Basket of Book Reviews

I’ve been mirroring my blogs here on WordPress and on Blogger. I’ve found Blogger is easier for me to use, so to find the book reviews, go here: http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/2011/06/basket-of-book-reviews.html

Book reviews – mixed bag of ebooks

First off, some of these were given to me free by the authors. Others I found for free. A few I bought. None of these were acquired for the purpose of reviewing. I got them because they sounded like good reads. And they were, or I wouldn’t be reviewing them. My whole reason for reviewing books is to share books I enjoyed with you. It’s all my opinion, of course.

Rebel Spurs, by Andre Norton

No rockets, no aliens, no magic, no alternate reality, Rebel Spurs is the story of Drew Rennie after the American Civil War. He drifts west, looking for a place to belong and a future. His belongings include two beautiful horses and a letter proving who he is. His father, that he’s never met, owns a spread in Arizona beset by Apache raiders, a band of rogue Confederate troops, and a wild stallion that kills his rivals.

With a few broad strokes of her pen, Andre Norton paints a vivid landscape of the American Southwest in the 1860s. She has a gift of words that shines in this novel. Action and suspicion and betrayal, all great themes of any good story, all are present in Rebel Spurs as Drew wrestles with his future and whether to reveal his identity to his father.

This is the sequel to Ride Proud, Rebel. I didn’t realize it until I’d already gotten involved in the story. I’m halfway through Ride Proud and enjoying it just as much. I’m not one for westerns, but these are Andre Norton westerns. I love her stories, her characters, everything about these books. I found both free for download through Stanza on my iPod.

Rating: 5 stars (yeah, I’m a fan girl), G (no swearing, some mild violence, great story)

The Watchers from Within Moments, by Mark Paul Jacobs
Smashwords, $0.99 https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/12501
Short story (10k words)

Jim Vedder, chief engineer at California’s FastTech Corporation, has developed the world’s fastest camera. But exploring the bizarre universe of the super fast, soon uncovers horrific entities that captivate the world’s consciousness. And FastTech is quickly, and somewhat unwillingly drawn into a quagmire of politics, fate, and the unforgiving press.

Creepy and shivery, this story left me huddled under the blankets. If you like sunshine and happy flower stories, don’t read this one. If you want something to leave you thinking and wondering what is really between moments of reality, and you don’t mind being scared and a bit depressed by the ending, read this story. Mark is one of my friends I ran into on BestsellerBound, a great forum for writers and readers and anyone who enjoys discussing writing and reading. He has a gift for twisting words into stories and leaving images in my head. Well worth the ninety-nine cents.

I reviewed his short story, Incident at Walter’s Creek, not long ago. Fun scary story, too, although lighter in tone than this one.

Rating: 4 stars, PG for mild language and disturbing images

Tears for Hesh, by Michael Radcliffe
Smashwords, $0.99 https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/32308
Short Story (3250 words)

Set in the world of The Guardian’s Apprentice, this is the story of Hesh, a young man who works for a conniving, power-hungry wizard who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Hesh is a gentle giant, towering above others, but soft spoken and afflicted with a stammer when he gets nervous. Sent on an errand for his master, he uncovers a terrible secret and must face the consequences.

Okay, another creepy one but with a different tone than the other two. This one deals with magic and a ruthless wizard who will keep his secrets no matter the cost–to others. I enjoyed the story enough that I am going to have to buy The Guardian’s Apprentice, the novel that explains more about the world and the wizards. Michael is another friend from BestsellerBound. You really should check them out here: http://quietfurybooks.com/messageboard/index.php

Rating: 4.5 stars, PG for mild language and creepy wizards

Sui Generis, by Sharon E. Cathcart
Smashwords, FREE https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/15991

Author Sharon E. Cathcart (“In The Eye of The Beholder,” “Les Pensees Dangereuses”) presents a sampler of essays and short fiction. The collection features “Heart of Stone,” a short story never previously published.

The first part of this collection are several essays written by Sharon. She expresses her opinions beautifully. Though I may not agree with her political or moral stance, I appreciate her viewpoint and her clarity of vision. She writes without rancor or hatred, a voice of love and tolerance that is needed in our world. If we could all discuss things as she does, we would not have the outrage and anger that marks so many of our political “debates”. Even when we don’t agree, we can show respect for each other.

The second half of her collection are short stories. I love Heart of Stone. The second story is just as romantic but a lot more cynical in tone.

Try Sharon’s writings. You won’t regret the time spent with her. And yes, you can find her on BestsellerBound, too.

Rating: 4.5 stars, PG for adult themes

Book Review – Once Upon a Dark and Eerie by A. F. Stewart

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/28423

If you’re expecting a full story, fleshed out and finished with everything neatly wrapped up at the end, this isn’t it. Once Upon a Dark and Eerie is a collection of snippets and teasers, short bits that hint at dark and twisted stories and characters. Some were haunting, others disturbing, a few laugh out loud funny. The book is divided into sections with an overall theme: Dark Musings, Past Echoes, Creatures & Fairy Tales, and Grim Poetry.

I haven’t been a fan of this type of work before. I refused to read it for years. I think I missed out on a lot of great reading, if this book is any indication. My only complaint is that the story snippets left me wanting more, much more. I wanted to see where the characters ended up. The very short writings caught my imagination and teased me with possibilities.

I will definitely be reading more works by A. F. Stewart. For now, go to Smashwords and download at least the free sample. Try this book. You won’t be sorry.

Book Reviews – four great titles

I’m catching up on my reading, maybe. I just received a whole pile of new books. I set the goal of reviewing every book I finished this year, though, so here are the latest ones. Just for the legal whatever thingie, I don’t make any money off these reviews. I get an occasional free copy of a book, but that’s as far as it goes.

Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston

Ever wonder what the Relief Society presidency in a small town gets up to? This book explains it. Sort of. It’s a fun, light-hearted mystery with no gore, swearing, or bloody corpses. Ida Mae is only trying to help a family in need. Let the hijinks ensue. Each new twist leads to even more outrageous behavior. I enjoyed the book. It’s a sweet read with some very silly moments and engaging characters. If you’re looking for a fun escape and don’t mind the LDS references (no preaching in this book), Secret Sisters is a great choice.

Bride of Tranquility by Tracy S. Morris

Jake Coletrane, sheriff of the small town of Tranquility, just wants his wedding at the newly refurbished hotel to come off without a hitch. But with a UFO believers’ convention the same weekend and all sorts of haunted encounters at the hotel, it doesn’t seem like that is going to happen. One murder leads to another, and all of them are blamed on ghosts.

This book is like a mashup of Psych, Eureka, Ghost Whisperer, and Inspector Closeau. Wacky, weird, and very entertaining. Another great escape.

Dimensional Shift by Frances Pauli

I never knew hotel housekeeping could be so entertaining and dangerous. Chloe is happy to work at a tiny motel in a backwater resort town, even though it means tight budgeting and no work during the winter. She’s ditched her life as a corporate stooge in the big city in exchange for peace, quiet, and the scent of pines. But her wacky neighbor, who believes in UFOs and alien abductions, may be more correct than anyone suspects. A stranger in a very nice designer suit offers Chloe a job at a hotel she can’t resist, an interdimensional travel stop between worlds.

That’s not the end of it, though. Chloe gets caught in the middle of a power bid bigger than anything she ever suspected. But who’s telling the truth? And which side is right?

Dimensional Shift is another great book with plenty of quirky characters and interesting ideas. I’m seeing a trend here in my reading.

Child of Balance by Alice Gaines

Alice usually writes erotic romance, a genre I don’t read, so when I won a book from her in a blog contest (those giveaways are addictive, go check out writer’s blog and win some great books! I’ll have to host a giveaway sometime on here, any suggestions?), she kindly offered to send me a copy of her fantasy book that was recently released. Child of Balance reads like a romance that doesn’t know it’s a romance. The story drew me in, capturing me in the strange world that was feudal/industrial Britain but wasn’t. Arine works well as a sympathetic and strong heroine who just wants freedom and peace. The magic is mysterious, the setting intriguing, the characters are engaging. It’s another great read.

Book Review – The Sapphire Flute by Karen E. Hoover

The Sapphire Flute is the story of two young women who find their destiny the hard way. It’s magic and save-the-world high fantasy with plenty of evil to go around. For Ember, it’s a search for her father and her own magical gifts. For Kayla, it starts with guardianship of the magical Sapphire Flute. She itches to play the beautiful instrument but has promised not to. Ember’s insistence on attending the mage trials leads to her kidnapping by agents of C’Tan, her aunt who wants the child dead. Kayla can’t resist just blowing into the flute, enough to activate its magic and bring her to the attention of C’Tan herself, who wants the flute’s magic for her own.

I enjoyed the book. I’ve read a lot of high fantasy. Though the world is not that different from many fantasies, Karen’s twist on the quest story was unique. Her young women are women first. Many fantasies feature male protagonists and questers. Women usually play a secondary role. If they join the quest, they are hardened warriors with little femininity. Karen’s girls aren’t that way. Kayla is as frilly and sweet as they come. Ember is more of a tomboy, but still very much female. C’Tan, the evil witch of the story, is very feminine, too. The change was refreshing, although it made for some interesting dilemmas. Girls and women aren’t the ones who long for quests, not the same way boys do. Karen manages to pull very believable motivations from her characters.

My only complaint is that the characters are supposed to be 16 and 17. They read more like 11 and 13, but it still works.

If you have a girl age 10+ who likes fantasy, magic, and save-the-world quests, this one is a winner. I give The Sapphire Flute a solid 4 stars. I’m also looking forward to the next book in the series, which says a lot for the story.

Thanks for sharing, Karen! And for those who care, I met Karen at a book signing and we traded books.

Book Reviews: The Last Man Anthology & Writers of the Future XXVI

It’s been my week to rediscover anthologies. Years ago, I tried reading several anthologies. Two or three of the stories were good, but most were just sick and twisted. Too many authors tried to be edgy and push the boundaries far past good taste or decency. I gave up on anthologies. I’ve tried several since then, mostly because I had friends with stories in the collections. Their stories were good and enjoyable but the rest of the anthology lived down to my expectations. I found a few good stories, but most were trash. One of the reasons I hate anthologies is because most of the stories fall well in the R-rated area for language, sexual scenes, or extreme violence.

So it was with trepidation that I picked up these two. I am happy to say I was pleasantly surprised by both of them.

Writers of the Future is an organization started years ago by L. Ron Hubbard to promote new talent in SF/F. This volume, number twenty-six, features the twelve story winners for 2009. Brad Torgerson, a friend of mine, was one of the winners. His story, Exanastasis, was quite enjoyable. It’s an interesting twist on the Adam and Eve story. I decided since I owned the book I might as well try the other stories. I wasn’t expecting much. The stories delivered much more than I anticipated. Every one was enjoyable, thought-provoking, and well-written. The majority are science fiction. The story premises are original. It’s encouraging to see real talent being displayed.

And the rating? PG. No profanity, vulgarity, explicit nude scenes. Just some really original stories.

I have a copy of The Last Man Anthology (http://www.swordandsagapress.com/Store.php) because I’m one of the authors. I was thrilled when they accepted my story, but I have to confess, writing it was a stretch. I don’t do catastrophic or dystopian stories. I like my stories happy, at least by the end. I hate books where everything is bleak and hopeless. This anthology celebrates the End–of the world, of humankind, of bookstores, of you-fill-in-the-blank. I expected it to be dark and depressing but it isn’t. The stories are beautifully written, haunting in their imagery. The emotions behind them range from anger and dismay to acceptance and hope. And yes, there are a couple comedies included.

This book really is a beautiful collection of short stories and poetry. I’m honored to be included with notable authors Ray Bradbury, C J Cherryh, Edgar Allen Poe, as well as contemporaries both known and unknown.

These are two anthologies that won’t disappoint. Both are well worth the time to read.

Book Review: The Twain Shall Meet, J Guevara

This is what happens when you write the blog post at 2 am, you forget stuff.

…The Twain Shall Meet, J Guevara

Part philosophy essay, part homage to Mark Twain, part quirky character studies, this book is a light-hearted romp through the Florida Keys in modern times with none other than Mark Twain. See, he never died, he was carried away on Halley’s Comet. Returned to earth with the comet for only a few weeks, he describes our modern times with humor, wit, and biting insight. If you are easily offended, don’t bother reading this book. I don’t agree with many of the viewpoints expressed in this book, but it’s not a diatribe of hate and anger that’s presented. Rather they are expressed with gentle humor, sometimes pointed, but never vilifying.

If you’re looking for something quirky and entertaining but with deep thought, try this book. I had a lot of fun with it.

Book Review – The Viper of Portello, James C. Glass

I enjoyed The Viper of Portello. It mixes political intrigue, military action, and family relationships to create a fast-paced ride. Set in the future, sometime after other planets have been colonized, the government of Nova Brazilia has become corrupt. Revolutionaries are set to overthrow the governor. The League military is poised to invade and restore order. Everything rests on the decisions and actions of one man: Eduardo Cabral, sometimes called Culebra, or the Viper of Portello.

The book isn’t your typical save-the-galaxy space opera. Though full of action sequences, the main focus is on the characters. Choices affect who we become. Sometimes the choice is forced by circumstances, but how we react says more about who we are than what we’ve done. Jim Glass takes us inside the heads of the people of Nova Brazilia as their world begins to crumble. It’s a well-written and enjoyable story with characters I won’t soon forget.

And Jim Glass is a very nice person. I met him at SpoCon last August. He’s still upset over what the government did to NASA and manned space travel. I’m sure if you ask, he’ll be happy to share his opinions.

Buy it direct from the publisher here: http://www.fairwoodpress.com/catalog/item/7652151/8136116.htm

Or Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Viper-Portello-James-C-Glass/dp/0978907876

Book Review: The Golden Cord, Paul Genesse

I met Paul Genesse (http://www.paulgenesse.com/default2.asp) two and a half years ago at a local convention. I was dithering about submitting at the time. I had a manuscript that I believed in, but the established authors at the con all had the same message: Don’t bother. Publishing fiction is hard and very few succeed. Very discouraging for a fledgling author to hear. It didn’t help that I was clueless about submissions or pitching a book or anything else other than writing. I was ready to stick the manuscript in a folder and forget it. Until Paul talked me out of it.

He spent several hours with me, giving me the advice and encouragement that I needed. My novel, Nexus Point, is in print mostly because of that pep talk. I’ll buy all of Paul’s books just for that reason. He’s a genuinely nice guy with a passion for storytelling.

The Golden Cord is the first in a series. I’m not much of a fan of epic fantasy, especially when the main character is an angsty teen/young adult and the world is a dark, gritty place where everything wants to either kill you, eat you, or both. This book fits solidly in that category. I still enjoyed it.

Paul builds a world that is fully believable. Danger lurks behind every tree, if not in the tree or on the tree or *is* the tree. Not a world I’d want to live in. His main character, Drake Bloodstone, is a troubled young man. He’s also loyal and tormented by his need to keep everyone in his village safe. He failed to protect his friend years ago and the failure haunts his every thought. His quest, in this book, is a reluctant choice to save the world in order to save his village. Or so he thinks. It’s as much about saving his own soul and letting go of the past as it is about present dangers.

The Golden Cord is a solid book. I could hear Paul’s voice in the words, his passion and excitement over the story spilling into each scene. I can’t honestly say it’s one of my favorites, but it’s a good read, one I’d recommend to anyone looking for a fantasy quest novel that isn’t your usual Tolkein clone.

Want to hear why it took me two years to finally read the book? Sure you do. It was in the short pile of Books-to-be-read-very-soon (as opposed to the books-to-read-sometime-in-the-next-decade pile, both are much too tall). Of course, that meant it was in plain sight of my children and my husband. I went to read it one night and couldn’t find it in the pile. I found it in my husband’s hands. So I waited for him to finish. Then one of my boys discovered the book. After chasing it back out of three different bedrooms, I have multiple children who read any book that looks good especially if it’s in my pile next to my bed, I finally got my hands on it last spring. Between work, my own writing deadlines, and life in general, it took me several weeks to start reading it. I was just getting into the story when I left the book in a motel room in Lewiston ID. I hope they enjoyed it because they never admitted to finding the book even after multiple phone calls. I bought another copy a few weeks ago and threatened everyone in the house not to touch it until after I’d finished it. It was worth it. I wish I’d dragged it out of those bedrooms a long time ago or threatened my kids with horrible punishments, like doing the dishes, if they touched it before I read it.

Now, where did I put book two? The Dragon Hunters continues the quest and if I can find the book, I’ll read it. It’s in someone’s pile at my house…

Random Sampler Book Reviews

I’ve been catching up on reading the last few weeks, so I have book reviews for you. Some of the books are new, some are older. I’m not a professional reviewer. This is just my personal opinion of the books.

At Knit’s End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much, by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, 2005

This is a fun little book, full of quotes and life observations. I don’t knit, I couldn’t if my life depended on it. I’ve tried. I do crochet and quilt, though, and all of her observations about knitting too much fit quilting and crocheting and other needle arts. I enjoyed reading snippets, laughing over most, crying over a few. Much of the book reminded me of Erma Bombeck’s writings, except shorter. If you have closets full of yarn/fabric/art projects, this book is one for you.

Dushau (Dushau Trilogy #1), by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, 1985

The Dushau live practically forever. The Allegiancy picks them as it’s scapegoat when civilization begins to crumble. Human Krinata is caught between her admiration and love of the Dushau and her loyalty to her Emperor. Dushau starts off strong, with lots of interesting aliens and tense situations. Jacqueline says in her bio that she’s a big fan of Andre Norton and her writing shows it. The book is reminiscent of Norton’s works while still being very original. However, the story and characters bogged down about halfway through. The action slows to a standstill while the characters struggle with philosophical issues. I really wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t deliver what the beginning promised. I still enjoyed it and the action does pick back up for the end. It’s a solid read, an original science fiction adventure story with plenty of aliens and action.

Graceling, by Kristin Cashore, 2008

Katsa is Graced with killing, her uncle’s pet assassin. Until she meets Prince Po and finds a better reason to live. I enjoyed Graceling. It’s a marvelous coming-of-age story with unique characters and a riveting story set in a magical world. My only complaint about this book is it’s anti-marriage message. I can understand why Katsa refuses to even consider marriage, it fits the character. But everyone else thinking marriage is bad? Nitpicky reason, but I can’t give an overwhelming positive recommendation because of it.

Ending an Ending, First Book of the Laurian Pentology, by Danny Birt, 2008

If you like epic fantasy, this series fits the bill. Sanct has no memory of who he is or where he came from. He possesses powers he shouldn’t. The mysterious setup to this story had me intrigued but I found the writing style too distracting. I’m not a big fan of epic fantasies and this book didn’t change my mind. However, if you like fantasies with different settings and new twists on the old quest stories, this fits the bill. If you like books that wrap with a neat ending, this one doesn’t. The story doesn’t resolve at the end of book one, it leaves you hanging. Danny has built a solid world, very believable, with engaging characters. As I said, if you enjoy multi-book fantasy quest epics, this is a good one.

The Tears of Ishtar, by Michael Ehart, 2010

Based on Babylonian myth, this book tells the story of Ninshi. Her lover is held prisoner by the Manthycore, a beast that eats men. Ninshi must keep luring people for the Manthycore as she searches for a way to free herself and her lover from the curse. I enjoyed this sword and sorcery tale. The fights do become a bit repetitious, but I was engrossed in Ninshi’s character enough that I wanted to know how she resolved things. She is on a quest to find the Tears of Ishtar, a set of rubies with magical powers that might be enough to free herself and her lover from the Manthycore. After hundreds of years wandering the land as its servant, Ninshi hates fighting, hates killing, but does it because she has no choice. Michael Ehart has created a very sympathetic and strong female warrior.

West on 66, by James H. Cobb, 1999

A mysterious young woman walks into the truck stop where off-duty police detective Kevin Pulaski has stopped for dinner. He senses something sinister to her request for a ride to St. Louis. Before he knows it, he’s deeply involved in her flight from a life ruled by organized crime. Set in 1957, this murder mystery is a fast ride along old US Route 66 as Kevin and Lisette run for their lives from a gang of mobsters intent on revenge. It kept me turning pages, trying to find out what happens next and what happened years ago to Lisette and her family. James Cobb keeps the tension going all through the book.

As I said, it’s a random sampler. These are the books I’ve read in the last month or so. I hope you find something to suit your tastes in the pile.