Book Reviews, Thoughts, and Random Interesting Ideas

Lethal Cargo – My Review!!

I’m not sure how Lethal Cargo: Russian Historical Thriller (Nikolai Volkov Book 3) by Julia Gousseva showed up in my Amazon recommendations. I love thrillers, but haven’t been reading many lately. Regardless, I checked it out and added it to the TBR List. Read on for my review!

Synopsis (from the author):

Nikolai Volkov is a combat veteran of the Chechen war with a passion for finding truth and doing the right thing.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Nikolai embarked on a career of a bodyguard and soon became the best in the prestigious Centurion Personal Protection Agency in Moscow. He excels at protecting his clients and preventing crimes. But this time, his case is personal. His brother calls Nikolai with an urgent plea for help, and Nikolai heads to a small town in Crimea.

The town is quiet and picturesque, but dark forces are at work behind the scenes. Murders, illegal smuggling, and suspicious arrests challenge Nikolai’s detective skills and put his life in danger.

What I liked about Lethal Cargo:

Lethal Cargo had all the elements I like in a thriller. Sinister figures, shadowy conspiracy, action, intrigue, and really cool characters. Nikolai played the good guy perfectly, and the story, driven by his actions, moved along nicely. Entertaining plot twists and a satisfying end made it a fun read.

What I didn’t like about Lethal Cargo:

To be honest, there wasn’t much to dislike about Lethal Cargo.

Overall impression:

Lethal Cargo: Russian Historical Thriller (Nikolai Volkov Book 3) by Julia Gousseva was a great read. The story moved at a nice pace. With realistic and believable characters and gritty action, the book was a quick read and an entertaining novel. If you like thrillers, try this one!

My rating for Lethal Cargo:

5 Stars

Connect with Julia Gousseva:

Find out more about Julia Gousseva on her Amazon Author page or her website. While you’re visiting, consider leaving a comment or a review!

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Made in the Image of the Goddess – My Review!!

Made in the Image of the Goddess: The Legacy of Zyanthia Book One showed up in my Amazon recommendations recently. I read the blurb and added it to the TBR list. You know I like fantasy! Read on for my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

Saranon glanced up at the dragons as they flew overhead. The hour of darkness covered them as she watched on. She waited as Pennie examined the stone. It formed part of the shield locking them inside the camp. Shouts rang out on the other side. ‘Is that Galven?’ Pennie asked.

She nodded in reply. A twig broke on the muddy ground. ‘We have company,’ she said.

A lone sorcerer. Just one, but that was enough to give them away. Pennie ran for fear of being caught, while Tasha stood gazing out into the distance, ‘One day that will be us.’

Enter an epic tale of sword and sorcery. More than two hundred years ago a powerful sorceress freed her people then vanished. As time passed truth turned into myth and myth became legend. The time has come again. Saranon must claim her rightful place before Zyanthia falls.

What I liked about Made in the Image of the Goddess:

I enjoyed the story. Saranon posseses cool powers and has interesting and entertaining adventures. Add dragons to the mix and Made in the Image of the Goddess has everything needed for a nice fantasy book.

What I didn’t like about Made in the Image of the Goddess:

In spite of the good thing mentioned above, I had a couple of issues with the book. First, the book needs editing. There were just too many errors and they kept throwing me out of the story. Secondly, the story didn’t flow well to me.

Overall impression:

 Made in the Image of the Goddess: The Legacy of Zyanthia Book One has a lot of promise. With a bit of editing work, this is easily a 4 star book!

My rating:

3 Stars

Connect with Chantelle Griffin:

Find out more about Chantelle Griffin and her books on her Amazon Author page and on Goodreads. While you’re visiting, go ahead and leave her a comment or a review!

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The Space Navy Series Books One & Two!!

If my readers recall, a few years ago I reviewed two Space Navy novellas by Jonathon Fletcher. Full of action and enough sci-fi to satisfy, the first of the two books, entitled Josiah Trenchard and the Might of Fortitude, introduced Josiah Trenchard and the Space Navy. The series now totals nine novellas!

Josiah Trenchard and the Might of Fortitude blurb:

Commander Josiah Trenchard is a no-nonsense, foul mouthed, alcohol fuelled action hero.

He’s been fighting hard in the war that’s been raging between the United Worlds and the insurgents ever since the Belatu-Cadros uprising on Mars, four years ago. Trenchard was almost killed during that battle; scarred both physically and emotionally. Now he’s fighting the increasingly desperate insurgents once more when he’s unexpectedly re-assigned to an untested prototype vessel.

The Wolverine class “Might of Fortitude” has been designed to be the deadliest hunter-killer in the fleet. The cramped, submarine-like vessel is about to be launched on her maiden voyage. Her mission: to hunt down bloodthirsty pirates who have unleashed a reign of terror throughout the asteroid belt.

As Commander Trenchard struggles to cope with a woefully inexperienced crew of misfits and reprobates, bad turns to worse when the hunter becomes the hunted and he must put his life on the line to save his ship, his crew, and the honour of the Space Navy.

The adventure continued in Josiah Trenchard and the Morgenstern. This one follows our intrepid crew as they have to face an enemy like nothing they’ve seen before!

Josiah Trenchard and the Morgenstern blurb:

Captain Josiah Trenchard is a no-nonsense, foul-mouthed, alcohol fuelled action hero.

After surviving a mutiny aboard the star-ship “Might of Fortitude”, Josiah Trenchard has been promoted to Captain and is finding out that it’s not what he imagined. When insurgent terrorists kill thousands of innocent people on Earth, he and his crew are sent on a mission to protect a facility, vital to the war effort, which is located deep within the Kuiper belt.

Unfortunately, the insurgents have now become allies with the heavily armed pirates who prowl the asteroid belt. They are racing to occupy the facility and steal a dark military secret, hidden within the space-station. In the midst of battle, a terrible “something” wakens from cryogenic slumber and carves a wake of death and destruction throughout the space-station. Can Captain Trenchard save the day? Just who is the mysterious leader of the pirates and what are the dark motives of the Papaver Corporation?

Why am I telling you this? Well, Jonathon Fletcher combined the two novellas into the first full length Space Navy novel. Called The Space Navy Series Books One & Two, the book is out now! Since I’m a former submarine sailor, I took no offense at the language. Surrounded by sailors, I heard much worse on my boat! The action is first-rate, and the stories move quickly. If military science fiction with a little bit of submarine heritage appeals to you, then check out this series!

Connect with Jonathon Fletcher:

Find Jonathon Fletcher on his Amazon Author page and on his website. Discover more about Jonathon (despite his characters, he’s a gardener) and the entire Space Navy Series! While you’re there, leave him a comment or a review. In addition, maybe you’ll pick up a book or nine!

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I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest, so find me and let’s connect! I’d love to hear your thoughts on Jonathon’s books or anything else you have on your mind!

Children of the Future – My Review!!

Children of the Future by Jane Suen hit my TBR list courtesy of a Goodreads recommendation. I guess they know what I like! A nice mixture of science fiction and mystery, it was a quick read and an entertaining book. Read on for my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

Where are the missing children?

A small yellow school bus pulls up in front of the little red brick schoolhouse. Telly, the bus driver, discovers all of the children are missing — all except one very frightened Billy who has hidden in a cabinet. Where is everyone? Telly and Billy are determined to find the answers.

The little town of Rocky Flats is stirred into a frenzy. Nothing like this has ever happened before! Where have the children gone? Why? As the clock ticks and the little town rallies together in the search, will they find the children before it’s too late?

What I liked about Children of the Future:

Children of the Future was a well-told simple tale. Telly was a good solid character and Billy was a brave little guy. Together, the two of them set out to solve the mystery of Billy’s missing classmates. The story revolves around the search and the clues the two uncover. I enjoyed Telly’s discovery of the truth (though no spoilers from me) and the surprising twist at the end. Overall, a fast read and a fun book!

What I didn’t like about Children of the Future:

The book was a little simplistic and, aside from Telly and Billy, the characters were one-dimensional. The anxiety shown by the parents of the missing children seemed almost non-existent and unrealistic.

Overall impression:

I enjoyed Children of the Future! The book had nice elements of science fiction and mystery and the tale moved along quickly. I recommend this novella to anyone who likes a quick fun read with a surprise ending.

My rating: 4 Stars

Connect with Jane Suen:

Find out more about Jane Suen and her books on her Amazon Author page. While you’re there, consider leaving her a comment or a review! I know she ill appreciate it!

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Crystal Escape – My Review!!

I read the first three books and the prequel of the Crystal Series, so when Doug J. Cooper released Crystal Escape (Crystal Series Book 4), it hit my TBR immediately. Read on for my thoughts on the latest installment of this great sci-fi series.

Synopsis (from the author):

Lazura, an alien AI completing an Earth reconnaissance mission, is poised to take her data archive home to her Kardish masters. All she needs is a way past Criss, a superior intelligence determined to stop her. And stop her he must, because the information in Lazura’s archive provides the powerful Kardish a roadmap to Earth domination, starting with the subjugation of Criss himself. When Lazura makes a surprise break for her home world, she kidnaps Cheryl Wallace and Juice Tallette, two-thirds of Criss’s leadership, and positions them as human shields to protect her ship. Sid, the final member of the leadership team and Cheryl’s lover, joins Criss in chasing Lazura across the solar system. But can they catch Lazura before she reaches the safety of interstellar space? And can they rescue Cheryl and Juice while also protecting the future of Earth?

What I liked about Crystal Escape:

As with the other books in the series, Crystal Escape presented a future with space travel, AI, and cool technology. The familiar characters, especially Criss, continue to evolve. Lazura even made me feel a little sorry for her at the end. I liked the interplay among the characters, and the synbods with the lower grade crystals made great additions to the story. Even Lazura, who is less capable than Criss, outsmarted him in her attempt to escape. Overall, a good sci-fi read!

What I didn’t like about Crystal Escape:

I thought the action on the Aurora was a bit forced and the criminal characters involved with the mining venture could have played a bigger role in the story. Other than that, no complaints from me.

Overall impression:

Crystal Escape (Crystal Series Book 4) by Doug J. Cooper is a nice addition to the series. The familiar characters, continuation of the story, and a lower intelligence AI challenging Criss made for a good book. I recommend this one (and the entire series) to any sci-fi fans!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 stars)

Connect with Doug J. Cooper:

Find out more about Doug J. Cooper and his books on his website and his Amazon Author page. While you’re there, please consider leaving a comment or a review!

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Riven – My Review!!

Riven (My Myth #1) by Jane Alvey Harris showed up in my Goodreads recommendations. Intrigued by both the cover and the blurb, I added it to my TBR list. Read on for my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

Which reality would you choose? Seventeen year-old Emily’s dad is in prison for securities fraud and her mom’s strung-out on pain meds, leaving Emily to parent herself and her younger brothers and sister. She’s got things mostly under control until a couple weeks before Dad’s release, when voices start whispering in her head, and Gabe, the hot lifeguard at the pool, notices the strange brands engraved on her arm…the ones she’s trying desperately to hide.

Emily doesn’t know how the symbols got there or what they mean. They appeared overnight and now they’re infected and bleeding. She’s pretty sure she’s losing her mind. Stress, insomnia, and her wounded egos drive Emily to self-medicate, which has to be why the nightmares from her childhood have resurfaced, why they’re commandeering her conscious even when she’s awake. It has to be why the fairytale creatures she created as a little girl insist they need her help. Triggered by the return of her childhood abuser and unable to cope with reality, Emily slips completely inside her elaborate fantasy world. She’s powerful in the First Realm, maybe even more powerful than her attacker.

It would be so easy to stay there, to lose herself in enchantment…to lose herself in love. But something sinister lurks in the forest shadows. Emily soon discovers her demons have followed her inside her fairytale. They’re hunting her. With the help of the Fae, she frantically searches for the weapons she needs to defeat her greatest fears and escape back to reality before the man who tortured her can prey on her younger brothers and sister, too. Time is running out…

*Non-Explicit Trigger Warning: This book deals with the issues of child molestation and child abuse. 

What I liked about Riven:

Riven had many of the elements of classic fantasy. From the Fae, the First Realm, and the dragonflies in the real world, to the runes cut into her arm, the intrigue and magic made the story seem real. Emily’s substance abuse and her mother’s illness provided the perfect reasons to slip between worlds. The abuse noted at the end of the synopsis, though horrible and uncomfortable, wasn’t explicit and didn’t overtly dominate the story. Emily’s escape mechanism from the trauma did dominate the story and, by using fantasy elements to depict her protection, Jane Alvey Harris did an exceptional job handling the topic.

What I didn’t like about Riven:

At times, the story was difficult to follow, especially when Emily interacted with her siblings. Whether she imagined everything or if her siblings also saw what she saw was unclear at times. Gabe’s insistence to be included in Emily’s life (despite the fact it was explained late in the book) was a bit odd for me.

Overall impression:

Excellent characters, a good story, and memorable fantasy elements made Riven (My Myth #1) a book to read. Certainly not for early YA, this one suits older teens. The book handles a difficult subject well, but with the fantasy elements dominating the story, it is a good read. I recommend it to all older fantasy fans!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Jane Alvey Harris: 

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