Free Book Reviews

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Extreme Difference

Synopsis:

Dumped on an alien world as an adult, with no memory, and among a strange bunch of people who had filled their own blank memories with myth and legend, what do you do? If you just agree with the others, you stand a good chance of losing what little sanity you have left, and if you don’t, you are labelled a heretic.

Review:

Although a short book I was very intrigued by this story and will be looking at more of the author's work.

Where to Find:
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble

Lovestruck Succubus

Synopsis:

Azra just wants a loving relationship, But her kind of love kills. Ousted from her world, pursued by a Police Detective for crimes against men, her prospects of mortal love look bleak. That is, until she finds the one man strong enough to survive her. But he's the one chasing her, and he harbors a dark secret of his own. Can they survive each other or will their secrets destroy them both? See the book trailer on the author page, or on youtube.

This book contains content that may not be suitable for young readers 17 and under.

Review:

After slogging through the first few chapters I found a book that gives you a great ride for the money. keep in mind that when you read this book the first few chapters are needed in order to fully enjoy the rest. With that I do recommend because this book picks up in a big way after that, just be prepared. As a side note I really hate erotic books but this one was not so heavy on the erotic.

Where to Find:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble

Drum Dance

Synopsis:

Drum Dance is a young-adult novel set in the late 1930s at Gjoa Haven, in Canada’s central Arctic, near the area where Sir John Franklin and his crew froze to death searching for the Northwest Passage.

Seventeen-year-old David Jansson agrees to spend two years at an isolated fur-trading post with his estranged father, Per Jansson, manager for the Hudson’s Bay Company. David hasn't seen his dad for five years, and the hot-tempered man he finds is not the gentle father he remembers—he has become a domineering, abusive alcoholic.

David soon regrets his decision, but tries to make the best of a bad situation and follow his dad's strict orders: absolutely no contact with the beautiful half-blood girl, Nipesha, nor the intimidating shaman, Naigo, who ignores Inuit tradition and wants the white youth for his apprentice—a creepy old man who appears in David's room in the middle of the night, then vanishes before his eyes. David's emotions are torn while denying his own paranormal abilities and blaming Per for his mother's death.

To escape an intolerable situation in a land where escape is nearly impossible, David stubbornly risks his life by underestimating the weather—and his own heart—when he ignores a basic truth: The Arctic seldom gives a man a second chance.

"Birch bark canoes were made for rivers and lakes," Per said, "not the icy waters of the Arctic. Fall out of this, you'll freeze before you drown!"

This book contains content that may not be suitable for young readers 17 and under.

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel, being that I am not that much into YA. However, I was surprised with the prose and skill that this author so gleefully attack our senses with. I really connected with the characters and enjoyed the story from beginning to end therefore I recommend this as a buy.

Where to Find:
Amazon Kindle
Smashwords

Dark Quarry: A Mike Angel PI Mystery

Synopsis:

Dive into this, the first in the "Dark" series of Mike Angel, Private Investigator mysteries, set in the New York/New Jersey and Chicago areas in 1960. If you like complex plots, soul-tortured protagonists, and suspense, you'll be hooked by this series. The first volume is historical fiction, involving names and places connected with remnants of the infamous Purple Gang of the 1930s. Suspense, seduction and even some suupernatural elements are involved, though this is more of a mystery series in the vein of Chandler, Spillane, Hammett.

Burdened by the unsolved murder of his father, a career NYPD lieutenant whose "voice" warns whenever danger is near, 30-year-old Mike Angel is a Korean vet and bored private investigator of insurance fraud. When a wealthy ex-college buddy hires him to tail Joe Ambler, a petty blackmailer, Mike fixates on Kimbra, the blackmailer's woman, a stunning beauty who commits murder. Mike impulsively helps her dispose of the body and finds himself on the wrong side of the law.
Mike then discovers the dead man was the grandson of a feared and legendary mob leader, founder of Detroit's Purple Gang of the 1920s and 30s, possibly still alive. The same week, a well-dressed thug comes looking for Ambler, and the wealthy buddy who hired Mike runs off with Kimbra and is murdered in the Bahamas.

Kimbra disappears. While searching for her Mike stumbles across connections to the Russian-Cuban branch of the ring responsible for a string of unsolved murders in three states. The discovery leads to a chain of events and a frame up. Mike is convicted of murder, and is sent to the federal prison at Trenton, where the warden enlists him in a jailbreak with a hardened criminal with ties to the Purple gang. After Mike escapes, he is helped by an attractive but single-minded newspaper woman, Heddy McBright, one of several females who crowd his nighttime thoughts.

Mike locates the witness and evidence that will clear him, and discovers the frame and the escape were both setups. After a shootout, a crooked judge yanks Mike's investigator's license so he moves to Chicago to follow leads to the Purple gang. He sets up an office and is helped by Molly Bennett who becomes his main love interest and a major character in the series, along with retired Rick Anthony, Mike's late father's partner on the NYPD, who becomes Mike's partner. Mikes struggles with alcohol and commitment to Molly, and is sidetracked on his attempts to nail the kingpin of the gang.

Seduction, deception, murders, shootouts, and crooked officials take Mike on a dangerous mission to the final showdown at Russian mob headquarters outside the small town of Mattoon, Illinois, where he hopes to discover who killed his father and save the life of Nika, a woman he has fallen for. You may have quite a few laughs at Mike's sarcasm and approach throughout.

Review:

Took me a while but after reading book three and four of this series I finally made it to the first. With that I would have to say I understand a little more about Mike and his path. If you are looking for a great mystery series to start this would be that starting point. Hopefully David takes my suggestion and keeps this series alive with more books.

Where to Find:
Amazon
Smashwords

Friday, April 29, 2011

Press Release:THE GEORGE CARLIN LETTERS: THEPERMANENT COURTSHIP OF SALLY WADE

George Carlin’s longtime love and “spouse without papers,” Sally Wade, celebrates their ten year courtship with a uniquely illustrated memoir titled THE GEORGE CARLIN LETTERS: THE PERMANENT COURTSHIP OF SALLY WADE (Gallery Books/Simon and Schuster- March 8, 2011).

THE GEORGE CARLIN LETTERS: THE PERMANENT COURTSHIP OF SALLY WADE is a collection of never-before-seen writings and artwork by the late greatcomedian (representing at least 1/3 of the text in the book), woven into Wade's beautifully told chronicle of their life together. The book provides a rare glimpse into the man behind the legend.

George wrote to Sally daily—funny notes, heartfelt cards, postcards and love letters…he even started fights on paper; the title is taken from his very last note, which Sally found propped up on her computer upon returning from the hospital the day he died.

One of the greatest love stories ever told…hilariously, until the release of this book, no one but Sally has ever seen this side of George Carlin. And everyone is guaranteed to fall in love with both of them.

Facebook
Video Interview with Sally

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Being

Synopsis:

For elite extraterrestrial pilot EBN-Reyoz-X, awaiting rescue while hiding out in a trailer park in Lancaster, California, is a grueling nightmare. She’s injured, lacks proper supplies and can’t blend in with the indigenous population because she’s seven feet tall and can’t control the trail of wildflowers blooming in the wake of her footsteps. She’s unprepared to begin sexual maturity in the alien land and when she develops feelings for Shale, the mute teenage boy next door, she’s convinced circumstances can get no worse.

Except rescue never comes and once word spreads that her touch holds miraculous healing abilities, EBN must find a way to fix her ship, evade capture by the United States Air Force and survive long enough to return home.

Review:

If you are looking for a book that takes you on a visually stunning ride then click on the buy now and stop reading this review. If you however are looking for a book that will contain finely developed characters, a rich and flowing plot line and an ending that both satisfies and keeps you wanting more, then stop reading this review and click buy now. Still reading the review, buy this book and you will get all of the above. What are you waiting for buy it now.

Where to Find:
Amazon

Author Interview: Richard Sanders author of Dead Line

About your book: Dead Line
The Lit-Crit Take: A genre-bending, character-driven thriller about memory, identity and making peace with the past. The Pure Plot Pitch: Sure, we all know about arrogant, self-centered media executives. But how about one who served time as a teen for murdering her sister? And who suddenly believes she’s possessed by the spirit of Indira Gandhi? And now, at the height of her power, a secret from her past is threatening to destroy her empire, while someone from that past is trying to take her life. Stop the damn presses!

Free Book Reviews
What do you think readers will find most notable about this book?

Richard Sanders
Two things, I hope. (1) Ispent 30 years working as an editor in magazines and media, mostly at Peopleand Entertainment Weekly and their websites, so much of the journalistic actionin Dead Line is based on personal,behind-the-scenes experience and observation. (2) I’ve tried to inject thematerial with an adrenaline-fueled spirituality, a zen freedom needed to trickaway the addictions to power and control.

Free Book Reviews
Have you acquired anygood anecdotes surrounding this book? If so, could you share one?

Richard Sanders
All the media scenes arebased on things that have actually happened to me or to people I know. Forexample, there’s one scene where a brand-conscious editor goes ballisticbecause someone is using an old memo pad with an outdated magazine logo.Something very much like this happened to me. I was in a meeting with our mediadirector, and just in case I was inspired to write something down, I pulled outan old memo pad, one printed in purple ink instead of the new, approved RobinEgg Blue. The woman completely freaked and started—literally—to scream: “Whatare you DOING? We don’t use those anymore! Please, put that away! Don’t letANYONE see it!” Some people take their branding very, very seriously.

Free Book Reviews
Did researching andwriting this book teach you anything or influence your thinking in any way?

Richard Sanders
Yeah. Looking back on it,the media/magazine/dotcom world is even crazier than I thought.

Free Book Reviews
What would you mostlike readers to tell others about this book?

Richard Sanders
That it’s a entertaininginside look at publishing, that it’s an exciting, well-written thriller, andthat it has interesting things to say about the way we try to live our lives.

Free Book Reviews
Can you suggest onequestion readers might find interesting to discuss, concerning you, yourwriting in general, or this book?

Richard Sanders
Well, one of my bigpersonal challenges is mixing spiritual values with the murder and mayhem of agood thriller. I try to make the spiritual insights part of thecharacters—almost all my characters are addicted to something, whether it’smoney or power or one of the more traditional substances. But I’m not alwayssure I succeed. So I guess that would be a question I’d ask readers: Have thetwo elements blended?

Free Book Reviews
How can readers helpyou promote this book?

Richard Sanders
I really depend on reviews to sell, so I ask readers to please share their thoughts wherever they’ve madetheir purchase. No need for an essay—just one positive word or line will do:“Brilliant.” “Stupendous.” “It really CAN save you 15% on your car insurance.”

About You:Richard Sanders

Free Book Reviews
Why do you write?

Richard Sanders
Two reasons, I think. One,there’s a real joy is shaping thoughts and words and images. Two, there’s areal joy in sharing that joy with other people. Besides, I was never good atanything else except writing.

Free Book Reviews
What is your greateststrength as a writer?

Richard Sanders
It might be the reporter’sability to describe something in perfectly selected detail, and then to shootthe details through with mystery. At least that’s my ambition.

Free Book Reviews
What quality do youmost value in yourself?

Richard Sanders
Avoiding bullshit and speaking the truth.

Free Book Reviews
In addition towriting, what else are you passionate about?

Richard Sanders
Taking photos, playingacoustic slide guitar and making my wife happy—I really enjoy doing that lastone.

Free Book Reviews
What are you mostproud of accomplishing so far in your life?

Richard Sanders
Working as an editor at Time Inc. for 23 years, staying married to a beautiful woman (the same beautiful woman) for 41 years, writing six novels (sofar), surviving time in jail, rehab and a psych ward and somehow managing to stay sane and alive.

Free Book Reviews
Is there any new or established author whom you feel deserves more attention, and what is it that strikes you about his or her work?

Richard Sanders
Two new ones, actually. One is Richard Bell, a funny, weirdly imaginative guy who’s written a series of fractured fairy tales called Life Seemed Good, But… I reviewed the book on Smashwords and tried to describe it as Mark Twain on mushrooms or Garrison Keillor with food poisoning.Whatever it is, it’s fascinating and hilarious and unlike anything I’ve everread.

The other writer is Jennifer Place, who’s written a powerful, gimlet-eyed memoir about her alcohol addiction called Saturation. I’m biased here because I edited her book, but all I did was suggest changes in pacing and structure. The brilliant, courageous writing she uses to tell her story—whichincludes multiple trips to jail and many, many visits to rehabs—is all her own.She’s also on Smashwords.

For more on Richard Sanders please visit https://rsandersdeadline.wordpress.com/

Monday, April 25, 2011

Book Reviews: Paid or Free (what is best)

My original idea of starting this blog was simple:

In the journey of my wife (RJ Palmer) and her dream of becoming a published author we found that self published was the way to go. This route may seem like the easiest or "anybody can do it" path but it is a bit harder than that. We had to wrangle editing, formatting (tough as all indies know), advertising and a large mountain of other incidentals along the way. After finishing up and finally bringing her book "Birthright" to the public eye and for her to start working on a followup "Sins of The Father", I found myself emerged in the world of indies. I saw how hard they worked no matter how bad they were treated or how much they were loather by the traditional publisher. I thought of all I could do for these brothers and sisters in the greatest/toughest job on the planet and everything pointed to reviews. Reviews sell books because readers like to know that the book has had someone else read it and at least invoked enough emotion for that person to take the time to post a review of that book.

Looking at this I perused other review blogs, of which there are many, and found a common theme. There are those blogs that review the incidental indie book and stick to the published or those that charge for the review.
The true indie book review blog is hard to find, yes I do review small publisher books, but I hope to change this. I found lists here and there that can point the indie author to the right place to get that great review that will catapult their sales but there are also those that prey on the indie authors want to be noticed. These blogs charge for their reviews without a gaurantee of any sales, yes I know the risk is on the author, but these blogs promote their reviewer ranks on any number of book selling sites which makes it seem like a great base for sales. It is not the reviewer nor the review that sells a book but the author and their getting traffic to the post of this review.

With this in mind we come to the reason I do not charge, and never will, for my review of any book. I usually get the book for free, if someone clicks on a google ad I make money or if someone clicks on an Amazon ad and purchases the item I make money. Also I feel grateful for the request of author to review their book or interview them. I like to pretend they really do care what I think of their book and I also like to think that my readers care what I say. I also do not place a star rating on my reviews nor do regurgitate the plot. I place a synopsis (usually written by the author), my review (something short about how the book made me feel) and where this work can be found (usually my two favorite sites Amazon and Smashwords). I do this because I feel the potential reader needs to do the work of actually reading the book to get the plot but just might like to know the feeling the book invoked in me. If I give a bad review I hope the author does not mind because it is just how I feel and I am in no way badmouthing their hard work. I believe it takes talent to write a book and an equal amount of courage to make a real go at being an author.

This post was inspired by this post.

Readers: If you are looking at this post I do apologize if it seems all over the place and confused but that is how my brain operates. Give an indie a chance and by an unknown masterpiece. Any one of the books listed on my read or to be read list would be a great start.

Dark Poison: A Mike Angel Private Eye Mystery

Synopsis:

(Novel #4 in the Mike Angel “Dark” Hardboiled PI series – 72,000 words)

About the Series: Mike Angel is a younger-than-most Private Eye who “hears” the voice of his dead father when his prominent facial scar burns at impending trouble. Molly Bennett is Mike’s loyal if Pollyannaish office whiz and increasingly steady love interest. Rick Anthony, who was Mike’s late father’s partner on the detective squad of the NYPD, is over-educated and comes out of retirement to help Mike learn the ropes. These three characters are in all four novels in the series to date.

Dark Poison is set in Chicago in 1963.

When a grotesque and melodramatic female seeks protection from a convict Mike helped to send up, his scar needles heat up. After she slips Mike a mysterious substance in his coffee he suffers near total paralysis. While she rifles his office, can only watch her take a file and leave. The next morning he awakes and tries to identify what was taken. Once he pinpoints the case file he stumbles through a chain of events involving three murders (one body found in his own kitchen!), an interview with the convict at Joliet, and a reinvestigation of the diamond heist and killing—which in turn uncovers a suspicious international gem company with ties to Argentina, escaped Nazis, the Daley administration, and the CIA.
The escalating case further tangles when the famous Chicago Police Commissioner, O.W. Wilson, taps Mike to flush out the Nazi mastermind for the Israeli secret police.
Throughout the episode Mike struggles against attraction for Rebecca Lutz, a vulnerable blonde employed by the gem company whose sister is named in the stolen file. Rebecca becomes the client and helps Mike uncover the truth about the company. Tension builds from this triangle, which includes Molly Bennett, and parallels the building suspense in solving the murders and capturing the escaped Nazi.
In a twisting climax, Mike finds himself in crossfire between the CIA, the demands of the Israeli Mossad, and the FBI. A plot to insure that the master criminal will not be taken alive unfolds to hide collusion about other Nazis who worked for West Germany against the Soviet Communists.

Review:

Although I do plan on reading the first two books in this series I could not help but read the 4th installment in the series as I had already read the third. As such I was not disappointed. The story was perfectly fluid from the previous and left me in the same emotional high as the third book (Dark Blonde). I can not wait to dig into the first and second installment so that I may build on my emotional connection with the characters. Keep an eye on this writer as his star is sure to shine soon.

Where to Find:
Amazon
Smashwords

Leviathan

Synopsis:

The day Leviathan, Serpent of the Heavens, sent Death to collect Beauty's soul, the vengeful Hero is swayed to confront God himself and demand payment for the wrong done. A parable of modern man's response to the guilt and pain of death, Leviathan is an old story but retold.

Review:

From the frst page to the last this book will have your attention and get you reflecting on your own life. Readers will relate to Hero without even realizing it til the end of the tale. This is a must read for anyone who favors stories that make you reflect on your own life and the deeds that have gotten us to any one point in life.

Where to Find:
Amazon
Smashwords

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Author Interview: Marti Talbott author of Marti Talbott's Highlander Series

About your book: Marti Talbott's Highlander Series, Volume 1, Anna, Rachel & Charlet

Free Book Reviews
What do you think readers will find most notable about this book?

Marti Talbott
This book is a clean romance and the beginning of a seven book (and growing) family saga set in 12th century Scotland.

Free Book Reviews
Have you acquired any good anecdotes surrounding this book? If so, could you share one?

Marti Talbott
From a review: This book makes me want to see Scotland and I'm of German descent.

Free Book Reviews
Did researching and writing this book teach you anything or influence your thinking in any way?

Marti Talbott
I have certainly learned a lot about Scotland and how the people lived in those days.

Free Book Reviews
What would you most like readers to tell others about this book?

Marti Talbott
That they fully enjoyed reading it.

Free Book Reviews
How can readers help you promote this book?

Marti Talbott
There is nothing so splendid to a writer than word of mouth.

About You: Marti Talbott

Marti Talbott is the mother of two and the grandmother of six who lives in Seattle. She writes about life and about falling in love, although she does not write explicit sex. She has survived a fire, a flood, a tornado, several blizzards, a California earthquake and a marriage. If you ask her, she will tell you she writes about love because it is the only way she can get a man to say what she wants him to.

Free Book Reviews
Why do you write?

Marti Talbott
I normally tell people I write romance because it is the only way I can get a man to say what I want him to. Seriously, like most writers I am driven to keep writing. I think we have a disease.

Free Book Reviews
What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Marti Talbott
I love writing dialog.

Free Book Reviews
What quality do you most value in yourself?

Marti Talbott
The ability to stay out of fights with other real people. I would rather just watch and turn it into dialog in my next book.

Free Book Reviews
In addition to writing, what else are you passionate about?

Marti Talbott
I tried painting but I'm not very good at it.

Free Book Reviews
What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?

Marti Talbott
My first book is on the top 100 historical romance list and I am thrilled. It'll probably slide back off, but for now I am basking in the glow.

Free Book Reviews
Is there any new or established author whom you feel deserves more attention, and what is it that strikes you about his or her work?

Marti Talbott
I love all Independent (without publishers) authors. They are the brave and bold in this new world of publishing. Bravo to them all!

Marti Talbott's books are available for Kindle and Nookand read more about her on her website at http://www.firstchapterproject.com/

Thursday, April 21, 2011

New Book Makes Nutritional Science Obsolete

Press Release for If It Grows,EAT IT! by Ryan E. Day

New Book Makes Nutritional Science Obsolete
Ryan E. Day makes a splash with his first book-length publication If It Grows,EAT IT!

(Chico, CA) --March 4, 2011 -- Mechanic-turned-writer Ryan E. Day makes his
debut with a 12,500 word short book that pokes fun at diets, questions
supplements, presents the problems with research, and ultimately reveals his own common-sense approach to healthy eating. With a sometimes humorous combination of plain English and wit, Day separates hyperbole from reality.

“It doesn't take 300 pages to explain our dietary needs, it's just not that
complicated.” says Day. “Anyone who’s overwhelmed or confused by the glut of information about nutrition needs to read this book.”

Currently available through Amazon as a Kindle e-book.

Previews are available at the If It Grows, EAT IT!Facebook
site.

Pages

Like, Follow and Share Free Book Reviews