulous historical research really shines. Events are described in incredibly vivid detail and in a very personal and human way. For example, we see detailed news footage of the German invasion of France. We see people cramming themselves into and piling on top of train cars, trying to escape the country. We experience the destruction of an ocean liner, are drawn into the intrigue of the French resistance, and feel a character's psychological deterioration in a prison camp. The novel also touches on the post traumatic stress the protagonist suffers after the war.

I also liked the spirituality that runs through the novel. We see a priest who is well versed in dogma and without compassion contrasted with a loving, spiritual man of God. This story explores themes of faith, despair, betrayal, guilt, forgiveness, redemption, and the pivotal choices that make us who we become. There are also lightly rendered paranormal elements and interesting dream/hallucination sequences as well as a wise, thoughtful moment, at the end, where Marc's spirit realizes what he needs to achieve peace.

While it is packed with information, The Siren of Paris is readable and entertaining. This is an excellent living history book for adults and mature teens. -- Steph

About David Leroy:

A Native of California, David received a BA in Philosophy and Religion at Point Loma Nazarene College in San Diego. The degree served him well while selling women’s shoes, waiting tables, or working odd jobs after college until settling in the field of telecommunications, where he has worked for the past 18 years. Early on, he demonstrated artistic abilities. For many years, David marketed a line of fine art photographic prints through various galleries and retail outlets.

In the past few years, his focus has shifted to painting and drawing, which included the development of a children’s e-book in the Apple Itunes store under “David Tribble” title “Lord of the Scribes.”

After returning from a European arts study program, he became interested in the history behind the French Resistance during World War Two. Writing fiction has become his latest way to explore philosophical, moral and emotional issues of life. The Siren of Paris is his first novel.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Readers Favorite Gives Five Stars to Historical Suspense Novel

Lost Treasure of the Fourth ReichBy Barrett Clisby
Web site: www.LostTreasureoftheFourthReich.com
Historical Suspense Novel

Published by Island Girl Publications, LLC
ISBN 978-0-578-08749-8
E-book ISBN 978-1-4507-8377-4

Reviewed by Stephanie D. for Readers Favorite (www.readersfavorite.com)

5 Star Rating by Readers Favorite

The Lost Treasure of the Fourth Reich" by Barrett J Clisby describes itself as ‘an historically based suspense novel’. But what exactly does that mean? It means the author has used historical events as a base from which to weave a fictional, highly imaginative and exciting story.

Brad Calder, the book’s hero, uncovers the sunk German submarine U-842, which went down at Hogsty Reef carrying looted treasure en route from Nazi Germany to safe keeping in Argentina during the Second World War. It was also transporting the infamous ‘Red Leather Book’, which listed the names of all the people in Britain and America who had collaborated with the Nazis. There is plenty of action in this book as Brad and his colleagues Sally, Gail and Greg overcome horrific ordeals. It seems everyone wants what they recover from the U-842. Their pursuers include pirates, Nazi sympathizers and ...[others]

The author has obviously done a phenomenal amount of research. His style is detailed and methodical. This might sound slow-going, but it isn’t. Once the author has set the scene in the early chapters, then there’s no stopping it. There is also some jumping around between the present day and the past, which works very well in building up the complexity of the events within this book. It comes as no surprise to learn that this Renaissance Man of a writer is a boat captain and sailing instructor, aviator, diver and amateur treasure hunter. His experience in these skilled fields shines through in the book, lending authenticity and interest.

And the best news of all is that this book is the first in a trilogy!
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Goodreads Reviewer Sees New Novel Grounded in American South Literature

Title: Remain In Light
Author: Collin Kelley
Web site: www.collinkelley.com
Genre: Mystery/suspense
ASIN: B005Q133EI (ebook out now; print in January 2012)

Reviewed by Marshall Moore originally for Goodreads.com
Rating: Four stars

Fast forward two years, after the tumultuous events of Conquering Venus. Collin has done an admirable job here, layering history, mystery and travelogue to create a story that is thoughtful and substantial, immensely readable without being fluff. I can't speak to how well the book works as a stand-alone novel: although Collin intended it to be accessible to readers unfamiliar with Conquering Venus, I've read that book and can't experience this one without that background knowledge. My advice would be just to read them both.

One of the reasons this book works for me is that, despite its Paris setting (with excursions to Berlin, St-Etienne, and Chambery), this is Southern writing. Collin comes from that literary tradition, and readers familiar with the literature of the American South will recognize the use of language; the embrace of flawed, cracked characters; and the strong sense of place in this novel. The cover suggests the grotesque being rendered lovely; that's exactly what Collin is doing here. The novel won't be for everyone: it isn't an easy fit in any genre, it's sexually frank, and it thumbs its nose at a few mores that an increasingly right-wing America holds dear. But then, the best Southern writers don't spoon-feed baby food to their readers.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

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