Black Throne Conspiracy by K.M. Johnson-Weider

Article first published as Book Review:Black Throne Conspriacy by K.M. Johnson-Weider on Blogcritics.

To move ahead in life easily, many will follow shortcuts, often using bad advice or methods. When these methods or advice cause terror and grief to others, is it too late to change? Does the guilt rest only with the party that agrees, or does the requester share some as well?

In Black Throne Conspiracy by K.M. Johnson-Weider, we follow the exploits of Sir Cobran Deritha.  An army hero, he returns home with a shattered leg only to find a series of odd events occurring that put his family in jeopardy. He is forced to travel to the capital city only to find that his brother has arranged an engagement to a woman he has never met. His sister has foreseen a young noble woman will cease to exist, and asks for his help.  Now his cousin is convinced that Cobran is the only one that can save him from ruin. As the events begin to play out, each separate from the other, Cobran begins to find faint seams tying the events together in a strange dance of danger. Behind the scenes an evil is at work that was thought to have been destroyed. Can he find the answers before the dark evil can create the events that threaten the entire galaxy?

Johnson-Weider has created a complex world and filled it with characters that we are comfortable with. Some are selfish and immature, others are strong and bold, but each hold flaws that can seriously twist their sanity. Cobran is a hero, one part damaged, two parts confused, three parts champion and four parts Sherlock Holmes. He is willing and mostly able to tackle the danger, but his injury creates difficulty.

Those involved in the conspiracy of evil are caught in some cases against their better judgment. Can Corbran extricate them from their dangerous decisions or is it already too late. Will he be able to save the young noble woman? Hi companions and friends are a fun and eclectic group and he brings them in to help him keep watch on her. His sister is another force to be reckoned with, working mysteriously in the background making things happen.

The world of Ascension Galaxy is interesting and consists of many differing places. While we hear mostly of the Concordance, there are other powers within the galaxy that also have a stake in the happening of Corbran’s world.

This is a complex work and to miss a section you may miss an event. If you enjoy science fiction and fantasy you will enjoy the worlds and the interesting mix of technology and archaic means. If you enjoy conspiracies, a bit of romance, suspense and a bit of magic, than this work will be what you need.

I enjoyed the story and the background, and once immersed found the work hard to put down. It would be a good read for a book club as well as a reading group. There is a great deal of discussion gendering actions that would keep the readers at full tilt.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based on my understanding of the material.

Days of Love and Blood by R.S.Carter

Article first published as Book Review: Days of Love and Blood by R.S. Carter on Blogcritics.

Can there be a post-apocalyptic world in stories these days without zombies being the force of our enemies. With the popularity of the zombie horde I found it refreshing to find a story just a bit different.

In Days of Love and Blood by R.S Carter, the world is changed in short order. A virus with quick acting damage moves swiftly killing or transforming those infected making them much different than who they were. Cognizant of life they seek only to maim and kill, with no other focus. The virus is still in play yet slow acting, creating creatures out of your nightmares. Not zombies, for this new danger of lost souls are still thinking and have brains, yet they have a single purpose and that is to kill.

As Carson, a young woman escapes with her son Ronan, she is grief stricken with the brutal death of her husband. Looking for a new life, she heads for the only safety she remembers––her parents farm.  Can they have survived the Demon virus that has decimated the entire world? As she makes her way, she uses all the skills she has learned to fend off and kill her attackers, as they track her mercilessly.

Protecting herself and her son, she finds a group of uninfected people very close to where she is headed. Warning them of her pursuers, she helps to fight and protect the group. Here she finds the human interaction she needs. Can she find love again, in a world that has gone crazy?

Carter has put together a dangerous and unique love story, filled with feeling and hope. Using characters that you can relate to, he draws you in to the world, where you experience anger, fear, friendship and love. Carson is strong and her shell is tough from her experiences, but she also has cracks in her armor that make her likable. Her son gives her that human touch that would be missing without his presence. She has skills with a sword and yet is helpless with a gun, so the interactions are sometimes brutal. She is also somewhat callus due to her experiences, but when the thaw comes you are enchanted.

If you enjoy the post-apocalyptic venue, and are looking for something beyond zombies, this is the book to take you there. If you enjoy romance and camaraderie, and the adjustments that come with finding a home and family in situations of daily struggle, you will enjoy the world created by R.S. Carter.

Days of Love and Blood is a step away from the usual, yet has the action and danger that keep you going. The challenges are tough and the feeling are tougher, so be prepared to find time to read in one sitting. You will find it difficult to put this down once you begin. You may find yourself checking your doors and looking out your windows, making sure your own safety is intact.

This would be a great book for a reading group, sending out shoots of spiraling discussions dealing with the different issues and choices that weave throughout the story.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Gates of Paradise by Melissa De La Cruz

Article first published as Book Review: Gates of Paradise: A Blue Bloods Novel by Melissa De La Cruz on Blogcritics.

With the explosion of books and stories about the eternal struggle each view is like another layer added to what many believe in. The subject makes for good reading and adventurous treks through the depths of hell and back, often followed by unimaginable horror. So how does one make a mark and find a way to stand out from the rest in the tale of the epic struggle.

In the Blue Bloods Novel, Gates of Paradise by Melissa De La Cruz, you will find the characters that have become the epitome of both good and darkness over the course of the series. In the struggle to both close the gates of hell, and conquer their own darkness, inherent in their background, many of the core group struggles to survive. Follow the continued exploits of Jack and Mimi, as they are tested on their abilities to fight the Dark Prince, or fold to his power. Schuyler Van Alen unknowingly holds the secret to save them all, but can she find the answers before it is too late.  In a world where much is hidden and alternate struggle continues unseen by most, fought by vampires and wolves, as well as angels both good and bad, many of those that have found some success in the past are suddenly no longer there. The darkness has found a way to win the war and the end inexorably moves towards an unimaginable ending. When Jack and Mimi find themselves with no way out, Schuyler is kidnapped as a sacrifice there is only one way out.

Is love truly immortal, able to cross all realms? Follow feats of courage and sacrifice as the beginning of the end comes with a blinding unexpectedness. Is the world ready to fall into the hands of darkness or with the light of love and right find a way through?

The characters and places throughout the book are an exceptional blend of realism as well as fatalism. The beauty and brutality of the scenes take your breath away as you watch for your favorites to emerge victorious. Your hurt and horror as some are struck down feel real as though you have known and loved them yourself. The horror of the sacrifice and the betrayals feel real, part of your own soul.

Da La Cruz builds a crescendo of excitement and mystery in her closing volume which will make you search to find the rest of the series. If you love the books of apocalyptic endings, the fight of good against evil and a great mystery, you will enjoy her work. Through in absolute love and sprinkle the mix with vampires, wolves and angels and you have a book that harkens to a variety of readers.

This is a great book for those that enjoy the epic battles of right and wrong, as well as the connoisseur of love stories, horror, vampire tales, and mysteries. A welcome addition to any library, this is one that can be read again and again. But make room on your shelves because you will want to find the rest of the series for their rightful place in this bold adventure.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

 

Book Review and Giveaway:The Book of Paul by Richard Long

Article first published as Book Review:The Book of Paul by Richard Long on Blogcritics.

Is it really possible for a parallel universe to exist, one right beside our own where those that inhabit both, live lives very different from those on our own existence? If so, what if this world was a part of the beginnings and endings of everything we believe to be real.  

In The Book of Paul by Richard Long we meet some unique and interesting characters. But it is the world itself that takes you on a roller coaster of a journey, one that will both horrify and delight you, as you hit the highs and lows through the cast of characters that border on both genius and madness.

Paul is not who many believe him to be. For some he is a friend, and others a father figure, but only very few really know the truth behind his being. Having rescued Martin from and manipulative and deadly mother as a child, he raises him the best way he knows how. Or does he? There is depth and depravity, hidden from most, and Martin becomes a stone cold personality, with no one other than his foster father Paul who understands him.

But then he meets Rose, she too is damaged, yet holds a secret that she herself has hidden deep. Her own life is addicted to pain and sex, yet when she meets Martin, she immediately recognizes a feeling, that seems centuries old.

If these characters are not enough, there are watchers, and doers throughout the communities, each with their own brand of narcissism, waiting for their own entrance to the horror that continues to build as the pieces come together and the time for recognition comes through.

Often the “devil is in the detail,” and such is the case, but don’t leave out the angels or the existence of just about every form of belief you have heard of or imagined. With a sharp wit, and strong sense of the macabre, Long has delivered a work of horror that keeps you reading to the very end.

What happens? How do the characters survive, or do they? Can they stop Paul from his ever increasing frenzy?

If you enjoy historical religious and pagan beliefs, this book is chock full of information. If you like horror with your romance, then you will find yourself immersed in both. Long has written a fascinating and oftentimes horrific look into the depths of belief, and used an eclectic mix of differing histories to pull off a work that keeps you guessing.

This would be a great book for a discussion group, there is so much going on that you could read it untold times and still find something new. A group would find a great deal to discuss with all of the differing offers.

Even with the horror there is a sense of purpose, but be prepared to become immersed, keep the lights on and the doors locked, the horror will keep the chills flowing.

 The Book of Paul Book Summary:

"Everything you've ever believed about yourself...about the description of reality you've clung to so stubbornly all your life...all of it...every bit of it...is an illusion."

In the rubble-strewn wasteland of Alphabet City, a squalid tenement conceals a treasure "beyond all imagining"-- an immaculately preserved, fifth century codex. The sole repository of ancient Hermetic lore, it contains the alchemical rituals for transforming thought into substance, transmuting matter at will...and attaining eternal life.

When Rose, a sex and pain addicted East Village tattoo artist has a torrid encounter with Martin, a battle-hardened loner, they discover they are unwitting pawns on opposing sides of a battle that has shaped the course of human history. At the center of the conflict is Paul, the villainous overlord of an underground feudal society, who guards the book's occult secrets in preparation for the fulfillment of an apocalyptic prophecy.

The action is relentless as Rose and Martin fight to escape Paul's clutches and Martin's destiny as the chosen recipient of Paul's sinister legacy. Science and magic, mythology and technology converge in a monumental battle where the stakes couldn't be higher: control of the ultimate power in the universe--the Maelstrom.

The Book of Paul is the first of seven volumes in a sweeping mythological narrative tracing the mystical connections between Hermes Trismegistus in ancient Egypt, Sophia, the female counterpart of Christ, and the Celtic druids of Clan Kelly.

Link to an excerpt from The Book of Paul:
http://all-things-andy-gavin.com/untimed/sample/

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      Richard Long's Bio:

Richard Long writes to exorcize the demons of his past and manifest the dreams of his future. His debut novel, The Book of Paul, is a dark, thrilling, and psychologically rich supernatural horror/thriller that blends mythology, science and mystery into a page-turning addiction. Richard is also writing a YA novel, The Dream Palace, primarily so that his children can read his books. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, two amazing children and their wicked black cat, Merlin.

Prices/Formats: $19.95 paperback, $2.99-$3.99 ebook
Publisher: Open Eyes
ISBN: 9780615648644
Pages: 492
Release: June 2012

Amazon paperback buy link ($19.95):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615648649?tag=tributebooks-20

Barnes and Noble paperback buy link ($19.95):http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-paul-richard-long/1111400572?ean=9780615648644

Kindle buy link ($2.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0088QYXGA?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link ($3.99):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-paul-richard-long/1111400572?ean=9780615648644

iTunes buy link ($3.99):

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-book-of-paul/id541134918?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4



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Richard Long's Web Site: http://www.thebookofpaul.com/

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Richard Long's Blog:http://www.thebookofpaul.com/the-blo/

Richard Long's YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTjgdNUIpb9yhDraZ6dImiA?feature=guide

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Richard Long's Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6426921.Richard_Long

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Heartache and Hope in Haiti: The Britney Gengel Story by Len and Cherlyann Gengel

Article first published as Book Review: Heartache and Hope in Haiti: The Britney Gengel Story by Len and Cherylann Gengel on Blogcritics.

Nature often wreaks havoc on the world. Many times we see the destruction through the view of a camera, while other times the action is on our doorstep. Never sure where disaster will strike, when the damage happens elsewhere, we watch in sadness. When nature’s fury hits close to home, despair overcomes those involved.

In Heartache and Hope in Haiti: The Britney Gengel Story by Len and CheryLann Gengel , the authors share with us the pain and disbelief of such a powerful force. In 2010 their daughter Britney, a sophomore at Lynn University, traveled with a group of student to work for an aide group. This was their chance to give back to the world, and Britney in particular was touched. After a short time in Haiti, she determined that her life’s work would be to help open an orphanage in this country where hope was alive in its children. Yet only a few short hours later, an earthquake leveled Port-au-Prince and the Hotel she had been staying in.

Unable to reach her, the family lives in fear, alternately dreading and then excited by the news. But as with confusion and reporting, the news was often not just misleading but entirely wrong. Their Britney was never coming home again.

Here begins the life of rebuilding and how Len and Cherylann chose to take a vision and make it real. Shaking off their own grief, they take Britney’s dream and move it towards reality.

This is a heartfelt and hurt filled story, but filled with love and hope. To see how others transcend past the pain of losing a child and find a way to offer hope is a testament to that love. They chose to take that anguish and use the power of that pain to move forward and build the dream that keeps their daughter alive in a very different way.

While I had heard about the Earthquake, I was able to view it from afar where it didn’t touch me. Even hearing the stories and seeing the footage, the sadness and caring were there, but the destruction seemed remote and far away. With the Store of Britney and the Gengel’s efforts to make her wishes come true, you have no choice but to become a part of the devastation and pain. You feel the horror and the hope as they wait for news that will bring their daughter home. IF you have children this will tear at your soul. Reading the stories of the children and the people in Haiti, bring home the devastation in a way, that even pictures on the news were unable to capture.  

This is a remarkable story, built with courage and love. The inspiration lends us an example of how goodness flows in even the worst of times. This would be a marvelous book for a reading group. The story pulls you in and the chills and despair felt by the Gengel’s becomes your own. Even the profits of the book are slated to benefit the Orphanage now built in Britney’s name for the honor of the children of Haiti. You cannot move away from this story unmoved. You will marvel at the tenacity of the will to make a dream succeed.

Rating 4/5

This book was received from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

The Missing File by D. A. Mishani

Article first published as Book Review:The Missing File by D. S. Mishani on Blogcritics.

Crime is an international evil, something that happens in every city in the world, and yet we often only hear of the most sinister of cases. The crime in our own part of the world connects with us more consistently and completely. Although many fictional detectives are of international fame, we are more cognizant of those in America.

In The Missing File by D. A. Mishani, we are taken into the heart of Tel Aviv, where for police Detective Avraham Avraham, there is little crime. For him when crimes happen, the simplest answer always seems to be the right one. When he becomes embroiled in the case of a missing school boy, he is sure the case will work itself out. He is so sure the boy is fine; he doesn’t even initially file a report. For him, Ofer will simply show up after staying with friends or some other likely sequence.

Yet when he does not show up, Avraham is bewildered. He is not prepared for the circumstances that seem to come to light as the days drag on. As the leads begin to come in, he is stunned at the complexity of answers that seem to be evolving. When the young man’ neighbor and tutor tries to help with answers, he finds himself a suspect as well. Yet as the neighbor weaves his own bizarre story, Avraham finds himself with an even different scenario than he could have imagined. Can he find the missing boy alive, or is it already too late? Has he made an error of judgment that will come back to haunt him for year to come?

Avraham is an interesting and eclectic personality. Steady and sure, he finds passion in finding the mistakes in the crimes solved by the best detectives in fiction novels. Each time he succeeds in finding the mistake, he begins to believe his own hype. Crime just does not happen in his city. He is so upset at the way things are going, he finds himself too easily distracted. Things are not going as he planned. Deciding to move forward with his own vacation, even as the disappearance is still being investigated, he finally begins to understand himself.

Ofer, the boy who disappears, seems like a wonderful lad. His neighbor certainly found him to be quite smart. Being a schoolteacher, his neighbor Zeev was a likely tutor when Ofer was struggling. Where Ofer was charming, Zeev is a bit strange. He doesn’t understand the red herrings he has littered through the investigation, and by the time he realizes his error, it is too late.

If you enjoy mysteries, you will find this an interesting work. The viewpoint of the detective is interesting, and makes him very likable. The crime set in such a place, gives us another view of the area, one rich in history. Avraham is an interesting person and makes you care about what is happening.

This would be a great book for a book club or reading group. This is a work of contrasts, one to keep the conversation going for some time. The suspense will keep you reading as Avraham finds the answers to the mystery of the missing boy, as well as to his own sense of self. 

Rating 3/5

 

The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly

Article first published as Book Review:The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly on Blogcritics.

The darkness and anger of the fallen is often talked about by those who believe. Angels that have fallen from grace become the monsters of our dreams.

In The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly, we follow Charlie Parker, a man who has been involved in such happenings for some time. No one is sure of his own pedigree, and the question remains—is he also one with a taint on his soul? He does not believe it; he believes that he is on the side of right. Hunting down the monsters as they work at annihilating those that oppose them, he has seen many things. Often in the middle of both sides he is regularly challenged at his stance. Darkness descends in all directions, and those who oppose are on a list. This list is sought after by both sides, one for death, the other for knowledge. The Collector walks as well, ready to finish the job of stealing souls and moving them on. When Charlie finds his own name on the list, he knows the Collector is on his own trail.

When he hears of a plane in the darkest part of the forest, one that carries another list, he knows he must begin the search. There is more at stake than any of the residents can imagine. The danger of discovery put those with knowledge at risk. As each of the witnesses is killed in brutal fashion, Charlie must race against time to reach the plane before the fallen do. But he remembers a story of these same woods from years ago. This story is of a young girl, another danger that lures the unwary. Can he stay ahead of the collector, and retrieve that which is written before it is too late?

John Connolly has written a tale of darkness and deceit, and sprinkled it with bits of good. The fallen angels are dark and destructive, but well placed in the world. Able to hold sway over those that have their own darkness through the form of money or threat, they have built a small army of dangerous men and women. His characters are real and creepy, with the ability to steal into your dreams. The brutality and graphic nature of the ritual killings stay with you long after you set down the book. The darkness and description of the characters take you there, and hold you spellbound. This is not a work for the weak of heart.

If you enjoy thrillers and tones of the underworld, this will fill the bill. The mystery surrounding the plane will keep you captivated, and the characters will give you chills. Charlie Parker is an excellent character, tough and resilient, and he has surrounded himself with his own group of friends. He is sure of his own character, even when those around him have questions. He is smart and full of passion for what he does.

This is a thriller that will hold you captive to the very end. This would make a fascinating read for a reading group, and a strong argument for a discussion group. Charlie Parker is a character to watch for.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.