A Lethal Time (Samantha Jamison Mystery, #4)

A Lethal Time by Peggy A. Edelheit
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing the entire time...

Everyone enjoys a good murder mystery or a whodunit book, and it's even better when it's a comedy. While there have been many serious mystery books released throughout the years, there have been even fewer comedy whodunnits and even fewer that are truly amusing. A few creative writers, on the other hand, have managed to pull off a hilarious murder mystery. A Lethal Time: A Samantha Jamison Mystery Book 4 by Peggy A. Edelheit was a very interesting read. The plot drew me in from the first page to the last. This is fast-paced and well-written work. This book will appeal to fans of mystery, suspense, and humor. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Ulster Lament

Ulster Lament by M. J. Neary
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-written and exceptional historical fiction...

Ulster Lament by M. J. Neary is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author has excelled in writing a novel that authentically depicts every aspect of the time period. The characters have depth and integrity, and the dialogue is spot-on, taking the reader straight back to another time and place. I imagined myself walking amongst the characters as I was reading.

To summarize the synopsis: Peter Greenwood, born with a limp that makes him unfit for military service, is well aware that he is an embarrassment to his father, a British army officer. The adolescent travels to Belfast to study journalism when he is seventeen years old. Peter gets a position at The Empire, a conservative newspaper, with the help of new friends. His first job is to publish the memoirs of retired captain Evan Pryce, a Transvaal campaign veteran. Peter recognizes a shattered, bitter man who isn't proud of his past from the first meeting. Molly, the captain's wild and unrefined daughter, takes a shine to Peter and spills a few family secrets that aren't quite in keeping with the newspaper's patriotic attitude. Peter becomes a witness to the Pryce family's sworn nemesis, an Irish nationalist seeking vengeance. Despite the fact that his own life is spared, the rebels now possess it. To cover up their crimes, he'll have to rely on his literary abilities. Peter's thoughts are infected by Ulster Lament, a captivating folk tune sung by the ringleader, and he begins to doubt his loyalty to the monarch. He begins to sympathize with the insurgents and believes their wrath is justifiable. Will he go against all he's been taught to value?

If you are looking for a well-written and exceptional historical fiction novel with amazing characters and a gripping plot then Ulster Lament by M. J. Neary will not leave you disappointed. Recommended to all fans of historical fiction and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Interviewing a Regular Joe: January 2020

Interviewing a Regular Joe: January 2020 by John Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very interesting read...

John Rose's religious and spiritual novel Interviewing a Regular Joe: January 2020 is told through a fascinating conversation with an unnamed man. This work will fascinate readers of historical or religious fiction, as it is filled with religious and historical facts. The tone of this intriguing work is conversational. It's merely a discussion that flows smoothly and is straightforward to follow. The author does not provide extensive background material at the start of the book, yet this does not detract from the characters' appeal. In fact, as you read on, you learn more about them, which is thrilling since it offers the sensation of almost solving a riddle. A very interesting read that comes highly recommended.


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Marooned: A Prequel to the Arcadia's Children Series

Marooned by Andrew Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An exciting and entertaining sci-fi adventure!

Forty-some years ago my uncle gave me a science fiction anthology. It was a thick red hardback that I read from cover to cover. It inspired a lifelong love of the genre. The stories in that book made me think outside the box. They filled me with awe for the imagination it took to write them. That book still remains in my collection today. The title is OMNIBUS OF SCIENCE FICTION, edited by Groff Conklin, a well-known and prolific editor of the genre. It was published in 1952, the Golden Age of Science Fiction. It’s a substantial volume, 562 pages, with 43 stories divided into sections relating to a common theme. Some stories are fun, some are thought-provoking, and some are adventurous. I love them all.

MAROONED by Andrew R. Williams is a prequel to the Arcadia's Children Series. It’s a brilliantly written and richly descriptive novel with skillfully drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted sci-fi action and adventure that had me captivated from the start. Skillfully constructed, this exciting and energetic sci-fi had me turning the pages from beginning to end.

To summarize the synopsis: I'm 15, almost 16, and my name is Bee Bee, or at least that's what everyone calls me. After a difficult year, I've found myself on the Empress of Incognita, sailing through the stars to a new life with my father and stepmother. At the very least, that's how it should be. Things only become worse when the Empress collides with a deep-space mine. Not only are some of the other passengers dangerous, but as we leave the Empress and get to 'Arcadia,' we realize that the Great Ones that live there will make life incredibly difficult for us all. Read on to learn how we became stranded!

MAROONED is well-written and exactly the right length to give you excitement with many surprises along the way, and then it's over, leaving you feeling good but eagerly anticipating more. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses

The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An award-winning action-adventure story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

The story of five teen boys and how their worlds alter after they are exposed to an energy source that heightens their senses to extreme levels is told in K.N. Smith's novel THE URBAN BOYS: DISCOVERY OF THE FIVE SENSES. The turmoil that the youngsters are facing pushes them to doubt their new reality as the winds swirl in Danville Heights. They must, however, find a way to accept their fate.

A nerve-wracking encounter in a forbidden sanctuary heightens the senses of five friends. Sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell become super-gifts that eternally change the world. The boys, on the other hand, face formidable challenges as they attempt to comprehend their sensory superpowers in order to save humanity. Despite the presence of light creatures and strange outsiders aggravating their predicament, will the boys be able to defeat the wicked Druth before it's too late?

To find out, you’ll have to turn the pages yourself in this well-written action-adventure Y/A story. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Scar: Tale of a Waterfall

The Scar: Tale of a Waterfall by Eva Fogel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Making difficult but vital issues more approachable for young readers...

More often than not children relate themselves with the characters of a good story. In such circumstances, reading fiction can help them to get inspiration from the characters. These stories often portray real life implications through anecdotes, and as such makes it easier for them to understand the complex aspects of life. Moreover, reading these stories at regular intervals can actually help them to develop a positive outlook towards life, which eventually proves beneficial for good character development.

THE SCAR: Tale of a Waterfall by Eva Fogel is a moving and wonderfully written story that makes some difficult but vital issues more approachable for young readers, helping them and the adults who care for them to gently handle big feelings and emotions that can be difficult to articulate.

To summarize the synopsis: Little Abassi is a six-year-old African boy from a small community. His homeland is a sunny paradise for all the children who cheerfully play together in the village center, but Abassi's situation is different. He is an outsider with a secret that he hides deep within his heart. With no other option but to flee the challenges he encounters at home and no one to turn to in his community, Abassi finds himself alone and on the run; nevertheless, can he truly outrun everything he has left behind before his opportunity is lost?

This book appears to have been written with a great deal of thought and insight, and it's evident that the author enjoys telling such fascinating stories. Thank you for sharing the gift that you have clearly worked so hard to refine. It's refreshing to see a children's author take on topics that many other authors would avoid. Overall, I thought the story was interesting, I will mention here that I think it could do with a little editing to give it a final polish. Special mention also to Remy Maicas for the excellent illustrations. I give it five stars since it is well-deserved for originality.

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Savant by Jim Alexander

Savant by Jim Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great sci-fi graphic novel with excellent artwork...

In today's mass culture, comic books and even long-form graphic novels are as universal as any other "legitimate" type of writing. Maybe it's because, like historical myths, people are drawn to fantastical tales about alien entities who share the same human flaws as the rest of us. It's also possible that they provide an escape into realms and conditions that are far removed from our own. Perhaps, more accurately, visual storytelling just provides a form of entertainment unencumbered by long and drawn-out prose. Whatever the case may be, graphic novels appear to be here to stay. They're just as popular now as they were when I was a kid. However, much like everything, there are a few that are a lot more worthy of the time and effort than others.

One such graphic novel is Savant by Jim Alexander, in which he presents Lode from the planet Savant. There, she seeks out battle zones, preferring to document the lives of those who are dying. Her explorations lead her to Hubris, a world torn apart by conflict. She is enlisted by government authorities to assist in the hunt for a war criminal. It's a path ‘that will ultimately take her to the mouth of madness. The End of Days itself.’

If you are a fan of graphic sci-fi novels, you’ll love this one. Of course, special mention also to Will Pickering for the excellent artwork, Fin Cramb (Colorist), Philip R. Simon for Editing, and Jim Campbell for Production & Lettering. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.


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