Required Reading

Life is complicated enough without getting into hotwater with federal agencies so: TAKE NOTE Many things I review I received at no charge in exchange for an honest review. Consider this as informing you that ALL things I review may have been gotten at no charge. Realistically about 40% but in order to keep things above board just assume that I got the stuff free. I do not collect information on my readers. If cookies or other tracking stuff is used on my blogs it is due to BLOGGER not ME. Apparently the European Union's new rules state I need to inform you if cookies are being use. If they are it isn't by me, consider yourself INFORMED.
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Monday, October 29, 2012

Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb Free October 29th, 2012




 
From MJ Ware
Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb is Free at Amazon Today only. It's a cross-over Middle Grade/Young Adult book that will get anyone in the Halloween spirit.
http://www.amazon.com/Super-Zombie-Juice-Apocalypse-ebook/dp/B005LDJDHM/
Don't have an e-reader? No problem, read it online with Amazon's cloud reader.
This book details the interaction of a teenager boy and girl and some horrid, disgusting zombies.
Nate and Missy’s adventures are utterly preposterous and imminently entertaining. Their relationship is refreshing and contrary to what is normally presented in teenage literature. The relationship should resonate with “real” teenagers who most frequently do not resemble the cast of Twilight.
The action was well done and graphic without the overtones of reality. This book was a treat to read and I will follow up with a post of what my thirteen associate has to say as he really is in the target market demographic. The book poses no intellectual challenge nor does it demand any moral attachment, it is entertaining and fun to read and frankly teens need to have something fun to read.
This is an excellent addition to the YA genre.
I highly recommend the book.
Body of work of Body of work of M.J.A.Ware
Web Site: http://www.mjaware.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Spook House by Michael West (His new Harmony novel)




A haunted house in the tiny town of Harmony turns out to be less than harmonious.  Halloween turns out to be a truly otherworldly experience.

Sheri Foster and Robby Miller become unlikely protagonists in this very spooky thriller.   Sheri is exposed to something that defies her imagination and strains her creditability with the first responders.   Robby Miller, whose personal nightmares provide him with a different frame of reference, is the only first responder to believe her.

The author does a great job with setting the scene and providing an appropriately frightening environment.  I would have preferred a bit more back story on Robby but that lack was not a detriment to the plot. 

Cayden’s cheerful fanaticism accompanying his likeable façade was the most frightening aspect of the book.   I prefer my evil villains to be obviously evil.  

I’m not a fan of horror stories but I really liked this rendition. 

I enjoyed the book. 

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Michael West </a>

Web sites: http://www.bymichaelwest.com/category/spook-house



The dates and sites for the Spook House Blog Tour are as follows:

10/25     Great Minds Think Aloud
10/26     Bookishly Me
10/27     Red Headed Bookworm
10/28     Book and Movie Dimension
10/29     Azure Dwarf Horde of Science Fiction & Fantasy
10/30     Reading Aways the Days
10/31     Ginger Nuts of Horror
11/1       WTF Are You Reading?
11/2       Darlenes Book Nook
11/3       JeanzBookReadNReview
11/4       The Independent Review
11/5       Fictional Candy
11/6       Book Den
11/7       Vilutheril Reviews
11/8       Beauty in Ruins
11/9       Beagle Book Space
11/10     Bunny’s Review
11/11     Splash of Our Worlds
11/12     A Book Vacation
11/13     A Daydreamer’s Thoughts
11/14     Crossroads Reviews
11/15     Bee’s Knees Reviews
11/16     From the Bootheel Cotton Patch
11/17     Sheila Deeth
11/18     Kayla’s Reads and Reviews
11/19     The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia
11/20     I Smell Sheep
11/21     Ali’s Bookshelf
11/22     Full Moon Bites
11/23     The Cabin Goddess
11/24     Stuck in Books
11/26     The Rabid Fox
11/27     Jess Resides Here






This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Judgement at Proteus by Timothy Zahn

 

This is the final book of a five book series and I’m not sure it is the best because it is a better book or because it ties up everything so neatly.  Frank Compton, galactic troubleshooter is back with his assorted sidekicks from all four previous books.   He makes some startling discoveries and has to closely look at his alliances and enemies.  

Frank is an engaging character who shows signs of being an somewhat inept James Bond combined with a somewhat more slick MacGyver.  He creates his bag of tricks as he goes along and tends to shoot from the hip somewhat inaccurately.   This book provides a bit more insight into the costs of war.  Too many action books ignore the butcher bill.  Zahn does a nice job pointing out that success in war frequently involves sacrifice and casualties. 

Avoiding spoilers, there is plenty of action, some new villains, new allies and some nice plot features.   I liked this book the best of the five.

I recommend it.    

Body of work of <a type="amzn" >Timothy Zahn</a>

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimothyZahn

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Kingdom by Anderson O'Donnell





This is a story of a near dystopian future rooted in genetic manipulation.  Corrupt science runs amok in this thriller.


Set primarily in and around Tiber City, a contemporary Sodom or Gomorra, I’m not sure which, the taste of sulfur lingers in your mouth as your read the description of this sewer of a city.   Dylan Fitzgerald is an unlikely and unlikeable protagonist in the story.  Morrison of Morrison Bio-Tech and his minions are the chief villains in this piece.  In a future with business assassination seen as just part of doing business, Morrison Bio-Tech is attempting to make the perfect leader with genetic manipulation.  Jonathan Campbell once Morrison’s associate becomes his arch enemy when he discovers the lengths that Morrison has gone to meet his self center goals of world domination. 

This story is a real morality play focusing on what is acceptable to move man forward.  Religion doesn’t play a part but God certainly plays a hand in the formulation of the plot and the directions it goes.  Is man a random collection of genetic material or a plotted course from a deity?  Is the search for something outside of reality an end in itself?  Does man have a soul?  

There are some extremely controversial and heady topics encountered in this novel.   It isn’t as entertaining as it is thought provoking.   What lengths do you go to succeed? Who are Megan and Dylan?
I recommend it.    

Body of work of <a type="amzn" > Anderson O'Donnell </a>

Website: http://www.tibercitynoir.com/


KINGDOM - First Rule Publicity Tours 

About the Author

Anderson O’Donnell presents a biopunk, dystopian noir-esque thriller in this amazing read,
KINGDOM. Most people are familiar with the term “cyberpunk,” but “biopunk” is harder to nail
down. In many ways, biopunk is similar to the cyberpunk genre, and shares many of the same
themes and archetypes: the dystopian future; the overreliance on technology; mega-corporations;
a constant and overwhelming flow of data; the anti-hero—these elements are integral parts of
both genres.

Both genres are fueled, to some extent, by the sense of rebellion and desire for individual
freedom expressed by the original punk rock revolution. But the main difference—the most
important difference—is that while cyberpunk focuses on invasive technological modification of
the human body, biopunk explores the dehumanizing consequences of biological modification, of
re-arranging our DNA in the pursuit of perfection.

Anderson lives in Connecticut with his wife and 2 sons. Anderson himself deems Kingdom as “a
thrill-a-minute, bio-punk myth that manages to wrestle with the most pressing issues of the new
millennium. O’Donnell has crafted a kickass novel of tomorrow night, when the big party gets
raided by the monsters we’ve been building for the last half-century.”

His debut novel, Kingdom, a dystopian, biopunk thriller, is now available in paperback and ebook
format. Kingdom is the first part of the Tiber City Trilogy. Look for part two, Exile, in the summer of
2013.


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Domino Pattern by Timothy Zahn



Zahn apparently is fascinated with trains.   This story takes place exclusively on the Quadrail, a intergalactic train.   Ex-Westali agent Frank Compton and  faithful side kick and engineered schizophrenic Bayta are involved in a closed room murder mystery.   Beings are being murdered on the Quadrail where it is impossible to have weapons. 

The Modhri, group mind omnipotent evil opponent plays a slightly different role in this the fourth book of the series.  Frank and Bayta grow closer and more interdependent but still refuse to acknowledge their feelings.   That is as close to a spoiler as I intend to get.  

There is a broad cast of characters with idiosyncrasies abounding.   Who knew aliens would have so many hangups?  There is sufficient action to keep you interested but it isn’t a barn burner.   You can put it down and pick it up later without feeling panic over the time differential.

Again, the series continues to grow on me and I enjoyed this book more than the last.

I recommend it.    

Body of work of <a type="amzn" >Timothy Zahn</a>

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimothyZahn

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Wake of the Bloody Angel by Alex Bledsoe


 This is an Eddie LaCrosse novel.  Eddie is a sword jockey or fantasy appropriate private eye type of hero except no tommyguns or molls. 

Eddie is a sword for hire with a conscience.  I like the qualities that Bledsoe provides his main protagonist.  Bledsoe’s world is a harsh one with interesting qualities.   It has room for privateers and pirates, ghost and sea monsters and sell swords.   He paints good scenes and better characters.

This is a quest but not your typical dwarf, magic user, warrior type of quest.   This is more of a missing person private eye quest taken with swords and monsters.   It is a formula that works well for Bledsoe.  

I like tough protagonists who aren’t afraid to have ethics and a few soft spots.   Cap’n Jane is a thoroughly female sidekick who doesn’t hesitate to use all her assets in her work.  This was a very good story and I plan on seeking out the other Eddie LaCrosse novels.

I highly recommend it.

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Alex Bledsoe </a>

Web Site: http://alexbledsoe.com/




This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Hardy Belch & The Bully




This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.