War Torn by Kenneth E. Miller - #review

With some 200 million people in more than forty countries affected by armed conflict or genocide, refugees are appearing in record numbers. War Torn is timely in how it brings us intimately into the lives of civilians who have survived wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Guatemala, and Sri Lanka.

Alongside stories that convey intimately the destruction and heartbreak of armed conflict, Miller captures the courage and resilience he calls “a remarkable kind of light,” an essential counterpoint to the grief and trauma that war creates. The stories in War Torn are powerful, heart-wrenching, and unforgettable.

Big Flies by Keith Hirshland- #review

Publisher: CreateSpace  (August 9, 2016)
Category: Mystery/Thriller, Hard-Boiled Detective
Tour Dates: October/November, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5327-1936-3
Available in: Print & ebook,  238 Pages

After Chester Daniel David, highly celebrated travel writer and hospitality critic, dies in an automobile accident, his son, Leland, is the heir to his prosperous estate. Among the late writer’s possessions are stacks of magazines hidden in an attic that suggest that his stories about his world travels were less than authentic.

As Leland grew up, it seemed as if his father was never home. If he wasn’t at the exotic locations depicted in the various publications, then where was he? And what was he doing?

In a witty mystery that simultaneously follows the lives of the father and son, clues that Chester leaves behind point to notorious unsolved crimes committed within a fifteen-year span:

• The D. B. Cooper plane skyjacking and ransom demand in the Pacific Northwest
• The theft from a Caribbean museum of a twenty-four-carat-gold cross recovered from a sixteenth-century shipwreck
• The inexplicable vanishing of $1 million from the Chicago First National Bank
• The theft of a collection of priceless artifacts from a Mexican anthropological museum

As Leland unlocks the mysteries surrounding his father’s true life, he finds himself with even more unfathomable questions that he never anticipated asking about his family—and himself.

Reminiscent of Michael Connelly, Nelson DeMille, Nick Hornby, and Terry Pratchett.

Onyx Webb, Book 1 and 2 by Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton - #review

Onyx Webb is a multi-genre mash-up that combines supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. So the story... Onyx Webb is a ghost. Billionaire playboy Koda Mulvaney becomes obsessed with a girl he sees inside a mirror. Juniper Cole is on her way to the prom and... well, we don't want to spoil anything - we've probably told you too much already. How all these events are related is part of the mystery that is, Onyx Webb.

The Chronicles of Tucker Littlefield by Tegon Maus - #review

Tucker Littlefield is a liar, a thief, a con-man . In an attempt to take advantage of a party thrown by the King, he becomes involved in a kidnapping – the King’s niece, Elizabeth, to be exact. Because of his fear of the dark as well as heights, and a good many other things, he finds himself stabbed and bleeding to death.

To save him, a Shaman for the Jonda – Daneba – turns him into a soul bearer for the Kindred. In an effort to find Lizie, Littlefield finds the Norha instead and their leader Tahki – a cannibalistic tribe the lives under a volcano that will leave no stone unturned to find Lizie. Littlefield is blackmailed into her recovery.

Transformed by a primitive magic beyond a civilized man’s understanding, I was given a horrible gift that no man should possess… It held me, twisted me, turning me at its bidding. I was enslaved by its power, compelled to devour the souls of the dead until I became the monster of my fears. I have seen things I wish never to see again. I have done things of which I wish never to speak. Yet I must if I am to find the answers to fulfill my hope.

I have walked upon blue ribbons of molten stone to peer into the depth of a man’s soul. I watched as a promise made at birth brought my friend Enon to sacrifice everything to become whole again – all in an effort to save the life of his child. I have cried without shame for the loss of all I hold dear and for fear that the future will hold more than I can bear. I am Tucker Littlefield. Know all that I say now is true-spoken.

46.6K Facebook Shares - Are You KIDDING ME???

I was working on the Blog Ahead Challenge and received an email notification from Neil Patel of a new blog post he had written, "23 Snazzy Blogging Tools Every Successful Content Marketer is Using".  Now, if you've ever read any blog post of Neil's, you know that it is like attending the biggest smorgasboard all-you-can-eat for one low price - there is SO MUCH information in each post you could spend a couple of days on it.

So, I went to 'snazzy blogging tool #1" - BuzzSumo.

On Neil's first suggested use of Buzzsumo as a content marketing tool, he mentioned getting inspiration from popular headlines - one that has received a huge amount of social shares.  As I write a lot of book reviews, and I always seem to be in the dark about what new books are coming out when, I typed in "new book releases".

There was no shortage of information - 715 p.a.g.e.s. of links to popular shares with a total of 14,300 entries!  The top share was a story from CafeMom.com about how E.L. James is re-releasing her "50 Shades" series - but from Christian's point-of-view.  Want to guess how many shares it got on Facebook?  Go ahead.  Guess.  (Of course, if you read the title of this post, you already know.)  That's right:  approximately 46,600 shares on Facebook alone.

OMG.

I have not read any of the books.  I did not see the movie.  I have no intention of ever doing either, unless someone forces me to "A Clockwork Orange"-style.

To me, that series should not qualify as literature at all - it seems to me to be more of an outlet for people who are upset that Playboy will no longer be featuring pictures of naked women anymore.  Or, it may be for people who cannot tell the difference between sexual arousal and other forms of entertainment; or for people whose lives are devoid of sexual experience and have to get it from literature or the movies.

Obviously, I am not a fan of the work.  Just as obviously, so many other people were enamored of it to the point that they bought the books and a movie was made.

But I also know I am not alone in my dislike of "50 Shades".  People who actually live the bondage-domination-submissive lifestyle in real life roundly criticizes both the book and the movie - saying it was an inaccurate representation.  But then, would an accurate depiction have been so commercial?  Probably not.

OK.  I think my rant has run out.  (I haven't been on this big a tsunami since I read the story about that woman who sued her 12 year old nephew for $127,000 for giving her too forceful a hug at his 8th birthday party and causing her to break her wrist and even now be unable to hold her hors d'oeuvres plate at cocktail parties.  Seriously, and now she's trying to backpedal, putting the blame on her insurance company.  *sheesh*)

OK.  Now my rant has really run out.  For now.

My point is, I used the tool and found out an area that definitely needs better things to talk about!  HUZZAH!  Thank you Neil and Buzzsumo!

Now I could probably go to one of the frequent yard sales they have down at the corner of Hwy 150 and Hwy 39 near Crab Orchard, Kentucky, pick up a used and tattered graphic novel and write a review of that comic book that would be more edifying than anything connected with "50 Shades".  But I am fortunate to work with a number of quality virtual book tour companies (Great Escapes, Historical Fiction, iRead, Sage's, TLC, and Premier Virtual Author to name but a few) that keep me well stocked in new book releases and allow me to post reviews help match my readers to books they will enjoy.

And, despite everything I have written here, I'm not saying E.L. James is a bad writer.  I wouldn't know.  I've never read anything she has written.  I'm just exercising my right to express my dislike of and disappointment in 'that book'.

So, dear reader, if you have gotten all the way through this post, thank you!

One thing I hope you take away from this post is that if you find content you like online, share it!  It helps the content creator with a virtual pat on the back.  And you can show your desire to find things of interest to your own readers.

One thing I hope you leave before you go is a comment with the best book you have read so far this year.  I need something to get the 50 Tastes of Yuck out of my mouth.

~~~oO~~~

This post was actually written on October 20, 2015, as part of my participation in the "Blog Ahead Challenge" hosted by Anna at Herding Cats and Burning Soup and Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Book Review: The Brothers' Keepers by NLB Horton

SYNOPSIS

A friend's deception. A family's dilemma.

While cataloging looted antiquities in Brussels, archaeologist Grace Madison discovers that her daughter has vanished in France, and her son's bride has been attacked in Switzerland. After the Madison family unearths a relic whose taproot pierces the Ancient Near East, they realize that before they can save themselves, they must rescue an old friend. If he'll let them. 

Because choosing what's right is all that's left. 

BOOK REVIEW/EXCERPT - Crazy is Normal by Lloyd Lofthouse

SYNOPSIS

Multi award winning author, Lloyd Lofthouse kept a daily journal for one-full school year and that journal became the primary source of this teacher’s memoir.

“Readers who envision eager students lapping up learning led by a Tiger Teacher will be disappointed. Lofthouse presents us with grungy classrooms, kids who don’t want to be in school, and the consequences of growing up in a hardscrabble world. While some parents support his efforts, many sabotage them—and isolated administrators make the work of Lofthouse and his peers even more difficult.

Throughout this memoir, though, Lofthouse seems able to keep the hope alive that there’s a future for each student that doesn’t include jail—thanks in large part to his sixth period journalism class and its incredible editor, Amanda.” – Bruce Reeves

Amazon

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REVIEW

Lloyd Lofthouse has hit upon the perfect training program for public teachers in the US today - active duty deployment as a US Marine.

Crazy is Normal is a journal kept by the author covering one school year, showing the good, the bad and the ugly about being a public school teacher in the US.  The good includes the occasional student who is actually eager to learn.  The bad includes parents calling the teacher to find out why their baby is failing.  (Maybe it has to do with not turning in ANY assignments?)  The ugly includes the lack of support from some administrations (at the school or *ahem* with the federal government).  Each student is different; attempting to cram them into a Common Core cookie cutter will just give them suspicious-looking indentation marks all over their bodies.

Lofthouse's book shows how bat-cookie cray-cray has become the norm in public schools today.  I almost feel physical pain when I think about it for too long.  I don't know how or why teachers do what they do for as long as they do it.  There are two choices.  They are either crazy - but that's normal today.  (In our house, we take pride in our crazy.)  Or they have a 'calling'.

If you expect little from people or a lot, they will usually live up to your expectations.  Teachers have a LOT of pressure on them.  Considering they are preparing our children and other young people to take over our world someday, they are not paid nearly enough.

Crazy is an amazing look into the year of one teacher's life.  Now, I'm sure there are as many different experiences as there are teachers.  This is not propaganda put out by the Department of Education.  Lofthouse gives us his journal from the front lines of the battle on the school front.

After you read Crazy is Normal, DO something!  Volunteer at your child's school, or with an adult literacy program.  The possibilities are endless.  Give of yourself.  Get involved.  Change the future.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION

Website * Author's Den * Facebook * Twitter * Google+

Little did Lloyd Lofthouse know in 1999, when he married Anchee Min, that he was beginning a journey of discovery. His first trip to The Middle Kingdom was on the honeymoon with his bride, who introduced him to China and Robert Hart (1835-1911), the main characters in Lloyd’s first two novels,My Splendid Concubine and Our Hart. The next decade was a journey of discovery. Lloyd now lives near San Francisco with his wife–with a second home in Shanghai, China.

Lloyd earned a BA in journalism in 1973 after fighting in Vietnam as a U.S. Marine. While working days as an English teacher, he enjoyed a second job as a maitre d’ in a multimillion-dollar nightclub. His short story, A Night at the ‘Well of Purity’ was named as a finalist for the 2007 Chicago Literary Awards.

Lloyd has won 15 awards for My Splendid Concubine and 5 awards for Running With the Enemy.

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EXCERPT

Thursday was parent conference day for the first semester, and we were on a shortened schedule. I hated short days. There was no lunch break; the classes weren’t long enough to accomplish much of anything—twenty-eight minutes instead of fifty-nine—and the school day ended at 11:40. I also had duty that afternoon at a game. It was going to be another thirteen-hour day before I drove home.

Passing through the office on the way to my classroom, I heard that four hundred fifty students had stayed home and called in sick Wednesday as an alternative way to protest Proposition 187.

Scroll never ran a story about it, and I never asked the editors why. The paper was theirs.

…

Before my first class, I sat down with a calculator to figure out how much the protest cost the school. After taking roll in each class, I said, “Some of you were absent yesterday to protest Proposition 187. I want you to know that the schools are paid only when you’re in school, and that the high school probably lost eleven thousand dollars yesterday. It doesn’t seem smart to hurt the very school you say you want to stay in.

“If you’re really interested in protesting 187, you should join an organized, peaceful demonstration over the weekend. Walking out of school or staying home doesn’t help.”

…

Mildred stayed after 11:40, calling possible advertisers for the school paper. She also wrote two follow-up letters she planned to mail to businesses interested in buying ads.

I corrected papers until I left for water polo game duty. By then, Mildred was gone. I reached the pool only to discover that the other school had forfeited the game. Even with the cold weather, the Nogales team decided to get in the water and play against each other. I stayed and watched while correcting papers.

That evening, parent conferences took place in the gym. Tables were set up in rows, and, when parents entered the gym, they were given a map that helped them find their child’s teachers. I talked to about thirty parents that night, and most of them only wanted to know what they could do to help their sons or daughters earn a better grade. Most of their children were already passing. Few parents came for the failing students.

But Alexis’s dad was different. “Alexis says she did all the work, and it was at home in her folder because you didn’t tell her when it was due,” he said. “And when she explained, you refused to let her turn that work in late. I don’t like your rigid, unyielding policy of not accepting late work.”
Alexis was lying, but that wasn’t new—too many students lied to gullible parents. She had come with her dad, and I turned to her. “Why is it that so many of the other students know when assignments are due?” I asked.

“That’s not true,” she replied. “Everyone is confused, and almost everyone is failing because you’re so hard.”

“How can they be confused when the due dates are written on the board for every assignment a week or more before an assignment is due, and I read that information to each class every day, right after I take roll?”

“I don’t remember anything being written on the board,” she said.

I studied her dad and could see that he believed every word his daughter was saying. My grade book said Alexis had an eighteen percent average.

“I understand that a lot of your students are failing,” he said. “That doesn’t say much for you as a teacher. I’ve heard some of your students say you’re boring.”

Now I was angry and leaned across the table. “I’m sure there are times when all classes are boring—but in your line of work, do you ever let boredom stop you from getting the work done? I do my job, which I can’t say about a lot of the students in my classes. If you have a complaint, you can take it to the principal or one of the vice principals.” I pointed at one of the VPs, who was talking to another parent on the other side of the gym. “That blond lady over there is one of the vice principals. I want you to know that I work hard to do the best job I can, but that can never make up for students who don’t cooperate or work.”

“Why are you being so hard and demanding when all of her teachers since kindergarten have been easy?” he asked. “It isn’t fair, that after all of these years, she has to get a teacher like you.”
I didn’t believe all of her teachers had been easy, but they may have been pressured by their principals to lower the failure rate. “In three and a half years,” I said, “Alexis is going to leave high school and enter a society that won’t accept the kind of excuses she’s using. And I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do the best I could to prepare every student who passes through my classroom for that outside world.”

“Then I want to know why you haven’t called me about Alexis not turning in her work!” He demanded.

“I’ve tried, but either no one answers at home or at work, or the line is busy. I can prove that I’ve already made more than a hundred phone calls to other parents.”

“I want to see that proof!” He snapped.

“I log everything, but that documentation is in my classroom. You can also see copies of my phone calls through the ninth-grade counselor. She gets a copy of each one.”

This was such waste of time, and I wanted him to leave. Other parents stood in line behind him, waiting to see me. I hoped he’d demand that Alexis be transferred to another teacher, who’d give her a passing grade for not working. With a father like him, she deserved to leave high school uneducated.

Every morning on the drive to work, I reminded myself there were good kids in every class who cooperated, worked, and learned. They were the reason I stayed in teaching. I couldn’t blame teachers who were burned out and had lost their edge in the classroom. I understood why.

It was almost 10:00 when I got home.

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(Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher via Virtual Author Book Tours in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.)

Click the above logo link to see the rest of the tour

BOOK REVIEW/INTERVIEW: Twinkle by S. J. Parkinson

SYNOPSIS

Publisher: SJ Parkinson (July 14, 2014)
Category: Science Fiction, Thriller
Tour Date: October, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 600 Pages

In the newest book from award winning author, SJ Parkinson, The richest man in the world wants to celebrate the July 4th holiday as never before. In a bid to get into the record books, a global fireworks show is staged from orbit. Satellites drop pyrotechnics into the atmosphere, thrilling everyone from the Arctic to the Antarctic with their rich colors and massive explosions in every time zone.

The next day, people around the globe begin to lose their sight. Governments crumble, society degenerates, and infrastructure falls into chaos. Humanity finds itself stumbling in the dark and losing all hope.

A few fortunate individuals retain their vision. Attempting to deal with the growing despair around them, they come together to discover the true purpose and origin of the affliction. They race to find a cure before the world is subjugated under an invading power.

GoodReads * Amazon

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REVIEW

There were many, many surprises in Twinkle that I did not see coming, which made it very exciting to read.  The display of fireworks from space sounded spectacular and I probably would have been upset to have missed it.  Until the next day, of course, when people all over the world started going blind.

The way the world discovers the blindness epidemic is a little gruesome, really.  Pilots from military and commercial aircraft are the first we hear about, meaning that their planes are going to crash.  Then there are the commuter trains.

People in the US are some of the last ones to lose their sight, but they had the advantage of knowing it was coming.  Unfortunately, it also reduced the manpower available to the military to about 5 pct of its regular strength.  Then, the real intent of the fireworks display rears its ugly head.  The country that produced them wants to basically take over the world, and that was the way for weakening other countries' ability to defend themselves.

Mr. Parkinson's time in the military gave him an excellent background to write a book such as Twinkle.  And a civilian, such as myself, appreciated the footnotes that explained some of the alphabet soup of military and political acronyms.  It saved me from having to go and ask my young sons what the terms meant!

It also showed some of the best and the worst of human nature.  When a fortunate (?) few that still have their sight and have escaped the invaders begin to plan how to take back the country, they helped each other and had each other's backs.  When a doctor and a researcher find a possible cure and they try to distribute it, people want to take it from them to save their relatives and friends.

Twinkle with get you thinking about exactly what you would do when your country, your family, a pet, etc is attacked or in danger.  Every once in a while I had to stop and think.  And it could apply to anyone, anywhere in the world.  The book happened to be set mostly in the US, but the situation could happen anywhere.

This is a rather lengthy book, but worth every minute.  Twinkle is well written, thoroughly researched and will have you on the edge of your seat.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Google+

Mr. Parkinson was an Air Force avionics technician, a decorated veteran of the Persian Gulf War, and several United Nations peacekeeping missions. He has lived overseas in numerous countries and travels extensively. His novels have been praised for their realism and sold in fourteen countries, winning multiple international awards.

Awards: Three “Outstanding in Genre” Gold Seal awards from Red Adept Publishing and Kindle Book of the Month award Oct 2013 by the People’s Choice Book Awards.

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INTERVIEW

1. 18th century or Renaissance man?

Renaissance man definitely. I do feel I was born at the wrong time. I love travel and exploring the world so I would have felt quite at home in the Renaissance. At that time entire continents were undiscovered and mankind was just setting foot on the path to discovery. It would have been an exciting time to be a part of it.

2. Artillery, Air Force, scuba diving, ballroom dancing, now writing. What's next?

One of my goals is to explore every country on the face of Earth, then try to get up into space. It's inevitable that man will travel to the stars and while it's doubtful that I'll never get to another star system, it is quite possible I can walk on the moon at some point in my lifetime.

3. How did you develop your writing philosophy?

As a reader myself, there is nothing I hate more that seeing something in a book and knowing it’s false. I once read a story where the hero carried a revolver. Then several pages later he is described as changing magazines. Revolvers don’t have magazines and from that point on I was unable to believe what I read. More glaring errors followed and I stopped reading at that point. Even though I write fiction, I strive to ensure that what I write is accurate so that my readers don’t end up being similarly disappointed.

A portion of one of my earlier novels, The Legionnaire: Origins takes place in Algeria. A good friend of mine is French-Algerian and after reading Origins he asked me when I’d been there. He refused to believe me when I told him I’d never visited Algeria. His response was, “You must have been there. Your description of the Tuareg nomads is perfect.”

Typically, I do at least a week or two of research for a novel before writing a word. Twinkle was so broad in scope that the research for that novel took me three months. At the end of that time, I know the places, settings, and descriptions of the various places intimately and as a result I can write a lot faster. Often the research will give me information to take a character in a completely different direction than what I had initially envisioned.

4. Where do you stand on the traditional vs. self-publishing issue?

The ability to self-publish on the Internet at the push of a button is a powerful tool. However, the biggest failing of self-publishing is quality. Many authors, some would argue the majority, publish ebooks with no proper formatting, spelling, grammar, etc. and that hurts the industry. I have a promise to my readers on my web page promising to put out the best quality novels I can. I employ editors, proof readers, and graphic artists to ensure my books are the best they can be. It is an expensive process, but with 2.2 million ebooks on Amazon I feel that is necessary to stand out from the pack.

I feel validated in my approach as my novels have sold in fourteen countries, won international awards, and are highly rated. I also have a dedicated group of readers who are incredibly supportive of my work.

5. If "Twinkle" were optioned for film, who would you like to see in key roles?

I played around with generating a "dream cast" for Twinkle while I was writing it. It made envisioning the plot a lot easier for me seeing these people in the roles.

Colonel Alvin Smith - Idris Elba
Captain Erica Tyler - Selita Ebanks
President James Calvin - Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Keith Hurst - Sam Neil
Sir Marcus Brandon - Viggo Mortensen
Garbo - Amber Heard
Technical Sergeant Folsom - Paul Dano
Doctor Linda Krause - Rebecca Hall
Oscar Blake - Tom Hardy
Captain Eric Reid - Blair Underwood
Doctor Edmund Wiater - David Morrissey
Vinson - Riz Ahmed
Noel - Josh Holloway

6. If you could invite any writer from history to supper, whom would you ask and what would you serve?

I had the privilege of corresponding with Arthur C. Clarke when he lived in Sri Lanka, but never met the man. I would love to have dinner with him and discuss anything he cared to talk about. I'd serve multiple courses of Tapas portions to not slow down the conversation.

7. Is there anywhere in the world you would like to see that you haven't yet?

I've explored the northern hemisphere fairly well, but the southern regions still beckon. New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, etc. all call to me. I'll get there eventually. I'd also like to get to Japan, Nepal, Russia, China, and Thailand at some point. I suspect I could generate another dozen writing projects from visiting new areas.

8. Do you have any writing traditions or rituals? (Food, locations, etc.)

When I sit down to write, I first try to eliminate as many distractions as possible. My desk faces a wall and I have no windows within view. I put on a wireless headset and listen to music to eliminate any background noise. My phone is muted and typically out of sight. On my desk, I have a widescreen 24 inch monitor. My word processing software is displayed on the left half of the screen with my research notes on the right. Not only does that put everything I need right in front of me, it also covers up my email and web browser windows which are huge distractions for me at times.

9. What's next for you as an author?

I just checked my pending projects list. I have twenty novels outlined and ready to go. I simply need to find the time to write them. i would love to get my books in shape for a movie, but I am not a screenwriter and am currently looking for someone to handle that conversion from novel to script.

10. What would you like readers to know about "Twinkle"?

Twinkle is not a traditional novel. It's told from the perspectives of many people and ranges literally around the world. Even though I cut sixty pages prior to edit, it is still a 547 page epic novel. A friend asked me to summarize the plot in a sentence and the best I could come up with was 'Day of the Triffids meets Red Storm Rising'. I'm very proud of Twinkle and feel it is my strongest novel yet.

Thank you for the opportunity to connect with your members. Have a great day.

~~~oOo~~~

(Disclosure:  I received a copy of "Twinkle" from the author and publisher via Virtual Author Book Tours in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.)

BOOK REVIEW/INTERVIEW- And All That Madness by Joan Merrill

SYNOPSIS

AND ALL THAT MADNESS is a Casey McKie mystery. When the New York Jazz Society acquires a fifty-year old letter from Georgia Valentine, questions arise over the legendary vocalist’s death. Did she give herself a fatal dose of heroin, as the original investigators ruled, or did someone kill her? And if it was murder, what was the motive?

Casey moves her operation from San Francisco to New York to investigate the cold case, questioning Georgia’s musician friends, her widower, a drug dealer, a Broadway actress, a mafia boss and the authorities who declared the death a suicide. This quest takes Casey to New York’s most venerable jazz clubs, a Harlem nursing home, a mob-owned Italian restaurant, a lesbian bar and One Police Plaza, home of the NYPD.

She joins forces with an attractive detective from the Organized Crime unit, and, as the case progresses, so does their relationship. With no shortage of suspects, Casey ultimately uncovers evidence revealing a surprising killer. Author Joan Merrill has produced yet another captivating mystery as part of her on-going detective series featuring SF detective Casey McKie.

GoodReads * Amazon * Author's Website * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

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REVIEW

I was a little surprised by the cover.  Most book covers these days are a little more ... showy, maybe?  But seeing as it is the fourth of five Casey McKie mysteries, it could be a choice for the series.   And that is the only question I had about the book.  (OK, maybe not the only question ... there is a review down there. VVVVV)

Other than that, there is no question about this book.  It's good.  It makes me want to put the rest of the series on my TBR list.  Ms. Merrill's knowledge of the ins and outs of the jazz world shine through in the writing.  The references, the feel of the jazz clubs in New York, even the atmosphere in the Jazz Society's archives ... it was like I was there, following the clues, snapping my fingers, smelling the danger.

Casey is a great main character.  She is loyal, intensely dedicated and heaven help you if you cross her, it's all over but the mug shots and the fingerprints.  She's even got a local detective watching her back ... et al.

We shouldn't really be surprised that the spirit and the words of story flow like a smooth tune.  Ms. Merrill knows her jazz.  This book is engaging.  I'd even travel to a big city to be able to listen to some jazz now.  And that is nearly a miracle.  I'd certainly travel to a big city to buy a print copy of And All that Motive (releasing 2014), so long as there was a good jazz venue.  I can highly recommend this book to you.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION

Website * Twitter

Joan Merrill has written five Casey McKie mysteries, all taking place in the world of jazz:And All That Murder (2009), And All That Sea (2010), And All That Stalking (2011). And All That Madness (2012), And All That Motive(2014).

All books (except Motive, which will be published in early fall), are available at amazon.com and Kindle. And All That Madness is available as an audio book, narrated by long-time KCSM radio host, Alisa Clancy. To download, go to audible.com or iTunes.com or for the CD version, go to joanmerrill.com. An audio book of And All That Stalking is under production.

Joan Merrill has worked in the jazz field for over twenty years, producing fourteen shows for NPR’s Jazz Profiles and four shows for the Smithsonian/PRI series Jazz Singers. She’s represented various jazz singers; produced the video documentary “Saying It with Jazz” featuring Carmen McRae and others; and produced three CDs under her own label. She also created and curates the website: carmenmcrae.com

Merrill is currently producing a musical revue tribute to Doris Day, entitled “Que Sera! Celebrating Doris Day” with Kristi King. See QueSeraTheMusical.com Paperback versions of the Casey McKie mysteries may be purchased at reduced rates from the website: joanmerrill.com.

Joan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoanMerrill20

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INTERVIEW

1. Are the stories in the Casey McKie mysteries entirely fiction, or have some been gleaned from real events?

In AND ALL THAT MADNESS, I have cited several true events from the days when jazz artists were harassed by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. When presenting an historical event, I use real
names, dates and places and adhere to the facts. Other events have their basis in history but have been adapted to the story. In these cases, I use different names. AND ALL THAT MADNESS has a great deal of history. In AND ALLTHAT SEA, the references to the black market in Saigon during the Vietnam War are also based on fact.

2. How did you decide on a Jazz music atmosphere for your books?

I adhered to the principle “Write what you know.” I worked for many years in the jazz business, as a producer and artist representative. (In fact, I currently produce a musical revue, a tribute to Doris Day, not exactly jazz, but close.) I think people like to learn something from reading and I thought jazz would be an interesting milieu for them to explore.

3. What has happened in the story up until the starting point of "And All That Madness"?

Nothing that has any relevance to the story. All is explained in the first chapter.

4. Which character from your books would you most like to be able to invite over for supper? 

Well, having my characters to dinner would be a strange experience.  I would have to create their dialogue and manage their movements.  It would be like a ventriloquist sitting down to dinner with his puppets. Might be fun.

5. Which writers have inspired you?

I wouldn’t use the word “inspire,’ but I am influenced by Sue Grafton mainly and like the mysteries of Donna Leon, Martha Grimes, Elizabeth George, PD James, Ruth Rendell, and others.

6. Do you set an atmosphere for yourself while writing? (Location, lighting, music, food & drink, etc) 

I go to Starbucks with my laptop, get a large mocha and sit in one of their comfy chairs and work for two hours. Every day.

7. What part of the writing process do you most enjoy? Least? 

I like planning the main plot, researching and writing. Editing I like but I must admit to disliking proof-reading because I don’t do it well. I may read a manuscript several times and still miss minor typos. Lots of them, as it turns out. And I don’t much like marketing and promotion. I just like creating the characters and stories.

8. Where is one place in the world you would like to visit that you have not as of yet? 

Maybe Alaska on a cruise, the San Juan Islands by ferry and the Canadian west by train. Notice I chose places where I wouldn’t have to fly. My last major trip was to Italy, two of the most beautiful
places in the world, Venice and Lake Como, but it put me off airline travel. Permanently.

9. What do you hope your readers get from your books? 

Aha, good question. I hope they are able to lose themselves in the story and are intrigued enough to go to the end. And the real payoff is if they are surprised by the outcome.

10. Any advice for young folks interested in writing? 

Yes, don’t wait for someone to give you permission. Just do it. And if you think you need it, take a class, not in ”creative” writing, but in fiction writing techniques. Just to get you started.

~~~oOo~~~

(Disclosure:  I received a copy of "All That Madness" from the author and publisher via Virtual Author Book Tours in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.)

This is one of four reviews I have going today.  Here are links to the others:

The Night Visitor by Dianne Emley

The Imaginary Life by Mara Torres

The last will be added later today.

BOOK REVIEW: Bitter Chocolate by Dawn Greenfield Ireland

SYNOPSIS

The characters you loved in Hot Chocolate are back with more escapades of life in Houston’s wealthy River Oaks.

Lila Mae is in a tizzy over the Chocolate Ball – a huge event that she and her sisters, Dorothea and Madge, host every year. But due to unusual circumstances, Dorothea and Madge dump everything in Lila Mae’s lap. If it weren’t for Julian Gillespie of Event Is King, the Chocolate Ball would have melted.

Bernie, the Alcott sisters’ 92-year-old father, decides he wants his Bentley back. The sisters and Bambi are horrified. They hire Joseph’s cousin Chewie as Bernie’s new chauffeur.

Wolfram, Lila Mae’s new astrologer, gives clues of things to come. This leaves Lila Mae and her sidekick Amelia with brows furrowed.

On her day off, Amelia decides to bake a chocolate blueberry pie. She discovers she needs to make a grocery run. When she returns home, she discovers her kitchen door is slightly ajar. Arms loaded with groceries, she toes the door open.

Three things catch her attention: a vase of flowers on the kitchen island that was not there when she left the house, her marble rolling pin covered with blood… and a dead body on her kitchen floor.

Amelia’s eyes drift toward the dining room and beyond – is the house empty, or is there a murderer inside? She backs up, turns and hurries outside. After setting the bags on the ground, she slips back into the kitchen and snaps a picture of the dead guy. Then she calls Detective Chance Walker, Lila Mae and finally… 9-1-1.

GoodReads * Amazon

~~~oOo~~~

REVIEW

So many cozy mysteries seem have a heroine that has just moved recently to a small town, has come out of a disappointing relationship and runs a fledgling business.  "Bitter Chocolate" is nothing like that.  Vive la difference!  Like a cold glass of sweet tea on a humid southern afternoon, Ireland presents us with a second look at the Alcott family, members of Houston's social and economic elite.  And they are actually likeable, unlike most of the 'rich & famous' we see on 'reality tv' these days.

I have a disappointing history with fruit and chocolate together (well, except for chocolate-dipped strawberries), so I don't know if I could ever try a chocolate and blueberry pie.  But I DEVOURED this book!

As Ms. Ireland is a new-to-me author, I've added the first Alcott Family Adventure "Hot Chocolate" to my TBR list at GoodReads, and I can't wait for "Spicy Chocolate" (Book 3) to come out - it is expected in 2016.

~~~oOo~~~

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Google+

Dawn Ireland is the CEO of Artistic Origins Inc, a 100% woman-owned publishing and technical writing service company that has been doing business since 1995. She’s an award winning independent publisher and author of The Puppy Baby Book , Mastering Your Money, and Amazon Best Seller Hot Chocolate (the first in the series, and her fifth novel). The Hot Chocolate audio book was awarded theAudioFile Earphones Award on Valentine’s Day 2014.

Her family feature film screenplay A Girl and Her Dogwas awarded a Kids First! Endorsement by the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media in October 2012 and optioned by Shadow Cave Productions in February 2013.

Originally from Feeding Hills, MA, Dawn migrated to San Antonio in 1968, then when her first son was one years old, her family moved to Houston where work was more plentiful. After 40+ years of heat and humidity, she has her sights on the Pacific NW.

Dawn is the co-author of the animated screenplay Memoirs of a Dog which won the Spirit Award of the Moondance Film Festival (children’s category) September 2011. Her dark comedy Plan B was a finalist in the Table Read My Screenplay script competition in 2010 and years before that, Standing Dead won the Women in Film and Television (Houston Chapter) screenplay award.

Stay tuned for The Last Dog (futuristic/sci-fi 2015), and Spicy Chocolate (2016).

~~~oOo~~~

(Disclosure:  I received an e-copy of "Bitter Chocolate" from the author via Virtual Author Book Tours in exchange for my honest, non-biased opinion.)

GUEST POST/REVIEW: When Camels Fly by NLB Horton

Publisher: NLBHorton, via Amazon’s White Glove (May 15, 2014)

Agent:  Mary Keeley at Books & Such Literary Management

Category: Contemporary suspense, thread of Romance

Tour Date: May/June, 2014

Available in: Print & ebook, 370 Pages

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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.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

(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.)

BOOK REVIEW: The Idea of Him by Holly Peterson

BOOK INFORMATION

Publisher: William Morrow  (April 1, 2014)

Category: Contemporary Fiction/ Women’s Fiction

ISBN: 978-0062283108

Tour Date: April/May, 2014

Available in: Print & ebook, 384 Pages

GoodReads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

~~~oOo~~~

SYNOPSIS

Allie Crawford is a once aspiring screenwriter turned successful public relations executive, mother of two young children, and wife of a hotshot magazine editor whose power base spans the worlds of finance, fashion, culture, entertainment, and society. At 34, she finds herself at a crossroads: between the office and her home, her life has become an endless rotation of people pleasing-whether pulling rabbits out of hats for her mogul boss, entertaining advertisers and phony A-listers for her husband's magazine, or making elaborate costumes for children's school plays. At least, that is, until she meets a head turning, traffic stopping beauty at the bar of the famed Four Seasons Grill Room-where many of the novel's players regularly convene-and shortly thereafter finds the same woman and her husband in an apparently compromising position in her own apartment.

And so begins the story of two very different women bound by similar missions-to uncover the crimes and betrayals of various men in their lives and finally put their own interests front and center. For Mary this ultimately means leaving a husband who is ideal in theory but not in practice, and deciding to risk security for self-fulfillment and a new life on her own. Like so many women, Mary fell for the man she married when she was in her twenties only to realize years later that it wasn't him she fell for as much as it was the idea of him-the idea of a savior who would protect and provide and ferry her from her past into the future. But the guy who seemed so right at the time turned out to be nothing more than a fantasy.

~~~oOo~~~

REVIEW

"The Idea of Him" is an aptly-named look at the world of a high-gloss, heavy-paper magazine (which, as one character puts it, is increasingly irrelevant to anyone with a tablet).  It is a world where image is more important than reality, what people think is happening is not the same as what is actually happening, and ignorance is definitely not bliss.

Allie goes through life performing miracles - for everyone but herself.  She is a great hostess for her husband, a caring mother and the glue that holds the PR firm (run by her larger-than-life boss) together.  And Allie can do this because of what she believes to be true: that the life she has is secure and happy.

Then the rain starts to fall.  Her boss puts increasingly ridiculous demands on her time doing PR for a film festival, for which the 'flagship' movie is crap and stars a beautiful model who couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.  *drip*  One of the festival's main financial backers comes into Allie and Wade's home, and punches her husband Wade in the middle of a party for the glitterati.  *drop*  And she sees her husband come out of their laundry room followed closely by a woman who is a little too beautiful and dressed a little too well. *DOWNPOUR*

Said female (Jackie) hints that Wade might be dabbling in things other than other women, and that Allie should watch her back.  But what is Allie to believe?

No wonder 50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce.  People get caught up in the 'romance' of it all, and think marriage is some sort of happiness all wrapped up with a big shiny bow nirvana.  Then they realize they might not be at Heaven's doorstep quite yet.  Sometimes the spouses (be they male or female) have the proverbial bad hair days.

One of the greatest things for me about "The Idea of Him" is that it shows that love is possible while cautioning that there is nothing wrong with a healthy dose of realism to go with it.  Skydiving may be a thrilling sport, but it will end badly if you jump with only the idea of a parachute strapped to your back.

"The Idea of Him" is a wonderful life lesson wrapped up in an entertaining story of discovery.

~~~oOo~~~

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Holly Peterson is the author of the New York Times and international best seller, The Manny.  She was a Contributing Editor for Newsweek and editor-at-large for Tina Brown's Talk magazine.  She was also an Emmy Award-winning producer for ABC news for more than a decade, where she covered global politics.  Her writing has been published in the New York Times, Newsweek, Talk, the Daily Beast, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and other publications.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest

~~~oOo~~~

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

COVER REVEAL: When Camels Fly by NLB Horton

Publisher: NLB Horton, via Amazon’s White Glove (May 15, 2014) 

Agent: Mary Keeley at Books & Such Literary Management 

Category: Contemporary suspense, thread of Romance 

Tour Date: May/June, 2014 

Available in: Print & ebook, 370 Pages 

A mother’s fatal shot. A daughter’s deadly choice.

In Israel, archaeologist Grace Madison shoots her daughter’s abductor. Seconds later, a handsome shepherd drops from the sky to kill a second assassin. Their world changes in two blinks of an eye. Unbeknownst to them, a fiercely ambitious evil is destroying everything in its path—the unconventional path Grace and Maggie take. They struggle to right a wrong as old as time, and discover time is running out in the race for their lives. Family and friends are swept into their vortex, extinguishing old flames while igniting new loves. While the scale tips dangerously toward disaster, millions of lives hang in the balance. And the mother-and-daughter team soon realizes nothing is as it seems. Even each other.

Because choosing what’s right is all that’s left.

~~~oOo~~~

Advance Praise for When Camels Fly:

The main character is a delightful woman named Grace, who is a brilliant archaeologist, but definitely no Indiana Jones. More comfortable digging and researching than getting involved in international “incidents,” Grace is lured (or dragged, she’d admit) into intrigue and danger when she discovers her daughter, Maggie, has been kidnapped. Like a mama grizzly, Grace heads out to find and rescue her daughter, get the bad guys, and make her daughter comply with her demands (essentially, go home and stay out of trouble). But Maggie has uncovered a disastrous plot that could affect the entire Middle East. And only Maggie (and now Grace) can do something to stop the mayhem and evil. 

—Ginger Kolbaba, author of Desperate Pastors Wives and A Matter of Wife and Death

~~~oOo~~~

"NLB Horton’s debut novel, When Camels Fly, incorporates features I have never before encountered in one novel: suspense, science, family, religion, and Middle Eastern intrigue. 

One charming surprise — and there are many in this novel — is Grace’s octogenarian seminary professors, former spies for Mossad who converge in Israel and Jordan to assist the family they hold dear. Their espionage skills, masked by the perceived harmlessness of the elderly, allow them to move about undetected, and assist the Madison family in creative and unexpected ways. 

When Camels Fly empowers women and family in an entertaining adventure. Unstoppable women, well-placed humor, and critical contemporary issues make this book my top read so far in 2014, and I’m watching for news of Horton’s second manuscript, scheduled to release later this year."

- Leigh Bennett, Reader

~~~oOo~~~

Author NLB Horton’s vigorous dialogue moved the story along, and portrayed each character as uniquely intriguing. Her descriptions of Israel and Jordan were an enjoyable way to learn more about that part of the world, and it’s obvious she’s “been there, done that.” I felt as if I were in the markets and atop the camels, participating in the story. 

One of the most interesting aspects of When Camels Fly is that it’s contemporary suspense from a woman’s viewpoint, set in a part of the world normally filtered through a male lens. And it presents the region in a realistic, approachable way. 

The Madison family is a refreshing, healthy model in the world of contemporary literature, where dysfunctional or overly simplistic family portrayals reign. 

When I discovered the end of the novel alluded to the story continuing in the next book in the series, I was delighted. I look forward to continuing the adventure begun in When Camels Fly."

- Lillian Bohannon, Reader

About the Author

 

NLB Horton

Links:  Website:  Facebook: Twitter: Pinterest: 

After an award-winning detour through journalism and marketing and a graduate degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, NLB Horton 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.