Deadly Pranks

Deadly Pranks by D.C. Rush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A suspenseful vigilante justice thriller...

Deadly Pranks by D.C. Rush is a suspenseful vigilante justice thriller. The story is filled with intrigue and many twists that keeps the reader engaged and hungry for more and that's one of the many reasons why this book succeeds.

The plot is intricately sculpted as the synopsis suggests: ‘…Four typical American teenagers terrorizing the neighborhood with nasty pranks and all forms of bullying, until they find themselves in the hot seat after their bullying causes someone to die. If this prospect is not terrifying enough on its own, add some relatives to the pot, hungry for revenge and the guts to set a trap during a camping trip of the boys. Vigilant justice is served with a side-order of kidnapping at gunpoint. They are captured in dog cages just to wait out their punishment. The boys endure torture as well as sleep and food deprivation by their captors. The lives of these four teenage boys are forever altered…’

The story had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much.

If you are looking for a well-written thriller with amazing characters and a gripping plot then ‘Deadly Pranks’ will not leave you disappointed. Fans of the genre who like their action and adventure infused with mystery and suspense will enjoy the ride and the unexpected ending! Highly recommended.

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The Making of a Spy by Jay Johnson

The Making of a Spy by Jay Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An all-encompassing human dramatization...

Everything that we experienced during our childhood is somehow going to influence us as adults. We use the experiences that we have had so far in our lives and, more important, we create experiences to become what we want to be. The Making of a Spy by Jay Johnson tells a very interesting a poignant story of a boy, Isiac, who has to provide for his family from a young age. It documents his early years to his adulthood where he is drafted into the army in 1942 with his friend Fritz. His childhood experiences, along with the skills he learned in the Army, turn out to play a fundamental role in the ‘The Making of a Spy.’

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Isiac grew up without a father. His grandfather began teaching Isiac to hunt and fish when he was only 6 years old. That helped Isiac develop his skills of observation. Isiac acquired the ability to notice even the slightest changes in his environment and to interpret their causes… During the Great Depression, Isiac used his hunting and fishing skills to feed his mother, sister, and brother. Isiac's experience with and participation in bootlegging taught him the importance of planning. His skills in developing plans and contingency plans helped Isiac to anticipate potential problems. Isiac learned that it is much easier to avoid potential problems than it is to try to solve them once they occur… By the time Isiac was 15 years old, he had a black belt in Judo and was multi-lingual: He was fluent in English, German, Japanese, and Polish… When WW2 began, Isiac was drafted into the Army. Although unintentional, Isiac's childhood experiences, along with the skills he learned in the Army, became an integral part in The Making of a Spy.’

I was impressed with the insight and empathy of the writer into the spirits of his characters. The beauty of this book is in the potency of the characters and the author's mastery of the language. The originality of this story lies in the effectiveness of the characters and the author's microscopic viewpoint of the human condition. The most outstanding features of the book are the hauntingly real characters in the story and the author's eloquence and mastery with the use of the English language.

The author weave an all-encompassing human dramatization that gives "The Making of a Spy" a resounding bite and vibrant potency. Johnson’s crisp writing allows his world to encompass the reader, leaving them mesmerized. Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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DONK AND THE STUBBORN DONKEYS

DONK AND THE STUBBORN DONKEYS by K.A. Mulenga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun read that younger kids will love...

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.

DONK AND THE STUBBORN DONKEYS by K.A. Mulenga is a delightful and charming children's picture book that makes a perfect bedtime story. The author writes in a wonderfully entertaining and imaginative style that will guarantee the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a very enjoyable story to share with them. I read this book with my grandkids and they loved it.

It seems to me that this book was created with a lot of love and joy and it’s clear that the author really enjoys creating such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next. A well-deserved five stars from us!

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Raging Waters in the South China Sea: What the Battle for Supremacy Means for Southeast Asia

Raging Waters in the South China Sea: What the Battle for Supremacy Means for Southeast Asia by Rachel a Winston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well written, informative and insightful...

Raging Waters in the South China Sea: What the Battle for Supremacy Means for Southeast Asia by Rachel A. Winston, Ph.D. and Ishika Sachdeva is a very well written and researched book. Informative and insightful, the authors present an easy to read perspective on current and significant international events relating to China and its impact on the entire world.

To paraphrase the authors, they state from the outset that this book was not written as a scholarly tome for researchers since some of the topics are simplified for brevity and readability. Nevertheless, there is scholarship within, and some of the maps, charts, and timelines are clearer than other reference materials. Their aim is to break down unfamiliar rhetoric and overwhelming concepts in order to eliminate any barriers the readers might have with intellectually-astute journal articles. Their goal is to engage the curious learner. This book was written to lay a foundation for the public to understand the past and present events in the South China Sea, including how states are navigating the choppy waters of diplomacy regarding territorial claims and how decisions made now are shaping our world’s future.

If you are looking to gain a better understanding about what’s happening with China and regional countries in the South China Sea, this book would come highly recommended.

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50 Years in the OR: True Stories of Life, Loss, and Laughter While Giving Anesthesia by Ronald Whitchurch

50 Years in the OR: True Stories of Life, Loss, and Laughter While Giving Anesthesia by Ronald Whitchurch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An observational, witty and insightful read...

An anesthetist nurse is a registered nurse who has educational training in administering anesthesia. They work in hospitals mostly in the surgical areas where they administer anesthesia to patients who are going in for surgery. Their work is to make sure that the patients get enough levels of the drug before they can go in for their procedures or surgeries. This is a very sensitive job and thus the nurse needs to have special training on how to handle the anesthesia and the anesthetics in the proper way. They also need to have experience working with patient care.

50 Years in the OR: True Stories of Life, Loss, and Laughter While Giving Anesthesia by Ronald Whitchurch was a fascinating observational, entertaining and insightful read. The author communicates almost 50 years of experience by sharing many stories and anecdotes about the growth of his profession. At times, this book was emotional and heartrending while also sprinkled throughout with entertaining and hilarious stories.

A highly recommended and must-read for anyone interested in, or considering entering into, the medical profession. The book contains adult themes so would make it unsuitable for the younger (or squeamish) reader. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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Generation 23: Hallowed Be Thy Noble Name (Goliath Chronicles Book 1) by Ivan Ertlov

Generation 23: Hallowed Be Thy Noble Name by Ivan Ertlov
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted and unique dystopian crime novel...

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.

Generation 23: Hallowed Be Thy Noble Name (Goliath Chronicles Book 1) by Ivan Ertlov is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted Sci-Fi thriller - set in the void between the stars - that’s packed to the rafters with mystery, action and adventure. Skillfully constructed, this thrilling and energetic novel will have you turning the pages from beginning to end.

I enjoyed the story, character development and dialogue. There were plenty of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s appeal. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class sci-fi story with perfect pacing.

I’m a big fan of science fiction, so this for me was a phenomenal read. For sci-fi fans looking for an interesting, three-dimensional and stimulating read, this would be a great find. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader.

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from Austrian-Czech bestselling author Ivan Ertlov in the future. This is a name to watch out for! A well-deserved five stars from me.

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Redlined: A Novel of Boston by Richard W. Wise

Redlined: A novel of Boston by Richard W. Wise
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A gripping page turner...

Author Richard W. Wise scores big with this mystery, suspense thriller, Redlined. Set against the backdrop of Boston's Jamaica Plain in the mid-70s, two interwoven plots are fused together throughout the narrative, ‘one is absolutely true, the other never happened, but very well might have.’ Skillfully constructed, this political thriller will have you turning the pages from beginning to end.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘The year is 1974. Boston's Jamaica Plain is a neighborhood under siege, a community skating along the razor's edge of decline. The banks have REDLINED Jamaica Plain, causing the housing market to crash, wiping out local homeowner's lifetime investments and opening the neighborhood to blockbusters and slumlords. Now, someone has begun systematically torching those abandoned buildings and the charred body of Sandy Morgan, a dedicated young neighborhood organizer, has been found among the ashes. Why? Who stands to gain? … Community organizer and Marine combat veteran, Jedidiah Flynt and Alex Jordan, his beautiful Harvard educated researcher together with a group of local property owners are determined to stop the redlining and bring the arsonists responsible for Sandy Morgan's death to justice. Their search will lead them through a labyrinth of corrupt politicians, Asian gangsters and bent churchmen.’

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well-written and gripping suspense thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of the Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense will want it.

This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. The book may sound like a well-used storyline, but Wise weaves a different kind of tale, rich in details, twists, and heart-thumping scenes. Highly recommended.

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