Friday, May 30, 2014

Book Blast/Giveaway: A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell

In A Season of Change, book one of Lynette Sowell's new series, Seasons of Pinecraft, readers will discover a different side of the Amish community. A Season of Change follows Natalie and Amish widower Jacob Miller as they each discover the mysterious ways God works. Inspired by the image of a Plain woman sitting on a three-wheeled bicycle by the Pinecraft (an Amish community in Florida) post office, Sowell’s latest is a new take on the popular trend in fiction.

Lynette is celebrating with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a Facebook author chat party on June 12th.

seasonchange-400-click


One winner will receive:

  • A Kindle Fire HDX
  • A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell


  • Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 12th. Winner will be announced at the A Season of Change Facebook author chat party on June 12th. Connect with Lynette for an evening of fun book chat, Amish-themed trivia, and prizes. Lynette will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in the Seasons of Pinecraft series!

    So grab your copy of A Season of Change and join Lynette on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)


    Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

    ~~~oOo~~~

    Thursday, May 29, 2014

    R/AI: Murder is Academic by Lesley A. Diehl


    ~~~oOo~~~



    SYNOPSIS

    Laura Murphy, psychology professor, thinks there’s nothing she likes better than coffee and donuts on a summer morning until she says yes to dinner with a Canadian biker and finds herself and her date suspects in the murder of her college’s president. Laura’s friend, the detective assigned the case, asks her to help him find out who on the small upstate New York college campus may be a killer.  The murder appears to be wrapped up in some unsavory happenings on the lake where Laura lives.  A fish kill and raw sewage seeping into the water along with the apparent drowning suicide of a faculty member complicate the hunt for the killer.  And then things become personal.  The killer makes a threatening phone call to Laura. With a tornado bearing down on the area and the killer intent upon silencing her, Laura’s sleuthing work may come too late to save her and her biker from a watery grave.

    REVIEW

    I have noticed a trend in the books I have been reading.  Many cozy mysteries feature a main character who is a woman 'of a certain age'.  The closer I get to that 'certain age', the more I appreciate this trend.

    And that is just the first item of several that makes me appreciate Diehl's "Murder is Academic".  

    Like any other business, there is a lot of jockeying for position in the halls of colleges and universities.  Witness Stanford's response to Laura's opinion at Upstate College's Biological Field Stations:  "You can't be equating the fuzzy procedures and approaches of psychology with the precision required in a real science like biology, can you, Dr. Murphy?" (emphasis added)  I am so over that childish "My dog's better than your dog" type of competition.  Here it adds a wonderful suspense to "Murder is Academic".

    Concern for the welfare of the local ecosystem and inhabitants is shown in the book by exposition and dialog, rather than by taking the book, thumping us on the head with it and the hope that environmental appreciation will somehow be transferred by osmosis.  Diehl's presentation of the cause in this manner assumes intelligence (native or acquired) and sensitivity on the part of her readers.  I am much more likely to return to an author who does not insult my intelligence simply because my experiences are different from hers (or his).

    The third thing I liked about "Murder is Academic" is the handling of the physical intimacy between Laura and Guy, the Canadian motorcycle-riding high-school teacher.  I love how they met...shortly after Laura and Annie's discovery of the body of the college president at a construction site.  I was a little surprised at the near-immediate onset of that level of intimacy, simply because they had suspected each other of being involved in the murder.  The author lets us know what is going on skillfully, without resorting to blatant images and crass colloquialisms.  The couple's intimacy adds to the story, as opposed to taking it over. Very well done.

    I could go on, but you have some reading to do.  First, my author interview with Lesley Diehl is below.  After that, the book "Murder is Academic" itself.  If I made up a list of all the things I love about cozy mysteries, "Academic" would include many of those elements and even add a few new things to the list.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    AUTHOR INTERVIEW

    1. What makes "Murder is Academic" different from the other books you have written?
    A version of it was the first mystery I tried writing.  I shelved it for over five years, then pulled it out and began revising.  It has been cut from over 100,000 words to just over 75,000.  Murder is Academic displays the same humor as in most of my work, but it is a bit different because my protagonist is more impulsive than my other protagonists.  Laura Murphy is sexually bold, so much so that she takes a chance on a man she’s just met, one who might be the killer of her college’s president.  So this cozy mystery is really best described as a “spicy cozy mystery.”

    2. Where do you get names for your characters?

    That’s a great question and one hard to answer.  Sometimes the names seem to materialize out of thin air.  For some of the names in this book, I at first created names similar to those of real characters, but as I changed the characters in revision and they became not very much like the real characters I had originally used  to create the fictional ones, the names seemed not to work, and I had to change  them.  Because I had published a number of books since I wrote the original manuscript, I had used names in the published work and had to change the names in this one.  Laura Murphy was always the name of my protagonist, however: Laura, for one of my favorite students and friends and Murphy?  That came to me out of thin air, but seemed to stick.

    3.Which of your characters (in any of your work) is most like you?  Least?

    Laura is most like me in that she is a professor of psychology, which I was for many years, and she is intrusive, making her enemies on campus.  I have to admit that was true of me also.

    The male characters in the story, the ones who are faculty, often function as antagonists to Laura, so there are not many men other than the detective, Laura’s son, and her new lover who share personality characteristics with me.

    Most of the protagonists in my books share my nosiness, interest in people, and passion for learning, but most are younger, prettier and more athletic.  While I love cooking and gardening, none of them share these interests with me.

    4.  Where do you write?

    Until this year I wrote at my desk in the corner of the living room in our house in Florida or, when in upstate New York, at my desk in my office looking out into the branches of a lilac bush but now I find myself taking my computer out to the deck overlooking the trout stream or sometimes I just choose a comfy chair and write there. 

    5.  What's next for Laura?

    Laura finds she is again gaining weight and finding life a bit boring.  She discovers the body of one of her students in a mall parking lot and sets out to find out who is responsible for this wonderful young woman’s death.  A note on the body seems to be a poke at Laura’s research, but why?

    This time Laura takes on a bad boy fraternity to track down the killer.

    6.  What's next for Lesley?

    I’m taking a breather this summer because my writing schedule has been so intense for the last year.  I will be writing two short stories in the next few months, but my focus will be on promoting this book as well as my recent Eve Appel mystery series published by Camel Press (A Secondhand Murder and Dead in the Water with a release date of July 15).

    After refueling my idea tank, I may turn into a noir direction with humor in my mysteries becoming darker.  Never fear, I still have on my schedule to complete books in my existing mystery series as well as the second one for Laura Murphy.

    7.  What are your hobbies (or what do you do when you are not writing)?

    I cook, garden, exercise, hike, and spend time with my husband working on our 1874 cottage.

    8.  Tell us three things that are on your bucket list?

    To visit Cornwall, go on a river cruise in Europe and continue writing, writing, writing.

    9.  Where do you see yourself in five years?

    Still writing.  I hope I’ve gotten the third book in all my series out and have begun other mysteries.

    10.  Tell us something about your cats?  Your resident ghost?

    My two cats, Squeak and Marley, are both rescue cats from Key Largo, Fl.  We used to spend our winters down there, and we were part of a spay and neuter rescue group for feral cats.  We got Squeak first, then about four years later we got Marley.  Squeak is our girl, a green-eyed, grey striped cat with a lot of attitude for such a little thing.  Marley is the boy of the house, “himself” and considered to be a real pain by his older sister.  As you might guess, they kind of run the place.  Since Squeak is picky about motel rooms when we go back-and-forth between New York and Florida, we always try for a Hilton.  Otherwise she yells at us all night.  Marley doesn’t really care where we stop as long as there’s food for him and he can do what we call “wacko-bananas” all night (runs around the room like a crazy man).

    As for Fred, our resident ghost, he seems to have a great sense of humor.  He likes to play tricks on us like turning on the electric fireplace in the summer, making our truck start up in the middle of the night, and having the door knob fall off in my hand.  Quite the prankster.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    AUTHOR INFORMATION




    Like me, my protagonists choose to live their lives close to nature.

    From the deep, green river valleys and tree-covered mountains of upstate New York to the palm-treed pastures of the Big Lake Country in Florida, these women have found their homes and their hearts in rural America.

    These plucky snoops are joined by a transplant from Connecticut, Eve Appel, who moves to rural Florida to set up a consignment shop with her best friend and partner, Madeleine Boudreau.

    All these amateur sleuths yearn for the simple, artless existence of hard work coupled with rustic pleasure.
    That’s why they live away from big cities, but murder and violence have a way of stalking us, even our plucky heroines, who think they’ve avoided life’s perils.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    (Disclaimer:  I received an e-copy of "Murder is Academic" from the author and publisher through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  No other compensation was offered, requested or received.)

    REVIEW: The Loved and the Lost by Lory Kaufman



    SYNOPSIS

    A quest for lost love. An adventure of many lifetimes.

    Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln are three 24th-century time travelers desperate to return to 14th-century Verona and reclaim their medieval family’s shattered lives. It is a mission fraught with danger and the risk of unexpected consequences for themselves and their worlds. For all three, it is a matter of the heart. For one, though, it is truly the only thing that matters, as the fate of his eternal love and the life of their unborn child is the prize to be won – or lost forever.

    In this, the final book of The Verona Trilogy, our three time travelers go on the boldest adventure of their lives. They will face hardship, tragedy, and threats from sources they couldn't have imagined – all in an effort to wrestle a future from the steely grip of an unforgiving past.


    ~~~oOo~~~

    REVIEW

    I didn't think there could be any more 'surprises' in "The Loved and the Lost".  After all, I've read the entire Verona Trilogy and travelled from the 14th to the 24th to the 31st centuries.  (Wow.  I feel old all of a sudden! *lol*)  Of course, the synopsis above spilled the beans about the baby so I can talk about that one even though I try not to post spoilers in reviews.  And, although I should have seen it coming, not everyone else (than Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln) in the 14th century is really from the 14th century. *shh. Don't tell*

    At the end of "The Bronze and the Brimstone", they had been chased by townspeople who thought they were in league with the devil.  Lincoln (Maruccio) was gone, Hansum (Romero) was in prison amongst people dying of the Black Death, one of whom was Shamira (Carmella).

    The story of Hansum and Guilietta had made them all quite famous in their home time period (the 24th century) and the years/centuries beyond that.  Thanks to the Mists of Time viewers, the public could view time travel scenes much like we watch tv series today.

    In "The Loved and the Lost" we see our intrepid trio come into their own.  Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln have grown up together and become as much brothers and sister as their blood relatives could be.  Hansum formulates a plan for the three to return through time to save Guilietta and her parents from the fire that took their house.  The Hansum of "The Lens and the Looker" probably could not have done that.  Shamira falls for a young man from the 26th century, who travels with them back in time.  Lincoln learns to 'mind-delve' with the assistance of an AI, and gains some very mature insights into Ugilino's character, which he could not have understood before.

    I could almost not be prouder of them than if they were my own children!  (Coincidentally, I have three children.  Two boys, one girl.  Sound familiar?)  I was also impressed that a significant amount of time is devoted to the ethics of time travel and the consequences that changing the past has on the future.

    It was heart-breaking to see them return again and again to the 14th century and fail so many times to save the people who had been their family in that time period.  Almost like wanting Friar Lawrence to get to the tomb in time to prevent tragedy in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and him arriving just after the nick of time.  And that's all I'm going to say about that.

    Much as "The Loved and the Lost" wraps up the Verona Trilogy, my review wraps up my feelings about the trilogy in general.  Expect to see at least one, and quite likely two or three, of these books on my year's favorite reads!  If you like YA, you will love "The Loved and the Lost."  If you like time-travel, you will love the Verona Trilogy.  If you are like me, you will LOVE hearing that there are History Camps set in other ages and locales.  I can't wait!

    ~~~oOo~~~

    AUTHOR INFORMATION


    "I write Post-Dystopian fiction. After society’s collapse, which is imagined in so many great dystopian stories, humans will either fade into history, with the dinosaurs, or, if it learns the right lessons, society will go on to construct a civilization to last tens of thousands of years. The books of THE VERONA TRILOGY are the exciting adventures of young people doing the latter.” -Lory Kaufman

    On the artistic side of Lory’s career, he’s written, acted and directed children’s theatre and musical theatre. He enjoys art, especially sculpture. He loves science fiction and historical fiction and he has been deeply involved in the green movement all across North America. All this shows through when you read his work. Lory has three grown children and works and lives in Kingston, Canada.


     ~~~oOo~~~


    (Disclaimer:  I received a print copy of "The Loved and the Lost" from the author via iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  No other compensation was offered, requested or received.)

    Tuesday, May 27, 2014

    GUEST POST/REVIEW: When Camels Fly by NLB Horton





    Publisher: NLBHorton, via Amazon’s White Glove (May 15, 2014)
    Category: Contemporary suspense, thread of Romance
    Tour Date: May/June, 2014
    Available in: Print & ebook, 370 Pages

    ~~~oOo~~~

    I am so happy to have author NLB Horton on the Back Porch today for a guest post about her book, "When Camels Fly".  

    ~~~oOo~~~

    NLB Horton guest post for Back Porchervations

    Sometimes the topic a blogger asks an author to write about for a guest blog requires a great deal of thinking and creative “wordsmithing.” But when the topic is my time in the Holy Lands and Mediterranean region, writing the post is a mini-vacation, albeit to the occasional beat of heavy artillery in Syria and machine-gun fire in Lebanon.

    When Camels Fly, the first of five books in the Parched series, shares its Middle-Eastern setting with the second, The Brothers’ Keepers (November 7, 2014). To be fair, The Brothers’ Keepers also rambles through Western Europe, but that’s a topic for another post. Regarding the larger Mediterranean region, the third book (summer, 2015) occurs in Greece and Turkey. The fourth will be in South America, and the fifth in the States. I have “been there, done that” in every location.

    Sometimes I forget how odd I am, although I predict a delightfully batty old age.

    I remember my first evening in Jerusalem years ago, on a hill across from the Old City. No sooner had my bags hit the room floor than the Muezzins began the call to prayer. Unlike days of old, when men truly stood atop minarets to sing out over the city, these chants are now broadcast from speakers—and are unavoidable. I pinched myself. The little girl from Texas was a long way from home.

    I am well traveled, but wandering through the lanes of the Old City is an experience unlike any other. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a pedestrian zone, the lanes only wide enough for donkey-pulled carts. Raised ramps on each side of the pavers accommodate cart wheels. Kiosks and shops, many no bigger than a small closet, crumble and tumble into each other, depositing underfoot goods representing the four religions of the Old City Quarters: Christian, Armenian Christian, Jewish, and Muslim.

    Favorite spots include the north of Israel, where I dangled all afternoon down the four-hundred-foot Cliff of Arbel, trying to remain polite. Catching my breath on the shores of the Sea of Galilee after a 118-degree day. (My protagonist’s daughter, Maggie, and her Arab-Christian bodyguard, Matthew, spar romantically here.)

    Trying to get out of Jericho, one of my least favorite spots on the entire planet. (The Commodores’ “Brick House” bears mention here, but you’ll have to buy the book.) Marveling at the Ascent of Adumim, noted in the Old Testament book of Psalms. (My protagonist, archaeologist Grace Madison, escapes along this ridge via a camel caravan on its way to Herodium.)

    Digging tel Dan, where I kept my head down during the aforementioned artillery and machine-gun fire. (Nothing happened here in When Camels Fly, but it’s a beautiful, verdant spot, nonetheless. And very memorable.)

    I have walked the paths, ridden the camels (yes, photographic proof exists), heard the sounds, smelled the scents (cumin, turmeric, and lime!), felt the danger. Seen stone steps worn four inches lower in the center from millennia of leather soles and bare feet. Stood in the biblical wilderness, the most silent and desolate place I’ve ever been, wondering why snail shells littered the sand. Life is absurdly wonderful.

    My precious Beta Readers remind me that my protagonist, Grace, is Everywoman. My Readers Guide for book clubs encourages readers to respond to Grace on a deeper level, and see how they would react when facing some of her tough decisions. I’m told Grace’s appeal is that she shares our normal concerns and priorities, although she’s managing to craft a meaningful “second life” that reflects her interests and passions. Her “Yenta-like tendencies” as she deals with her two adult children in situations more dangerous than I could bear reveal her humanity, and love for family. Her doubts and hopes for her relationship with her husband of thirty-plus years depict those of many partners in long-standing relationships. I have experienced these things, too.

    Some of them I just happened to experience in the most amazing, dangerous, and important places on earth. It’s a joy to share these adventures, which every woman should share, at least vicariously. Join me via When Camels Fly, May 12, 2014.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    MY REVIEW

    Oh my *****!  When a book starts with a woman (Maggie Madison) hearing two of her kidnappers outside the tent planning her death, you know the camel spit is about to fly.  In flies Mama Bear Grace, an "archaeologist of mature vintage" by her own admission.  Thanks to her eagle-eye shooting and some 2nd-half help from a mysterious handsome shepherd, and the first rescue is in the record books.  But whom do you trust when it some of the players are not who they appear to be?

    I was grateful for the list of terms in Hebrew and Arabic at the front of "When Camels Fly".  I already knew some of them, but it was very nice to have a reference list to check as to not slow down the pace of the story.  Also, most chapters were preceded by a character or time of day notation as well as geographic location.  The entire Madison family (father Mark, mother Grace, son Jeff and daughter Maggie) take us to Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, England and Colorado, switching from one place and person to another until the family is reunited.  And reunited in more ways than one.  In one location, which in itself has not happened for years, and actually communicating with each other (as opposed to talking at each other).

    Being set in the Middle East, religion is almost another character in the book.  Grace prays for direction quite often in the book, and given the situation, I would probably be doing the same thing.  She has a split-second moral dilemma about shooting a man, but when it comes down to that or losing her daughter, the choice has already been made.

    "When Camels Fly" has something for everyone:  exotic locations, intrigue, spies and their 'offices' on three continents, betrayal, old love, new love, despair, hope, enemies working together, friends and family having each other's back in incredibly tense and dangerous situations, and a host of people "of mature vintage" who apparently don't know how to retire...  I could go on.  But I won't.  Because you need to discover "When Camels Fly" for yourselves.

    I started reading "When Camels Fly" one evening and when I looked up it was *ahem* well past my bedtime.  So I told myself "one more chapter".  Yeah, right. :O)  I also featured this book in my latest "Friday 56" post.  And I posted a quote on GoodReads for the first time; it's the one about "Hercules in a burkha".

    The bitter end of the book actually gave me the shivers.  So I am thrilled to learn that we will be seeing the Madisons again, in several different locations.  I hope you will join me, because you KNOW I'm going to be there!

    ~~~oOo~~~

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR



    NLB Horton

    After an award-winning detour through journalism and marketing and a graduate degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, NLBHorton returned to writing fiction. She has surveyed Israeli archaeological digs accompanied by artillery rounds from Syria and machine gun fire from Lebanon. Explored Machu Picchu after training with an Incan shaman. And consumed afternoon tea across five continents.
    When Camels Fly is her first novel. Her second, The Brothers’ Keepers, will be available November 2014.




    (Disclaimer:  I received a print copy of "When Camels Fly" by NLB Horton from the Author, Publisher via Virtual Author Book Tours in exchange for my unbiased opinion.  No other compensation was offered, requested or received.)

    Teaser/First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesdays


    Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

    • Grab your current read
    • Open to a random page
    • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
    • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
    • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


    (my copy of this book is in PDF format.  The teaser comes from page 5 of 163.)

    The sun was setting, shrouding the construction area in shadows and making me shiver with apprehension. I didn’t believe the body found its way under that gravel pile by accident.

    ~~~oOo~~~


    Every Tuesday, Bibliophile by the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where I share the first paragraph or (a few) of a book she is reading or thinking about reading soon. Care to join us?


    Hansum had been watching his younger self for about an hour when Arimus said,

    "See, my boy, it's not so hard, and after a while it doesn't seem so odd."

    The elder from the 31st century was right.  When Hansum arrived in his own past and saw his ten-year-old self playing in the commons of his 24th century home village, he got the oddest sensation.  He felt queasy and dizzy.  But as Arimus predicted, those sensations were soon replaced with a growing sense of what had made Hansum the you adult he no was.

    "Self-knowledge, my boy, self-knowledge," Arimus explained, "You will go back in time and discover the whys and wherefores that made your present therefores."

    Do either or both of these look interesting?  Come back on Thursday, May 29th, 2014 for my reviews of both these books!

    Saturday, May 24, 2014

    Weekend Writing Warriors (#8sunday) - Being Bold



    I found the link to WeWriWa (Weekend Writing Warriors) on Sue Ann Bowling's "Homecoming Blog".  You share an 8-sentence snippet of your writing between Saturday at noon and Sunday at 9 a.m. (unsure which time zone as this is my first time), link it up at the site connected to the button above, and share reading, comments and critiques with the other participants.  Join in!


    ~~~oOo~~~

    Here are my eight sentences for the week, from my #atozchallenge post on "Proverbs 31 and Being  Bold":


    25) Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

    This thing we call life is not a kiddie ride at the amusement park.  It takes strength of body and/or soul.  As I read this verse, I think of an ancient soldier getting ready for war by putting on his armor.  Having that protection, whether it be armor or honor or prayer, can help us lunge into the fray with BOLDNESS.

    27.  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

    Why do you think financial professionals always talk about having a six-month cushion of savings?  Why are 'prepper' shows so popular?  Because sometimes, you-know-what happens and if you are prepared for the future (insofar as you are capable), you can act take care of yourself and your family BOLDly even if that same stuff hits the fan.
    What inspires you to be bold (even when you're not totally feeling it)?  Thanks for stopping by.  Feel free to leave a link in your comment to your #8sunday post! 

    Friday, May 23, 2014

    Friday 56: When Camels Fly by NLB Horton


    (hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice blog)

    Rules:
    *Grab a book, any book.
    *Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
    (If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
     *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
    *Post it.

    ~~~oOo~~~


    (cover picture linked to GoodReads)

    Quote from Page 56:

    "His long, white robe with a checkered scarf -- kaffiyeh -- held in place by a braided rope -- agal -- was peasant clothing seen all over the Middle East.  His iconic pose, enabled by flexibility earning the name Grasshopper, was authentic: knees to shoulders and heels flat on the ground."

    Thursday, May 22, 2014

    BOOK REVIEW: Moving Day by Jonathan Stone


    SYNOPSIS

    Forty years’ accumulation of art, antiques, and family photographs are more than just objects for Stanley Peke—they are proof of a life fully lived. A life he could have easily lost long ago.

    When a con man steals his houseful of possessions in a sophisticated moving-day scam, Peke wanders helplessly through his empty New England home, inevitably reminded of another helpless time: decades in Peke’s past, a cold and threadbare Stanislaw Shmuel Pecoskowitz eked out a desperate existence in the war-torn Polish countryside, subsisting on scraps, dodging Nazi soldiers. Now, the seventy-two-year-old Peke—who survived, came to America, and succeeded—must summon his original grit and determination, to track down the thieves, retrieve his things, and restore the life he made for himself.

    Peke and his wife, Rose, trace the path of the thieves’ truck across America, to the wilds of Montana, and to an ultimate, chilling confrontation with not only the thieves, but with Peke’s brutal, unresolved past.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    REVIEW

    "Moving Day" is more than just a story.  It is a look into the mind of a man whose childhood was spent in Poland, hiding out from Nazis in WWII.  If you like stories where a not insignificant amount of the action is mental, you will enjoy "Moving Day".

    I recently reviewed a book I had found difficult to read because of the actions of some of the characters.  In "Moving Day", a group of con men pretend to be a moving company and go in and load up the vast majority of 70-something Stanley and Rose Peke's worldly possession and drive into the sunset with them.  What a bunch of ... wait, this is a family-friendly blog ... I can't use words like that.

    If you ever needed proof that senior citizens (a group with which I have more in common every day) are not 'past it', Stan Peke is it.  He comes up with the audacious plan to implant a GPS tracking device into an antique German timepiece stashed in a safe-deposit box on the off chance the thieves find the box key taped in his desk.  He lets them steal everything in the box rather than leave only the watch, which could arouse their suspicions.  Pretty gutsy move.

    Anyway, the criminals take the bait.  So Stan and Rose's cross-country move becomes a manhunt.  Along the way, Stan has a running discussion with himself as to whether or not this is the best course of action.  After all, the stolen items are just things.  They are insured, so they are not out in terms of money.  When the couple catch up with the thieves, they must confront not only them, but also the same evil from Stan's past.

    "Moving Day" is a solid read.  It demands as much from the reader as it gives to the reader.  It will make you think.  It will help you feel grateful for the little (and big) things in your life.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    AUTHOR INFORMATION


    Jonathan Stone writes his books on the commuter train from his home in Connecticut to his advertising job in midtown Manhattan. Honing his writing skills by creating smart and classic campaigns for high-level brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, and Mitsubishi has paid off, as Stone’s first mystery-thriller series, the Julian Palmer books, won critical acclaim and was hailed as “stunning” and “risk-taking” in Publishers Weekly starred reviews. He earned glowing praise for his novel The Cold Truth from the New York Times, which called it “bone-chilling.” He’s the recipient of a Claymore Award for Best Unpublished Crime Novel and a graduate of Yale, where he was a Scholar of the House in fiction writing.

    ~~~oOo~~~


    (Disclaimer:  I received a print copy of "Moving Day" from the author and publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  No other compensation was offered, requested or received.)

    Wednesday, May 21, 2014

    The Bronze and the Brimstone by Lory Kaufman


    ~~~oOo~~~



    SYNOPSIS

    (Book #2 of the Verona Trilogy)

    What could go wrong in the 14th-century for three time-traveling teens? How about – EVERYTHING!

    Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln, three teens from the 24th-century, are trapped in 14th-century Verona, Italy. They’ve survived many deadly experiences by keeping their wits about them and by introducing futuristic technology into the past. Principal among these inventions is the telescope, which brought them to the attention of the rich and powerful.

    But standing out can get you into unexpected – situations. The nobles of Verona now believe Hansum is a savant, a genius inventor, especially after he brings them plans for advanced cannons and black powder. Being the center of attention is great, but the potential for trouble is now exponentially greater because people are watching Hansum’s every move.

    Meanwhile, artistic genius Shamira has fallen for a Florentine artist with bloody and disastrous consequences. Lincoln, considered an incompetent back home in the 24th-century, has blossomed – at least until he’s shot in the head with an arrow. And Hansum, after secretly marrying his new master’s beautiful daughter, Guilietta, is offered the hand in marriage of lady Beatrice, daughter of the ruler of Verona. To refuse could mean calamity for all the teens.

    Amazingly, none of this is their biggest challenge. Because a rash illness is spreading across Verona – and it is threatening to consume everyone. Do they have a future in this past?

    ~~~oOo~~~

    REVIEW

    Ok.  I admit it.  After having thoroughly enjoyed "The Lens and the Looker", I was primed to like "The Bronze and the Brimstone" as well; at the same time, I had high expectations for the book.  "Brimstone" is a tremendous follow-up to "Looker"!

    Before they realized that "this" 14th century was the actual 14th century, and before they realized that the death of their time-traveling guide meant they were stuck right where they were and that nobody from the 24th century knew where they were, our intrepid trio had been introducing certain advanced technologies to their situation to "throw a wrench" (wait, this is 1347) "throw a stick" into the works.

    But then...funny things start to happen.  Sure, the teens have been thrown into the deep end of the pool and it's sink or swim time.  Hansum/Romero finds happiness in hard work and an admiration for Master Agistino and the work that he does on his lenses for the eyes.  Hansum also finds an appreciation of the Master's daughter Guilietta.  With Pan's help, Shamira/Carmella develops some cooking skills and receives praise for her efforts.  Even Lincoln/Maruccio finds a talent for organization and bookkeeping.  Their skills enable them to feel valued and a contributing part of their 'family'.

    The Podesta, or ruler of Verona, wanting to solidify and enlarge his political power, takes Hansum/Romero under his wing to develop more of these lookers that can give Verona's armies a huge advantage in battle.  He also seeks to bind Romero to him in loyalty by seeing that Romero marries his daughter, the Lady Beatrice.  One teensy-weensy problem - Romero and Guilietta have already married in secret.  To refuse the Podesta would mean social suicide for all three teens.  To have to be married to Beatrice (who wasn't so bad a girl after all) and 'use' Guilietta as a mistress would be unconscionable.

    So, Hansum/Romero thinks, "I'll show the Podesta something even more valuable to him and once I become indispensable, he'll allow me to marry whomever I please."  Thus Romero 'discovers' cannons and black powder - centuries in advance of their introduction in the original time line.

    Of course, Verona's rivals and enemies find out about these discoveries as well and make attempts to either steal a looker, kidnap Hansum/Romero, or both.  A prototype cannon, successfully test-fired, is subsequently destroyed in an attack.  Lincoln/Maruccio is shot in the head by an arrow.  Strike one.

    A priest of the time happens to see the teens conferring with Pan and accuses them of being in league with the devil.  Pan's amulet/house is destroyed in a scuffle and the teens from the future are truly alone in the past.  Strike two.

    And, oh yeah...the Black Death pandemic.  Strike three.

    Since the timelines have been, shall we say, 'creatively rearranged', in these present circumstances, do three strikes make an out?  Hmmm.  I guess you will have to read "The Bronze and the Brimstone" to find out. ;)

    The first time travel story I can remember reading was in junior high school.  Thirty-five to forty years later, I still remember some of the details; to say the least, it made an impression on me.  I will remember "The Bronze and the Brimstone", and indeed, Kaufman's entire Verona Trilogy, for a long, long time.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    AUTHOR INFORMATION



    "I write Post-Dystopian fiction. After society’s collapse, which is imagined in so many great dystopian stories, humans will either fade into history, with the dinosaurs, or, if it learns the right lessons, society will go on to construct a civilization to last tens of thousands of years. The books of THE VERONA TRILOGY are the exciting adventures of young people doing the latter.” -Lory Kaufman

    On the artistic side of Lory’s career, he’s written, acted and directed children’s theatre and musical theatre. He enjoys art, especially sculpture. He loves science fiction and historical fiction and he has been deeply involved in the green movement all across North America. All this shows through when you read his work. Lory has three grown children and works and lives in Kingston, Canada.

    ~~~oOo~~~


    (Disclaimer:  I received print copies of the Verona Trilogy from the author through iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was offered, requested or received.)




    Tuesday, May 20, 2014

    BOOK REVIEW: Hypocrisy by D.M. Annechino



    SYNOPSIS

    Dr. Lauren Crawford is a brilliant research scientist who discovers a revolutionary treatment for cancer that not only extends life, but much improves the quality of life for terminal cancer patients. The treatment, in some instances, can even cure certain cancers. On the evening before Dr. Crawford is to hold a press conference to announce that the FDA has given preliminary approval of her new cancer treatment, somebody follows her to her car and puts three bullets in her head. Was it a planned murder with a motive, a mugging gone badly, or merely a random act of violence?

    Two New York City homicide detectives, Amaris Dupree and T.J. Brown, are assigned to the investigation. The detectives evaluate the circumstances surrounding Dr. Crawford’s death, and follow a trail of clues that exposes a sequence of startling facts. One by one, the detectives carefully examine each suspect and piece together a puzzle with unimaginable implications. As the investigation gets more intense, and the detectives get closer to solving the murder mystery, someone threatens Dupree’s life. The detectives now realize that Dr. Crawford’s murder was much more than a homicide. And if they don’t arrest the murderer soon, Dupree might be the next victim.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    REVIEW

    Twelve to sixteen years ago, I was working for the Fort Worth Police Department, transcribing reports from officers in the field and taking non-emergency reports from the city's citizens.  So I know being an officer or detective is not all parades and reflective sunglasses.  In "Hypocrisy", D.M. Annechino does a good job of showing the gritty side of working in the streets.

    From the short prologue, told from the victim's point-of-view, we learn that Dr. Lauren Conrad's killer is male and he shot her in the head.  This book is not for children (think PG-13).  The moments right before the gun is shot and as the gun is firing is not gory, but peculiarly effective - chilling, even.  (I think I actually shuddered).

    Then the book proper starts and we are introduced to Amaris Dupree (love that name!) and T.J. Brown, the detectives assigned to the case, who happen to be the only female and only African-American homicide detectives in that precinct, respectively.  The victim's identity is discovered by tracing her vanity license plates and by visual confirmation with a picture from the internet.  So they know who.

    But the why?  There's the rub.  The doctor's mother says her daughter had thought someone had been following her recently and was worried.  But who would want to kill a research scientist close to finding an effective treatment for some cancers?  Was it just a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time?  Was it a robbery gone wrong?  Or, given what they know about Dr. Conrad's job, was someone bent on stealing her research ... or stopping it?

    Annechino skillfully weaves together literally dozens of strands of theories for who committed the crime of murder and why into a web that slowly finds and weeds out suspects, closing in on the killer and any accomplices he may have.  Sometimes the web is damaged and a setback occurs - like the threats against Detective Dupree's life.  But like the spiders on my porch, the police's work is not done until the crime is solved.

    And the murder is solved, but some of the criminals do not have to answer for their actions - at least not in a court of law.  Two pieces of advice for future readers:  1.  Don't mess with the cats, and 2.  Stay for the epilogue.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    AUTHOR INFORMATION



    Daniel M. Annechino, a former book editor specializing in full-length fiction, wrote his first book, How to Buy the Most Car for the Least Money, in 1992 while working as a General Manager in the automobile business. But his passion had always been fiction, particularly thrillers. He spent two years researching serial killers before finally penning his gripping and memorable debut novel They Never Die Quietly. His second book Resuscitation (Thomas & Mercer 2011), a follow-up to his first novel, hit #1 in Kindle sales in both the USA and UK. He is also the author of I Do Solemnly Swear (Thomas & Mercer 2012). Hypocrisy, is Annechino’s fourth novel.

    A native of New York, Annechino now lives in San Diego with his wife, Jennifer. He loves to cook, enjoys a glass of vintage wine, and spends lots of leisure time on the warm beaches of Southern California.

    ~~~oOo~~~


    (Disclaimer:  I received a print copy of "Hypocrisy" from the author and publisher via iRead Book Tours (click the button above) in exchange for my honest review.  No other compensation was offered, requested or received.)

    Monday, May 19, 2014

    What are You Reading? (May 19)

      

    LAST WEEK
    (busy, busy, busy)
    (covers in this section link back to my reviews)

    Monday


    Eurasian beauty Mai Faca plots to marry Jake Warden, a successful oral surgeon forbidden to her because of family honor. In an unheard-of scheme, fellow oral surgeon, Bret Manley, falls victim to Mai's seduction as she and Jake play a cruel trick to be together. Jake acts with surgical precision to clear the path to Mai's happiness, threatening lives including his own. In a wake of turmoil and destruction, Bret's uncle and well-known criminal attorney, Hubie Santos, attempts to find out if a surgeon would use his knowledge to kill.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    Tuesday


    With her own wedding fast approaching and her mother-in-law dating an unexpected beau, the last thing Natalie Barnes needs is to find a young man shot dead in a dinghy. A note she finds with the body suggests the dearly departed had a secret rendezvous planned with somebody on the island. But when suspicion is cast on a fisherman Natalie believes to be innocent, she begins to wonder if the murder was the result of a lover’s quarrel . . . or a lobsterman’s disagreement gone horribly wrong.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    Wednesday


    To Izzy’s surprise, newcomer Julia Ainsley seems determined to buy her home—although she’s never set foot inside. But on the day of the open house, things take a tragic turn. A body is uncovered in the cottage’s backyard. When the police find Julia’s name and phone number in the victim’s pocket, this slender thread of evidence makes her a person of interest.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    Thursday



    In this first of a trilogy, we meet three “hard cases” students who refuse the valuable lessons 2347 History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    Friday


    Media headlines abound these days saying, “Tea is trendy…” and we believe it until we read the first chapter of Ritual Tea: How the 9 Secrets of Tea Can Transform Your Life.   Entitled, Tea’s Sordid and Holy Exploits, chapter one is a worldwide, whirlwind tour of tea history that leaves the reader knowing once and for all that tea has always been trendy for very good reasons. Next to water, tea is the world’s most popular drink.

    ~~~oOo~~~


    Hired as a nanny for her cousin’s children, Anne Tearle finds security and a loving family. The children are a dream, but London society is a world of its own, one where a displaced farm girl has no business being. But, wealthy rake, Gavin MacKay, helps her to see associating with the upper class might not be as horrid as she first assumed. 

    ~~~oOo~~~

    THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS

    Tuesday 5/20


    Dr. Lauren Crawford is a brilliant research scientist who discovers a revolutionary treatment for cancer that not only extends life, but much improves the quality of life for terminal cancer patients. The treatment, in some instances, can even cure certain cancers. On the evening before Dr. Crawford holds a press conference to announce that the FDA has given preliminary approval of her new cancer treatment, somebody follows her to her car and puts three bullets in her head. Was it a planned murder with a motive, a mugging gone badly, or merely a random act of violence?

    ~~~oOo~~~

    Wednesday 5/21


    What could go wrong in the 14th-century for three time-traveling teens? How about – EVERYTHING! 

    Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln, three teens from the 24th-century, are trapped in 14th-century Verona, Italy. They’ve survived many deadly experiences by keeping their wits about them and by introducing futuristic technology into the past. Principal among these inventions is the telescope, which brought them to the attention of the rich and powerful.

    ~~~oOo~~~

    DOWN THE PIPE/JUST FOR FUN
    (links in this section go to GoodReads)

      

      





    Sunday, May 18, 2014

    Weekend Writing Warriors-A is for Altruism


    I found the link to WeWriWa (Weekend Writing Warriors) on Sue Ann Bowling's "Homecoming Blog".  You share an 8-sentence snippet of your writing between Saturday at noon and Sunday at 9 a.m. (unsure which time zone as this is my first time), link it up at the site connected to the button above, and share reading, comments and critiques with the other participants.  Join in!

    ~~~oOo~~~

    Back in April, I participated in the "Blogging from A to Z  Challenge" wherein I wrote a post every day but Sundays during the month, the first starting with "A", the second with "B" and so on. This year, I wrote around the theme of "Proverbs 31".  As it is my intent to compile and rework these posts into an e-book, I thought that would be a good subject for my first foray with the Weekend Writing Warriors!

    So here are my eight sentences for this week, from my post on "Altruism":

    These are the people we know - our family, our friends.  We get up early to make them breakfast, we stay up all night with them when they are sick.  We drive across town to give them a ride when their car is not working.
    ...


    It's not a matter of time, talent, or money.  Everyone has something they can give or do to make someone else's life a little better - today! Maybe it's a meal for a homeless family.  Maybe it's money for a cause or arts organization.  Maybe it's a kind word to someone who has had a hard day.

    Every single person reading this post, every single blogger participating the the A to Z Challenge, every single person in the world can do something to make the world a little better ... for everybody.
    I realize the first sentence sounds a little strange as is.  In the original posts, I quoted a couple of verses from Proverbs 31:10-31 before the 1st and 2nd samples.  Should I include them from now on (for the Warriors posts)?  Any other thoughts or suggestions?

    Have a great week, y'all!

    Saturday, May 17, 2014

    Friday 56: Hypocrisy by D. M. Annechino


    This is my first foray into the world of the Friday 56.  (I have a thing about alliteration; can you tell?) :O)  Anyway, I was over at Yvonne's blog "Socrates Book Reviews", caught her post and thought it sounded fun, so here I am.

    So, you are supposed to go to page 56 of a book (or 56% if you are on an e-reader) and post a sentence that tells something about the book, but hopefully doesn't contain any spoilers.

    My book choice for today is "Hypocrisy" by D. M. Annechino.  I received an print ARC of this book from the author and publisher through iReadBookTours, and a review will be posted on my blog this coming Tuesday (May 20th).


    Quote:  "And the next thing I know, two security guards escorted me to my office, watched me pack my personal belongings, and then escorted me to the front door."

    Here's a bit of information about the book:

    In Daniel M. Annechino's fourth novel, Hypocrisy, readers are taken on a thrill ride where the ongoing controversy over cancer research and the real possibility of finding a cure may not be the ultimate goal of certain high-level and powerful people in the medical community.

    You're all invited back Tuesday to get the whole Back Porch report on D. M. Annechino's "Hypocrisy".  Have a great weekend!