Book Reviews, Thoughts, and Random Interesting Ideas

I’ve read and reviewed most of Gordon Bickerstaff’s Lambeth Group thrillers and thoroughly enjoyed them. I recently reached the latest in the series, Never Go Back, in my TBR list. Read on for my thoughts about the novel!

Synopsis (from the author):

Former SAS officer Ben Greene is a brutal arms dealer.

By ruthlessly killing rivals, he created a massive business supplying illegal weapons.

Twenty-five years ago, Zoe Tampsin led a special forces unit to Northern Cyprus to find Greene and end his evil business.

Greene continues to sell weapons to extremists seeking regime change in Europe. The UK is under pressure to stop him. They send Zoe back to Northern Cyprus to finish the job.

Both of them are older, wiser, and more cunning.

Is Greene still too great a match for Zoe?

What I liked about Never Go Back:

I appreciated the return to the earlier Lambeth Group thriller format. While I’ve enjoyed Gordon Bickerstaff’s books, I prefer the hard-hitting, gritty thrillers. A couple of the more recent books dealt more with the characters’ relationships than the crisis central to the book. Never Go Back starts wide open and doesn’t stop. Zoe and her team are back in form, the plot is interesting, and the action kept me turning the pages. Overall, an excellent read!

What I didn’t like about Never Go Back:

My one complaint about Never Go Back was the corrupt officials. While it moved the story forward, it was a predictable part of the plot.

Overall impression of Never Go Back:

As with the other Lambeth Group books, I enjoyed Never Go Back. I liked how Gordon Bickerstaff opened with action and kept it going. The novel returned to the hard-hitting and gritty nature found in the earlier books, and the multiple subplots aligned nicely at the end. If you like thrillers, read this one!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with Gordon Bickerstaff:

Find Gordon on his website, Amazon Author page, or Goodreads page! Visit, find out about his books (maybe buy a couple?), and leave a review or a comment!

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As my readers know, I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Doug J. Cooper’s novels, including Lagrange Rising. When he released Lagrange Calling (Cuss Abbott #2), it went on the TBR list. Here are my thoughts about the Interworld Marshall’s adventures.

Synopsis (from the author):

A daring heist at Avium Pharmaceuticals leaves one dead and a shipment of pleasure drugs missing. The thieves employ unheard-of technology during the crime—a filter that renders them invisible to police surveillance—and escape Lagrange in a stolen spaceship. Interworld Marshal Cuss Abbott and partner Ygo track the criminals to Utopia, a lawless frontier town on Mars. Accompanied by the beautiful Detective Eve Boucher, they sprint in pursuit. During the weeks-long journey to the Red Planet, they strategize and plan, only to arrive unprepared for the harsh reality of life in a mining settlement ruled by criminal syndicates. Forced to rely on their instincts and each other in a hostile society, the line between revenge and justice blurs. Cuss publicly challenges the syndicate bosses in a breathtaking showdown, knowing a single misstep can unleash disaster in a place where criminals make the rules.

What I liked about Lagrange Calling:

I enjoyed getting to know more about Cuss Abbott and Ygo. The speculative aspects of the technology in the book, as well as the police procedural parts, make for an exciting story. Add in the romance between the characters (and an unexpected twist on it), the Wild West-type setting for the showdown, and the book kept me turning the pages. The ending was also satisfying, but no spoilers from me. Overall, it’s a good science fiction read!

What I didn’t like about Lagrange Calling:

My only complaint was the way the book slowed toward the end. The rest of the book moved quickly, but the conflict resolution with the murderers occurred earlier than I expected. The final part may set the stage for another book, but was slow.

Overall impression of Lagrange Calling:

Lagrange Calling (Cuss Abbott #2) was a fast-paced, enjoyable book. The characters continue to grow, and the technology is interesting. The plot was twisty enough to keep things moving, and the ending was satisfactory, though a bit slow. If you enjoy science fiction and police procedurals, try this one!

My rating:

4.5 Stars rounded to 5 stars

Connect with Doug J. Cooper:

Find Doug J. Cooper on his website, his Amazon Author Page, and his Goodreads page. Find all his books, maybe pick up one or two, and learn more about the author!

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Time for a new review. As is often the case, I found The Finding (Legend of Oescienne #1) by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson on Bragmedallion.com. Here are my thoughts.

Synopsis (from the author):

When the dragon Jaax receives word that a human infant has been found in the province of Oescienne, he doesn’t dare believe it. Humans have been extinct for centuries, trapped by a terrible curse and left to live out their existence in the form of dragons. Despite his doubts, however, Jaax assumes responsibility for the baby girl only to discover that what he has been seeking for so many years has finally been found…

Jahrra knows all about the legends and sagas of Oescienne, but never in her wildest dreams would she believe that she played a part in one of them. She’s far too busy dodging the bullies at school and seeking out new adventures with her friends to worry about what secrets her dragon mentor might be keeping from her, or that her every move is being watched by something living in the forest surrounding her home.

But the secrets run deep, and as Jahrra fights to earn her place in this extraordinary world, she will begin to unravel the truth of it all: that she isn’t as safe as she thought she was, that danger lurks around every corner, and that her role in this unfurling tale is far more significant than she could possibly imagine.

What I liked about The Finding:

The Finding was an enjoyable read. I liked Jahrra and the dragon Hroombra. Jaax was just enough of an unknown to thoroughly irritate Jahrra and lend mystery to the story. Jahrra’s friends and their battles against the bullies at school added drama, and the worldbuilding was excellent. Overall, this was a good start to the series.

What I didn’t like about The Finding:

For me, the book dragged in spots, was overly descriptive, and often repetitive. These factors distracted me from the overall story.

Overall impression of The Finding:

Despite the somewhat slow pace of the book and other issues noted above, I liked the book. After reading it, I added the second book of the series to my TBR. If you enjoy epic fantasy with good worldbuilding, try this one!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Jenna Elizabeth Johnson:

Find Jenna Elizabeth Johnson on her website, Amazon Author Page, and Goodreads page. Discover all her books, maybe pick up a few, and consider leaving a review!

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I ran across Karda (Adalta Vol 1) by Sherrill Nilson on BragMedallion.com. The mixture of science fiction and fantasy intrigued me. Here are my thoughts about it!

Synopsis (from the author):

On the beautiful world Adalta, an ancient alien emerges.

Young Marta is dropped to the planet for her first secret mission alone. In this dangerous job there are two rules: Don’t get attached. Don’t get discovered.

As cover for her mission, Marta joins the Mi’hiru, the all-female elite guard who patrol the skies on Karda, majestic hawk-headed flying horses.

Arrows and swords are the only weapons allowed on this planet. But Marta discovers illegal high-tech weapons smuggled from her ship.

The ancient alien, long thought defeated, uses a power hungry nobleman to escape and with the smuggled weapons they threaten all life on this planet.

To stop this threat, Marta reluctantly joins forces with handsome, arrogant Altan. As their connection grows, she struggles to keep her secrets.

Tensions rise. The alien’s power grows. Will Marta accept the frightening elemental magic Adalta wants to give her to save the planet she loves?

What I liked about Karda:

Karda surprised me with the combination of science fiction and fantasy. Marta’s cloaked trade ship, smuggled high-tech weapons, and the origin of Adalta’s population all added to the science fiction parts of the book. The Karda and their ancient alien enemy of Adalta, bring the fantasy conflict to life. I enjoyed the romance part of the book and the development of the relationship between Altan and Marta. The connection between the Karda and Mi’hiru provided a great backdrop to the story. Overall, Karda was an excellent book!

What I didn’t like about Karda:

Despite the book’s appeal, there were a few issues for me. First, the “talent” that the people possessed was unclear to me for a while. Secondly, it wasn’t clear if Marta had talent from birth or if Adalta chose her to have talent. Lastly, the political divisions and the governing structure were a little confusing and not fully explained. Given their importance in the story, more clarity would have helped.

Overall impression:

I liked the book! The characters and their relationships were intriguing, and the political backdrop added a lot to the story. The Karda were cool, and their psychic link with the riders helped move the story along. Overall, Karda entertained me and led me to add the rest of the series to my TBR list.

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Connect with Sherill Nilson:

You can find Sherrill Nilson on her Amazon Author Page, Goodreads Page, or website. Find all the Karda books, learn more about the author, and maybe buy a book or two.

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I was looking for a new series to read and found Rise of the Flame (The Eura Chronicles #1) by the international bestselling author K. N. Lee. Here is my review of the first book of the fantasy series!

Synopsis (from the author):

Six races. Four realms. One human girl who can bring them together in peace… or war.

Lilae has been hunted since the night of her birth, for she is heir to a god’s throne. But everything that her surrogate family has done to protect her may have been for nothing. After Lilae is stripped of her powers and enslaved by the emperor of the Mithrani, she finds herself desperate to survive in a strange new world.

On the other side of the world, Liam leads his army across the realm to protect the Tryans and the fairies from those who would do them harm. But when their odds of survival become next to impossible, he must set out on a journey to find a dragon, a child, and the blessing of a fallen god to aid him in the inevitable realm war.

The path forward for both Liam and Lilae seems clear, until their dreamscapes collide. But while they draw strength from their connection, Lilae may be falling for the emperor who should be her greatest enemy.

What I liked about Rise of the Flame:

I enjoyed most of the elements in the book. Plenty of action, a touch of romance, good characters, and multiple plot twists and turns kept me interested. A myriad collection of fantasy creatures like dragons and fairies, plus a cool world for the characters to roam, added excellent background to the story. Overall, a good book!

What I didn’t like about Rise of the Flame:

My only complaint about the book was there were a number of typos that pulled me out of the story.

Overall impression of Rise of the Flame:

Rise of the Flame (The Eura Chronicles # 1) was fast-paced and full of action, and the plot twists made it fun to read. The characters are engaging (even Kavien), and the world-building is excellent. The only drawback was the number of typos that detracted from the flow of the story. Still, it was an entertaining book. If you like fantasy, try this one!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with K. N. Lee:

Visit K. N. Lee on her website, Amazon Author Page, or Goodreads page. Find Rise of the Flame and her many other books and more about the busy author and entrepreneur!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Stop by, say hi, and let’s talk books, submarines, or gemstones!