Review of Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Title: Prime Time
Author: Hank Phillippi Ryan
ISBN # 978-0-7783-2717-2
Publisher: MIRA Books
Date: 2009

About the Author:

Award-winning investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan is on the air at Boston’s NBC affiliate. Her work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure and millions of dollars in restitution. Along with her twenty-six Emmy and ten Edward R. Murrow Awards, Hank has won dozens of other regional, national and international journalism honors for her hard-hitting investigations. Hank began her television career reporting and anchoring the news in Indianapolis and Atlanta. She’s also worked as a proofreader, a radio reporter, a legislative aide in the United States Senate and—in a two-year stint as editorial assistant at Rolling Stone magazine—helped organize presidential campaign coverage for Hunter S. Thompson. She and her husband live just outside Boston.

About the Book:

In the cutthroat world of television journalism, seasoned reporter Charlotte McNally knows that she'd better pull out all the stops or kiss her job goodbye. But it's her life that might be on the line when she learns that an innocent-looking e-mail offer resulted in murder, mayhem and a multimillion-dollar fraud ring.

All too soon her investigation leads her straight to Josh Gelston, who is a little too helpful and a lot too handsome. Charlie might have a nose for news, but men are a whole other matter. Now she has to decide whether she can trust Josh…before she ends up as the next lead story.

Review:

“...you’re only as good as your last story.” Investigative reporter Charlotte McNally, better known as “Charlie”, is forty-something now and in order to keep her job, she has to stay on top of the younger generation clamoring for her position. With sweeps coming up, she needs something big and isn’t too happy about being sent to interview a widow (where’s the story in that?) by her manager, who has made it clear if she doesn’t make a stand, this might be her last year with them. Charlie knows she’s good at her job and she wants to keep it that way.

But then the interview with the widow takes an unexpected twist. Brad Foreman’s car accident may not have been an “accident” after all! Apparently he had been sending Charlie emails and his widow wanted to know why she never returned any of his messages. With Brad’s recent spotlight and then his sudden death, combined with the messages he had sent Charlie, this all combined sent out an alarm to Charlie’s experienced gut instincts, so she checks out her emails. What she uncovers winds up being a scam—and it was also now possible that Brad Foreman’s so-called “accident”... might really have been a murder!

Charlie and her producer, Franklin (loved his character!) are on the brink of something really big. They’re sure of it! The investigation leads Charlie to Josh Gelston. But Charlie is not sure if she can trust him and to make things worse, she also can’t deny her attraction to the man.

Hank Phillippi Ryan delivers mystery, murder, romance and knowledge in the field with humor, and her familiarity of Boston makes Prime Time a riveting, first-person POV (usually a pet-peeve of mine) and I look forward to more books from this author. She’s dynamic in real life and it reflects in the dialogue and plotting of her writing as well.

A real page turner from a promising new author!



Reviewed by Cindy Bauer for Bookpleasures.com

Cindy Bauer is the author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories (2006 & 2008), Shades of Blue (2007 & 2008) and Crystal Clear (2009), an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, a freelance writer and editor, and reviews books for Bookpleasures and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing works. With the completion of her Inspirational series, Cindy plans to write in the mystery/suspense genre, which is her favorite to read and to review. Visit Cindy Bauer Books to learn more!

A Circle of Souls

Title: A Circle of Souls
Author: Preetham Grandhi
ISBN # 978-1-59955-235-4
Publisher: Sweetwater Books
Date: 2009

About the Author:

Preetham Grandhi, MD, immigrated to the United States from India to pursue a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. He currently resides in Westchester County, New York, with his family.

About the Book:

The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. With the murderer on the loose, the police desperately look for any clues to lead to his identity. Meanwhile, a psychiatrist in a nearby hospital is also in a desperate search to find the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope. When these two situations converge, they set off an alarming chain of events. In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder.

Review:

In this debut psychological thriller by new author, Preetham Grandhi, a seven-year-old named Naya Hasting, now in the care of Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist appears to be communicating through her dreams with recently murdered, ten-year-old, Janet Troy.

But that’s not all! Thirty years prior, there was another murder committed in almost the same manner and now the town of Newbury, Connecticut has something to worry about. Are the two murders connected? Do they have a serial killer in their midst?

Once Dr. Gram realizes Naya must know more about the recent murder of little Janet, in whatever unorthodox manner, he decides to try to help the FBI find the killer through Naya, who sketches images from her dreams and chillingly, are the only clues the FBI has in their search for this faceless, “bad man”.

Dr. Gram and FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children, combine their efforts and specialties in this page-turning, gripping novel. Naya also talks to the dead girl while sleepwalking and during their conversations, Janet shares snip-its of information the FBI on the case don’t have, including information never brought forth to the public on the never-solved murder three decades ago, making the case even more puzzling and the story, more intriguing.

Preetham Grandhi backs up his plotting with his own medical knowledge in psychiatrics, making the story even more fascinating and believable. With each chapter broken down into time periods during days in a week, Grandhi’s ever-twisting plot, descriptive prose and attention-grabbing dialogue will keep the reader engrossed as the author draws the reader deeper into the crevices of the mind of a disturbed child.

Also, Grandhi has masterfully blended the suspense of a thriller with the Federal agent assigned to the case and the psychological knowledge of the doctor assigned to the child whose parents have entrusted him with her care.

In the end, Dr. Gram is forced to accept the many lives a soul has actually had previously and his own past lives eventually led to the person he is today, compared to the person he was in another time, another realm. This isn’t easy for him to deal with at first.

As a debut novel, the author has done very well and I’m looking forward to future works. A definite must read!



Reviewed by Cindy Bauer for Bookpleasures.com

Cindy Bauer is the author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories (2006 & 2008), Shades of Blue (2007 & 2008) and Crystal Clear (2009), an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, a freelance writer and editor, and reviews books for Bookpleasures and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing works. With the completion of her Inspirational series, Cindy plans to write in the mystery/suspense genre, which is her favorite to read and to review. Visit Cindy Bauer Books to learn more!

Reviews coming up this month!

Watch for my reviews this month on these exciting books!

What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy
Maggie Rose by Sharlene MacLaren
Garlic and Roses by Gail Gaymer Martin

Also, I would like to mention that if you've read any of my books in the Memory Box Trilogy, please contact me with your opinion or review. I would be happy to post your review right here!

Blessings!

Cindy

Review - He Loves Me!

by Wayne Jacobsen

This book is a hug from Heaven.

Wayne Jacobsen offers a chapter-by-chapter reiteration and reassurance of one unalterable, inarguable fact: God loves you. That glorious truth is unconditional. No need to ever again play “He loves me … He loves me not,” based on life’s circumstances and situations. Leave your daisies to grow naturally in your garden. Nothing you can do will make God love you less; nothing you do will make Him love more.

He just loves you.

You have been precious to Him since before the world was created. He loved you when Adam was still a lump of clay. He longed for your reciprocating affection eons prior to his first wail as an infant in Bethlehem. You were His favored child even as He carried His own cross up that hill to Calvary.

He loves you.

Just as He did with Adam and Eve, God longs to be your Friend. Your Father. He yearns for that close, personal, intimate relationship that comes only when true, untarnished love is freely given and received between two individuals. He won’t demand it. He’s chosen not to force it, because let’s face it—true love doesn’t happen via coercion. Such unnatural affection would be a weak and unsatisfactory facsimile, not good enough for the Creator of Heaven and Earth.

In simple terms and straightforward fashion, the author paints an unforgettable portrait of a Father waiting with outstretched arms for His child…His cherished friend to accept his affection—and return it, so they two can enjoy the fullness of a loving relationship. Jacobsen builds his premise largely on that relationship: what it is, how to achieve it, what it means to each participant.

Woven through the entire book is one golden thread of simple truth: God. Loves. You. If you ever wondered about that; if you ever needed assurance that He knows you—who you are, why you are, and that you matter to Him; if you ever just wished you could feel His arms around you, read this book.

Your hug is on the way.

Delia Latham

The Lairds of Lainnir Torr by Sandra Lyerla

Coming Soon!

Book One in the Legend of Mariah of Everon Trilogy

Historical Fiction

By Sandra Lyerla

Set in the 1700’s in Scotland, the English king believes the Scottish highlander clans are a threat to his plans. His only son is dead - so he turns to his illegitimate son (Damian) to help in his plan to take control of his country once and for all and put an end to the clans rebelling against him.

Mariah Thornton’s clan is next on Damian’s list. Her father quickly tries to betroth her to someone she does not want to marry, in order to avoid Damian Campbell, the ‘Dark Lord of Dragon’s Lair’, who has had an eye on Mariah for some time. But he’s not quick enough and Damian comes for Mariah, who then miraculously escapes his clutches in a surprise twist in this story.

Mariah washes up on the shores of Lainnir Torr, where there are not one - but two Lairds. First thinking her to be a spy, Ethan MacClain discovers her true identity and welcomes her into their clan. But he tells her they will be leaving the castle for the Americas soon, as Damian was sure to come for their land next.

Damian reigns with terror on the clans, taking them one by one, and Lainnir Torr is to be his next conquest. And then he learns that Mariah is not only alive, but among the clan there. He kidnaps her in the middle of the night.

Laird Ethan has fallen for Mariah and must save not only his clan, but the woman he loves! Once again, Mariah escapes the clutches of Damian!

Filled with castles, kings, Lairds, realistic dialogue and captivating plotting, Sandra Lyerla has written an excellent historical fiction sure to have you turning the pages. I’m looking forward to the next exciting book in this series, as the clans make their way to the Americas. A great read and sure to be a best selling novel!

Cindy Bauer

Cindy Bauer is the author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, freelance writer and editor, and reviews for Bookpleasures.com and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing works.

Book Review: Broken Angel

by Sigmund Broewer

Broken Angel paints a frighteningly real picture of a fictional but all-too-possible future. An oppressive and dictatorial nation called Appalachia, formed from a broken United States, is a world where the government tolerates no secrets and affords little privacy to have them.

In this tyrannical society, Caitlyn is more special than even she knows, and her uniqueness creates grave dangers for the innocent young woman; Jordan is her adoring father who, despite his secret and shameful past, is now prepared to sacrifice everything including his life to protect his child. On their trail is a cruel and ruthless bounty hunter who’s determined to capture the girl – and take more than just her life.

Alone and seemingly abandoned by the one person she trusts, Caitlyn must accept help from strangers: a near-blind escapee from one of Appalachia’s many forced-labor factories, and a big man with a kind heart and a slow brain. Together, the little group makes its way through the treacherous Appalachian countryside, enroute to the Outside. There, Caitlyn can be freed from the mysterious thing that makes her different. But reaching and crossing that border may cost the girl everything she’s ever held dear.

Sigmund Broewer’s novel is riveting and fast-paced – there’s no time to breathe and no relief from the tension. It delivers mystery, tragedy, uncertainty … and unexpected moments of humor and joy that make all the rest of it bearable. Broken Angel will draw you in and hold you in its spell long after you’ve read the last page.

Amazing detail, gripping storyline, and unbelievable writing.

Delia Latham

Some Girls Bite

Author: Chloe Niell

ISBN: 978-0-451-22625-9

Publisher: New American Library (NAL)

When author Chloe Neill is not bringing Merit's adventures to life, she can be found watching too much television, rooting for her favorite college football team. She lives in the Midwest, just close enough to keep an eye on the vampires at Cadogan House. Her debut novel, Some Girls Bite has received an outstanding amount of praise. If you're longing for a great plot with paranormal characters you'll have to check out this promising new series.

Merit, a twenty-seven-year old graduate student from Chicago's richest family, is attacked while walking across the University of Chicago campus. The predator…a rogue vampire.

Ethan Sullivan, a four-hundred-year old vampire, the master of Cadogan House, saves her from destruction, but against her will she becomes something she doesn't want to be. A vampire.

She wakes up three days later after the attack in the back of a limousine, shocked and thrilled to be alive. After discovering her new immortal life, equipped with unexpected powers, she instantly has a difficult time accepting Ethan as her master, but at the same time she is drawn to him in some profound way. She later becomes a special interest to another vampire, but does Merit share the same sentiments?

She now is a vampire, a Cadogan Initiate and her green-eyed rescuer is expecting loyalty and honor. Merit's one tough vamp and puts up a good fight. Not your typical vampire heroine. Packed with fighting scenes, special swords, and unanswered questions, Chloe's debut novel takes you on an exciting adventure through Merit's own two eyes.

Her roommate, Mallory Carmichael, comes along for the ride and adds some spice to the story.
Who's to blame for the vampire attacks? Who's out to get Merit? Wouldn't you like to know. You'll have to read till the very end to find out.

Discover how Merit adapts to her new undead life. Learn what it is like to be turned into a vampire against your will.

Debut author Chloe Neill gives readers a fresh new voice with a touch of sensuality and humor. A perfect combination of a fast-paced mysterious urban fantasy filled with twists and entertainment. An appealing read fit for both genders and for all ages. Fans will savor each page until the next installment becomes available. If you like Charlene Harris, you'll LOVE Chloe's new release Some Girls Bite . This is just the beginning for the Chicagoland Vampires series.

Enjoy!

Reviewed by Martha Ramirez

www.bookpleasures.com

Click Here To Purchase Some Girls Bite: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel

Ruby's Slippers

by Leanna Ellis

Dottie (Dorothy) Meyers lives on a small Kansas farm, alone but for her little dog Toto – oops ... Otto. When a tornado rips through her property, it not only demolishes the home she’s lived in all her life, but knocks the middle-aged maiden out cold. She awakens three months later at Rainbow’s End, an assisted living facility in California. Near her bed are a pair of ruby slippers – a gift from the father she hasn’t seen since she was four.

Haunted by childhood memories and a longing to meet the Daddy she barely remembers, Dottie sets out on a journey to Seattle (the Emerald City). Traveling with her are three friends: Sophia, whose mastectomy left her constantly rearranging the “stuffing” in strategic places on her body. A free thinker, she jokes that her son sometimes thinks she’s lost her brain; Tim, Dottie’s elderly uncle by marriage. He gave his whole heart to Elizabeth, who’s younger brother is Dottie’s father. When Elizabeth died, Tim thought his heart died with her; Leo, Sophia’s wild and woolly son, who lives by himself in a cabin in the woods. He looks fearsome, and he makes a lot of noise, but Dottie soon discovers that a part of Leo is nothing more than a scared little boy who mourns the absence of a father in his life, just as she does.

And then there’s Duncan Meyers, who lives in Seattle in a house that’s nothing short of a mansion. Why did he abandon his family all those years ago? And why did he leave those unusual slippers for his daughter while she lay in a coma?

Dottie’s actress sister, Abby, is busy playing the part of the wicked witch in a traveling production of The Wizard of Oz. For some reason, she desperately wants Dottie’s ruby slippers … and she’s not alone. More than one person is out to get those shoes.

The little group of friends learn a lot of important lessons about themselves and each other on their way to Seattle. Focused on guarding the shoes and mentally clinging to the past, will Dottie fail to see the promise of a brighter future? Hurt and disillusioned by her father’s abandonment, will she ever again trust another man with her heart? In search of her Daddy’s affection, will she fail to see the flawless love her heavenly Father has offered all along?

It’s a modern-day Wizard of Oz with Cinderella undertones. But this is no fairy tale or fantasy, with magical resolutions and guaranteed happy endings. It’s a deeply moving story of hurt and healing, of love and loss, of hope and redemption. Immensely entertaining, it is chock full of wit, grit, humor and heartache. Truly unforgettable, Ruby’s Slippers has the potential to be a classic.

Don’t miss this one!

Reviewed by

Delia Latham

Heavenly Hannah's Little Black Hat

by V.K. Sansone



Heavenly Hannah is a wonderful children's book which will teach your child that anything is possible; don't ever give up on your dreams.


A must for your child's bookshelf!



ISBN 978-0-557-07065-7

The Love Response

Author's Name: Eva M.Selhub, M.D.

ISBN number: 978-0-345-50652-8

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Dr. Eva M. Selhub is an avid advocate of Mind/Body Medicine. She is the founder of Alight Medicine for Learning and Healing in Newton Massachusetts and is also a clinical instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. She has been featured in national publications and in medical journals.Love heals. Dr. Eva Selhub’s book, The Love Response, proves it to be true. Learn how to reserve everyday fears into love.Discover how to calm and soothe the spirit, a helpful self-help guide to a healthy mind with a wonderful bedside manner and useful tips.

Dr. Selhub teaches you to move smoothly with life’s changes rather than resisting them. She shares her wisdom, her life experiences, and how she learned the antidote to stress and fear is love.Controlling your emotions is the recipe to diminish all fears, worries, and stress. She helps guide readers to the most precious gift of all, how to control fears. She walks us through the secret of health and well-being. An excessive amount of fear becomes a problem if it occurs for too long. The Love Response includes various exercises and testimonies to help further explain how to banish fear and stress from your life.

The simple act of replacing feelings with graciousness and love will enhance both your physical and mental health. Practicing important techniques such as the SHIELD and the Love Pyramid will aide you in the healing process.Dr. Eva does a superb job at guiding you in the right direction. She fully explains the science behind being fearful and covers what symptoms to look out for such as: insomnia, tense muscles, and shallow breathing. She also gives you the tools to overcome the poison that causes these symptoms. A few questionnaires help assess how fear is controlling your life and an explanation to why the Fear Response acts as a warning system.

Let’s face it; life can get a little stressful. If you’re feeling helpless, overwhelmed, or simply overtaken by anxiety or stress, this book was written for you. Let Dr. Eva Selhub teach you your own ability to heal and how to activate the Love Response rather than letting the Fear Response overtake your life. Invite peace to your mind. Restore your inner-self. Allow the Love Response to be part of your life. Your body and mind will thank you.A worthwhile great read!

Reviewed by, Martha Ramirez

http://www.bookpleasures.com/

Click Here To Purchase The Love Response: Your Prescription to Turn Off Fear, Anger, and Anxiety to Achieve Vibrant Health and Transform Your Life

Review - Daisy Chain

by Mary DeMuth

A small Texas town. A missing teenage girl. A highly dysfunctional family. A pubescent boy with a heart full of pain, a conscience pricked by guilt, and a life packed with trouble.

Where’s Daisy? When Jed Pepper’s best friend disappears, the boy blames himself – for her disappearance and for a myriad of other wrongs in his life. It’s hard to find answers when everyone he knows has a passel of dark secrets and hidden vices. In his search for truth, Jed comes to question God – His existence, His love, His power to change anything – and just about every other authority figure in his life. But two special people, who might just be angels on earth, set out to help the young man find himself.

Daisy Chain is a hauntingly beautiful soul-searcher of a novel. I find most coming-of-age books touching and tender, but Mary DeMuth brings a heart-wrenching story to amazing life in this all-too-realistic southern tale about a hurting boy who longs desperately to be a man. Children who’ve seen too much sorrow. Abuse and dysfunction in families …and in the church. A small town reeling from a shocking act of violence that takes one of its own and leaves a gaping wound of questions and suspicions.

First in the Defiance Texas Trilogy, Daisy Chain is an undeniable masterpiece. Full of grit and grace, hurting and happiness, love and longing. Packed with all-too-human faults and failures that bring to shining light those breathtaking touches of glory the author tucks away here and there for the reader to find, treasure, and never, ever forget.

Beautifully done!

Reviewed by Delia Latham

Noah, didn't it Rain by William Lee Golden

Noah, didn’t it Rain

By William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys

Illustrated by Bill Looney

ISBN 978-0-89221-683-3

Publisher: New Leaf Press

What a breath of fresh air for the classic Bible story about Noah and his ark. God tells Noah to build an ark, to build it strong and to build it big. Noah does and prepares for the onslaught of torrential rains, but as he opens the doors to his ark and sees all the animals waiting to come inside, he must make more room for them all and include all the foods necessary for all the varieties of animals to survive.

The illustrations that go along with the story are wonderful and unique, and it’s amazing after seeing the photo of the author with his history in the back of the book, to reflect on how similar he looks to the Noah illustrated in the book.

As an added bonus, a CD comes with this well-made hardcover children’s book. William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys narrates the story himself and also included on the CD is the song that coincides with the idea for the book, ‘Didn’t it Rain’ performed by the Oak Ridge Boys themselves!A delight for young and old alike. I’d highly recommend this illustrated children’s book for every child or grandchild.

~~ Cindy Bauer

www.cindybauerbooks.com

www.reviewsbycindy.blogspot.com

Cindy Bauer is the author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, freelance writer and editor, and reviews for Bookpleasures.com and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction as a volunteer and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing. With the completion of her Inspirational series, Cindy plans to write in the mystery/suspense genre, which is her favorite to read.

Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett

Author: Vanora Bennett
ISBN: 978-0-06-168984-0
Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins)

Hardcover

A splendid blend of romance and history as the author takes one into the world of silk making. Set in the late 1400’s, the story is based around two sisters, Jane and Isabel, who are the daughters of a silk merchant in London, John Lambert. Lambert’s business is suffering and in desperation, he resolves to marry off his two daughters to rich husbands.

Jane, the eldest of his daughters, marries Will Shore, but then later divorces him when she becomes romantically involved with Edward Plantagenet (King Edward IV) and she continues to be his mistress for several years.

Isabel marries Thomas Claver, a goldsmith, who is the son of Alice Claver, another silk merchant. Thomas later dies, making Isabel a widow, but Alice Claver is impressed with Isabel’s obvious skills involving the manufacturing of silk and teaches her everything she knows about the silk industry, from producing the finest quality silk to the business end of marketing the silk.

Isabel then becomes involved, in a business sense, with King Edward’s plan to bring in workers from Venice, their competitor, to make the finest quality silk.

After Edward’s death though, Jane goes to prison, which is a surprising twist in the story. Another twist is that Isabel later becomes involved with Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, who eventually becomes King Richard III.

I found the weaving of a fictional story plot into the well researched history of the time era to be quite impressive. The romantic involvements of the two sisters plays a very important part in the story plotting, while the setting is really the main focus point of the novel, as the reader learns about the rulers of the land and how important the silk industry becomes to their success or demise.

I believe there may be a few discrepancies in the historical part and a few plotting avenues that were not totally believable, however overall the story itself flows quite smoothly with just enough romance and mystery interlaced with historical accuracy to make for a very good storyline for anyone who enjoys history or historical romance.

I also found the blending of the setting and plotting to accentuate each other nicely, keeping the reader’s interest in the two women, Jane and Isabel, and their very apparent affluence in the silk industry, while also learning the importance of that industry to the politics of the land’s government.

Bookpleasures.com

Cindy Bauer

www.cindybauerbooks.com

Cindy Bauer: Cindy is the author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, freelance writer and editor, and reviews for Bookpleasures.com and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction as a volunteer and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing. With the completion of her Inspirational series, Cindy plans to write in the mystery/suspense genre, which is her favorite to read.

The Dead Man by Joel Goldman

The Dead Man
by Joel Goldman
ISBN 978-0-7860-2040-9
Pinnacle (www.kensingtonbooks.com)

408 pages, paperback

Riveting! This brilliantly written second edition in the Jack Davis’ series by Joel Goldman grabs your attention from page one as the scene of a December 1959 double murder unfolds. No one was ever charged for the homicides, in which the daughter was a witness to, but lucky to have been brave enough to jump from her second story bedroom to avoid the assailant.

The story then jumps to present day, January 2009, as Jack Davis meets with a friend to discuss his delicate “services” in need once again. Davis is a former FBI agent who had left the agency for health reasons. The complications of his disease made it impossible for him to fulfill his duties at the agency. His son was murdered years before and more recently, his daughter has passed away.

But Simon, who is in a security business, needed him now. Milo Harper’s foundation was doing studies on the human brain. But some of the study participants are dying. Not only that, but dying exactly in the way they’ve dreamed they would die.

The foundation, The Harper Institute, are performing the studies to try to find ways to cure Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases. But the studies are now pointing to deaths and could be the end of the institute!

Jack, even with his physical and sometimes debilitating limitations, agrees to help his friend Simon but soon discovers, he’s become involved in something much worse than “unexplained deaths”. There’s a serial killer loose and Jack must find out the truth and who is behind the now determined, murders.

Joel Goldman has a unique style as his story unfolds in the first person, putting you into the head of Jack Davis. I found this to be quite gripping and captivating.

The novel itself is quite long, so you can’t read it all in one sitting, but you’ll find it difficult to find a place to “stop for the night”. Realistically set in the Kansas City area, I found the book to be very believable since I also live in the Kansas City area and my books are also based around the Kansas City area, however in a fictitious setting based around the Kansas City area.

Goldman’s realistic setting, fast-paced dialogue and chilling plotting will have you wanting to read more in this gritty suspense series. I’m looking forward to more of this author’s work.

~~ Cindy Bauer
www.cindybauerbooks.com
www.reviewsbycindy.blogspot.com

Bookpleasures.com

Cindy Bauer is the author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, freelance writer and editor, and reviews for Bookpleasures.com and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction as a volunteer and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing. With the completion of her Inspirational series, Cindy plans to write in the mystery/suspense genre, which is her favorite to read.

EVIL WITHOUT A FACE

EVIL WITHOUT A FACE

By Jordan Dane

ISBN number: 978-0-06-147412-5

Publisher: Avon Books

Queen of suspense Jordan Dane has done it again with another high-stake suspense novel. Formerly an energy sales manager in the oil and gas industry, she is now following her passion to write full time. Lucky for readers who crave a well-developed plot and suspense, Evil Without a Face takes you on an intense suspense ride. An exceptional new author with talent that will captivate all readers

Jessica Beckett is a strong-willed Chicago bounty hunter who lives on the edge and does just about anything to capture fugitives. Not only does she carry a Colt Python near her at all times, she also carries a painful secret from her past that drives her to this addiction, her personal mission, to give criminals what they deserve.

After hunting down Lucas Baker, a low life sex-peddler, she discovers he’s involved in more than she expected. Jessica uncovers an online international organization operated in secrecy. A global conspiracy named Globe Harvest.

Seth Harper, a mysterious computer whiz, helps aide Jessica through this hunt of conspiracy linked to missing teens. Though his fancy home and intellectual behavior poses curiosity for Jessica, she decides to keep him as a contact.

Former quarterback Payton Archer makes a promise to his sister. He promises to find his seventeen-year-old niece, Nikki Archer, who has been abducted by an online predator. Suspicion leads to Globe Harvest, the circle of organization that thrives on committing heinous atrocities.

The chase starts off in Chicago and leads to Alaska. Jessica won’t take no for an answer and is determined to go after Globe Harvest, even if it means risking her life. The CPD detectives make Jess a prime suspect. She counts on her best friend Detective Sam Cooper to help cover her tracks. Now not only is she on a hunt for a missing teenage girl, but she fears Globe Harvest is responsible for the abduction of Nikki Archer and many other missing girls.

Alexa Marlowe works for an organization, a private international organization that specializes in criminal cases with tough jurisdictional boundaries. But can Jess trust her? Would she regret giving the mysterious blonde the only evidence linking to Globe Harvest?

A suspense cliff-hanger with a well-developed plot, realistic exhilarating characters, and a touch of romance without the mush, what more can you ask for?

An excellent read!

BookPleasures.com
http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/522/1/Review-Evil-Without-A-Face/Page1.html

Reviewer Martha Ramirez has enjoyed writing stories, poetry, and drawing since childhood. Her first children's book entitled The Fabulous Adventures of Fred the Frog was created and inspired by the curiosity and fascination her toddler has with books. Writing continues to be her passion as she strives to create stories children will love as well as learn from. She is also a reviewer for Bookpleasures and a member of the Muse Conference Board, CataNetwork Readers, American Author's Association, and CWGI (Christian Writers Group International). She resides with her husband and son in Northern California where she is currently working on a novel. To access Martha's web site CLICK HERE

Redeeming Love

For those of you who already read Redeeming Love by, Francine Rivers, you would probably agree what an amazing story Francine expressed.For those who haven't yet gotten the opportunity, I urge you to read this profound story.

Not only did I find it to be riveting, but I also found the words Francine expressed at the end of the book to be quite fascinating. I can assure you your heart will be touched and you'll be hooked after getting to know Sarah and Michael--an absolute page turner.
5-STARS

My First 24 Hours in Hell

My First 24 Hours in Hell
By V.K. Sansone

The synopsis on the back cover explains it very well. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like in hell and why you should choose to let God into your heart, this book will be the turning point of your life! An amazing and descriptive read! – I give it 5 Stars!

~~ Cindy Bauer, author of Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Trilogy series.

My Life Journal (From My Heart To Yours)

My Life Journal (From My Heart To Yours)
By V.K. Sansone

A wonderful collection of stories, poems, letters, dreams and memories, My Life Journal by V.K. Sansone is sure to grab your attention as she tells all, no holds barred. Some sad, some happy, her memories of her life unfolded before you will be sure to grab your emotional heart strings.

Her amazing life has dealt with tragedy, rejection, alcoholism, divorce, love, death and even God-sent dreams and I’m truly amazed she has come away from it all with such a positive attitude and uplifting spirit.

A remarkable memoir you won’t soon forget. A must read! - I give it 5 stars!

~~ Cindy Bauer, author of Chasing Memories, Shades of Blue and Crystal Clear, an Inspirational Trilogy series.

Recommended Reading...

I just finished Amy Wallace's Enduring Justice, and let me tell you, it was well worth the read. Amy covers some touchy topics, but they are expertly handled and the book is well written. This third book in the Defenders of Hope Series releases April 14, but can be pre-ordered now on Amazon.

If you like Christian fiction with a suspenseful edge and a powerful punch, come check out my review of this excellent novel on My Book Bag.

Delia Latham

Maggie Rose Endorsement

"A fast-paced, gripping historical romance with true-to-life characters, lively dialogue and filled with surprising twists and turns, Maggie Rose, MacLaren's second installment in the Daughters of Jacob Kane series will have you turning the pages in suspense.

Absolutely captivating!"

~~ Cindy Bauer, author Chasing Memories & Shades of Blue

Coming Soon! The Length of a Dream by Donetta Garman

The Length of a Dream
by Donetta Garman
Historical Fiction

Set in the late 1800’s, The Length of a Dream is the story of Hannah Fain and Flint Mullins, Hannah’s husband. They lived in Uptop, Colorado. Two years earlier, Flint had gone to buy cattle so they could start their own herd, but he was attacked by renegade Ute Indians.

Hannah is left fending for herself and winds up taking a job at the local saloon working in the kitchen and rents the cabin she and Flint built, out to a new preacher, Joshua, who has shown up in Uptop and decided it to be the perfect place to set up church.

Meanwhile, Flint is alive and well. The Ute Indians merely wanted his cattle to feed on during the forthcoming winter, sure to be a hard one. Because of his blonde hair, his life is spared.

While on his journey to head home to Hannah, who surely believes him to be dead, he comes across a wagon belonging to a young black boy and his deceased, slave mother. The slaves had since been freed. He helps the boy bury his mother and together they climb into the wagon. Flint is going to find him a home where “his kind” are staying, hopefully at Fort Garland, which is along the way to Uptop.

Without giving away too much of the story, based on accurate historical research, Ms Garman has written a well-told, captivating, short story in The Length of a Dream. With lively dialogue, depicted accurately for the era, you’ll be sure to keep turning the pages to find out what happens to this family next.

A Must Read!

Reviewed by Cindy Bauer – Inspirational Author of Chasing Memories (2008) and Shades of Blue (2008), First and Second in the Memory Box Trilogy, Reviewer for Bookpleasures and New Leaf Press, Interviewer, Writer and Editor.

Donetta is also the author of a memoir, Growing Up Ugly.

Read my review!

Read my interview!

Age Before Beauty

by Virginia Smith

Allie Harrod is not a particularly happy camper.She has a great husband and a beautiful newborn daughter. But she also has a closet full of clothes that no longer fit, a mirror that reflects an overweight woman she doesn’t even know, and an employer who eagerly awaits her return to work after maternity leave. Therein lies the problem. Allie doesn’t want to leave little Joanie and return to work. Despite all the best-laid plans she and hubby Eric have made for their lives, she finds herself longing to be a stay-at-home mom for baby Joanie.

So she dives headfirst into direct sales, and soon finds herself in way over her head. As if her life isn’t chaotic enough, Allie’s taciturn mother-in-law shows up on her doorstep and seems determined to make Allie’s house her own; Eric is spending too much time with his attractive co-worker outside of work; and the shiny new credit card Allie obtained “just for business purposes” is showing an unbelievable balance. She’s in trouble, with no idea how to get herself out of it.When her sister tries to share her newfound salvation with Allie, she stubbornly refuses to hear. She can handle her life all by herself. She’ll find a way to do it on her own – not even Eric needs to help.

Will Allie learn to lean on her heavenly Father in time to save her sanity – and her marriage?

In typical Virginia Smith fashion, Age Before Beauty is a perfect blend of poignancy and humor. Allie’s determination to be strong and independent lands her in hot water over and again. The reader laughs and cries and longs to teach the headstrong young woman a lesson before she learns it the hard way on her own. This second book in the Sister-to-Sister series is a fun peek into the lives of a close-knit family of sisters, and an eye-opening look at what can happen in a life where God is left out of the equation.

Excellent writing!

Reviewed by Delia Latham

A Lever Long Enough

by Amy Deardon

Benjamin Feinan leads an Israeli military team back in time. The goal: Film the “theft” of Jesus’ body from the tomb, thus disproving the age-old story of resurrection, salvation, and belief in Jesus as Messiah. They have seventy-two hours to collect video evidence and plant it in the Dead Sea to be found two thousand years later, in their own time. The mission’s failure could have dire consequences, including war and the devastation of the nation of Israel.

While the team struggles through a series of obstacles in the first century, a present-day traitor tries desperately to sabotage the mission for his own purposes.

In the meantime, Benjamin is shocked to discover one vital member of his team has serious doubts about their very purpose, and is leaning toward the deadly belief that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

The author does a fantastic job of bringing vividly to life another time and place. Absolutely stunning imagery. I felt as though I were right there in ancient Jerusalem… inside the empty tomb of Jesus Christ…seeing the Roman soldiers, the Temple Mount, the lifestyles and customs of that day and time. A Lever Long Enough is packed with riveting suspense and heart-pounding intrigue. The pages turn all by themselves as the reader rushes through Jerusalem along with Benjamin and his team. It’s fast-paced, dynamic, and totally unpredictable. I didn’t want the story to end.

Amy Deardon is an amazing painter of words. I will definitely be watching for more from this gifted writer. Reviewed by Delia Latham

Rightfully Mine

Rightfully Mine
by Aggie Villanueva
1986 Thomas Nelson
ISBN #0-8407-3050-0

Rizpah (referred in Numbers 27 as Noah) is the second eldest daughter of Zelophehad. Upon her father’s death due to the plague, Rizpah fears she and her sisters will lose everything because only sons can inherit land, not daughters. Rizpah insists she must fight for what is “rightfully hers”, believing there must be a way to petition Moses to allow them their inheritance.

And Rizpah has more troubles. Hanniel has asked numerous times for her hand in marriage. But Rizpah is dead set on marrying Caleb... or no one. Even Mahlah, her eldest sister who is crippled, finds love and marries. So why is the God, Elohim, keeping her from marrying Caleb?

Set in biblical times, Rightfully Mine is a beautifully written and well told story of the Israelites struggle to reach the Promised Land, their gift from Elohim for conquering the Canaan. The author, Aggie Villanueva, weaves a superb blend of biblical history entwined with romance.

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Ten Commandments. Rightfully Mine is now one of my favorite books.

How I Know God Lives - Let Me Count The Ways

This is a wonderfully illustrated book for children. It's about a little girl who tells the reasons she knows God lives and is a delight for young children, whether you read it to them or they are just beginning to read themselves. A great way to teach your children the many beautiful creations God made for us to enjoy, such as the sky, the flowers and the birds. I highly recommend this book.