Yearly Archives: 2016

June 6, 2016 · 5:00 am

Dear Dad by John Hazen (Book Review)

 

 

John Foster is a product of the ‘60s. The question is: which ‘60s? Leading a sheltered, cozy life growing up in the small town of Fairbrook, Massachusetts, John is plucked from his secure cocoon in 1969 and dropped into the maelstrom of the Vietnam War. As he witnesses and participates in the horrors of war, John literally feels his very soul, as well his will to live, eroding away. His redemption only comes after he is seriously injured and awakens to find himself in 1862 Tennessee where he joins General Grant’s troops in the days leading up to the Battle of Shiloh, one of the Civil War’s bloodiest conflicts. As his father, a decorated World War II veteran, had always told him, he discovers that it is possible to be part of something larger than himself. His humanity is ultimate restored after he embarks on a dangerous mission to make right a brutal wrong from his past.

Print Purchase Link (US)

Kindle Purchase Link (US)

Print Purchase Link (UK)

Kindle Purchase Link (UK)

 

 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
If you like movies such as Platoon, Hamburger Hill, or are a wartime history buff in general, then this is the book for you. Dear Dad has not one but two wars featured in a tale that took on a Twilight Zone feel around mid-point. The plot twist happened again around the 215 page mark, when another blast sent him home (literally and figuratively). 
 
The story didn’t end there. Ghosts from John’s past came back for a visit and it was not a happy reunion. I won’t say anymore (read the book).
 
BTW: this book does end with a HEA and a WTF moment. 
 
 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤
 

Print Purchase Link (US)

Kindle Purchase Link (US)

Print Purchase Link (UK)

Kindle Purchase Link (UK)

 
 

Connect with John via his website or on Twitter.

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June 2, 2016 · 5:00 am

Dangerous Tide by CJ Matthew (Book Review) (CONTEST INCLUDED!!)

 

With the head of field ops murdered, Rye is recalled to SBW to resume his team leadership role. Anxious to clear his tarnished reputation, the last thing Rye needs is the pod physician hounding him for budget support. Or worse, warning all of SBW that he’ll be the next to become violent and dangerous.

Doc Libra, alarmed by the recent unprecedented violence at SBW, resolves to get a bigger lab and start her research to uncover the cause. She’ll need lots of Shore Shifter blood samples and Rye’s name is at the top of her list. But if she hopes to gain his cooperation, she’ll need to agree to his deal.

Author signed copies are available at Fiction Addiction, 1175 Woods Crossing Road Ste 5, Greenville, SC 29607 or available on Fiction Addiction’s website: HERE.

 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
Once again CJ kept me entertained with her fishy phrases: fish guts, squid lips, shark shit on toast. Yes, she made sure there was humor and romance mixed within the high-octane plot.
 
Speaking of plot, in Dangerous Tide, you’ll encounter gun battles, explosions, kidnappings, illegal gun smuggling, and an almost air-tight frame job. 
 
Throughout all that, you be a happy bystander while you watch an doc (with body image problems) fall head over heels in love with an agent who has trouble asking for help. 
 
As you can imagine, both get over their issues and the final scene had me placing Rye in the top 10 of most romantic shifter. Yes, I have a such list. Don’t you? 😉 

And on a final note, I <3 seeing a woman kick a little ass. As the saying goes….We are women, hear us roar… or in a dolphin’s case maybe – eeeeeeik eeik eeeek. 

HA!! 🙂

 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
 
GO GET YOUR KINDLE OR PRINT COPY TODAY!! 

 
 
CONTEST TIME!!
KEEP READING!!

 

 
Now that you’ve had a sneak peek at CJ Matthew’s sensational shifter book and read my review regarding Dangerous Tide (DT), WHO IS READY TO WIN?
 
Ladies and Gents, CJ is offering ONE LUCKY WINNER a spectacular prize package. 
 
In it, the winner will receive the following items: One SBW tall metal water bottle, a SIGNED PAPERBACK copy of DT, a DT
book thong, a fancy DT keychain, plus trinkets: which are little plastic
dolphin key chains, temp. dolphin tattoo, dolphin stickers.
 
 

 

And guess what? This amazing contest is open to anyone; no matter
where you call home!! 
 
To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below. 
 
So if you like paranormal tales (shifter books), then I encourage
you to ENTER TODAY. 
 
You’ll
have until FRIDAY (midnight, central time) to enter. SATURDAY morning, I
will post the winner’s name and attempt to message you. Please follow the
comment thread or come back on SATURDAY to see if you are the lucky recipient
of this amazing prize package. 


Good luck!!!

 

CJ Matthew is the author of paranormal romance suspense series Dolphin Shore Shifters. Her debut novel, Blood Tide, features a pod of dolphins posing as humans that work through their oceanic conservation corporation Save Blue Water, based in Santa Barbara, California, to protect the oceans at any cost.
CJ grew up in an Air Force family that travelled all over the U.S. and around the world. She spent her high school and university years living in California, which inspired her love of marine life and the Pacific Ocean.

A member of Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) Romance Writers of America, CJ lives and writes near a lake in the woods northeast of Atlanta. When she isn’t writing or reading romances, CJ likes to travel and to spend time with her two grown children, a brilliant grandson and a feisty cat named Max.

Website Link
Twitter
Facebook
Amazon author page
Goodreads author page

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May 30, 2016 · 5:00 am

May’s Hot Picks!!

Source: provocative-play.tumblr
Source: provocative-play.tumblr
Source: queenofalltheworld.tumblr
Source: inkeddolls.tumblr
Source: mancrushoftheday.tumblr

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May 28, 2016 · 5:00 am

A Legacy of Love and Murder by Brenda Whiteside (Book Review)

 
 

In Austria to meet her great-grandfather and explore his castle estate filled with priceless art, August Myer arrives to find he’s died suspiciously. As one of the heirs, her life is in danger, turning this fairytale Alpine adventure into a nightmare of veiled threats, unexplained accidents, and murder.

Inspector Tobias Wolf splits his time between his profession and fighting the spread of neo-Nazism. But when the beautiful, intriguing American crosses his path during a murder investigation, ensuring her safety challenges his priorities…and his heart.

When August learns the handsome inspector is concealing a personal involvement and the death of her great-grandfather is somehow connected, she takes the investigation into her own hands. The outcome could be the death of both of them.

 

 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 

(Per the author’s request, I am posting a WARNING my review does contain the villain’s name. Proceed with caution!)

 
Eike used her body to get what she wanted, hurt and orchestrated the deaths or attempted to kill off anyone who got in her way. In medical terms, she would be classified as a narcissist or a psychopath. However, I think anybody who reads this book would proudly label her a total BIOTCH or as my momma would say, a gold-digging hussy!! 
 
Brenda, congrats on creating a character even my momma would proclaim needed a good ass whopping. 


Oh and Wolf, he sure knows how to rescue a woman….. in style – as in a silver Porsche. 


What a ride, Wolf. Oh, and you ain’t so bad yourself either. 
 
 

Heart Rating System:
 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Kindle / Print (Amazon) 
 
Kobo

The Wild Rose Press

 
 

 

Convinced she was born to be an artist, Brenda never took her love of writing seriously. And then one day, sometime after college, after marrying a man doing a stint in the army, and after the birth of her son, she found more satisfaction filling a blank page with words than an empty canvas with color.
 

Brenda and her husband are gypsies at heart having lived in six states and two countries. Currently, they split their time between the prairie in Northern Arizona and the RV life near Roosevelt Lake. At home or in the RV, she spends most of her time writing stories of discovery and love entangled with suspense.

 
Visit Brenda at www.brendawhiteside.com.
Or on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendawhitesid2
 
She blogs on the 9th and 24th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com
 
She blogs about prairie life on her personal blog http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

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May 26, 2016 · 5:00 am

Journey of an American Soldier by John Hazen (Book Review)

  

In 1920, the chance to travel to India on a business trip is a great boon for a smart and talented young man. Until he wakes up in a Calcutta jail, framed for murder. Benjamin Albert is a brilliant rising star at his firm, a war hero and a loving husband and father. But when his own government turns its back on him and leaves him to rot in prison 8,000 miles from home, his wife Catherine must take matters into her own hands and battle a ruthless and unscrupulous corporation abetted by a corrupt colonial government. Timeless issues like racism, anti-Semitism, nationalism and women’s rights are exposed during Catherine’s race to save Benjamin.

 

 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
First thing I liked about Journey of an American Son was the multiple strong roles (male and female) created by John . Hirsch (Harry) traveled to America with his family for the opportunity of a better life. Starting over is hard but starting over in a foreign land, that’s takes guts and determination. Traits also found in his wife (Molly), son (Ben), Catherine (Ben’s wife), and Sergeant Jones. 
 
As a matter of fact, this whole tale kept showcasing their strengths in some form or fashion. The four mentioned above had their share of joys and their share of losses. John wrote a book that didn’t just touch of the bright moments of a person(s) life. So if you are looking for a upbeat story, then I’d pass on this. However, if you want to “live” through their struggles right alongside them, then I suggest going for the ride. It sure as hell is a bumpy one, but one I think you’ll like. 
 
John is, if nothing else, a very detailed writer. Case in point, the trench scene. The action practically exploded off the pages. 
 
One last thing I’d like to remark about: I’m a fast reader but Ben’s capacity to fly through the pages was astonishing. 550 pages in 45 min and can retain all the info/recite it verbatim…. Seriously, that is quite a feat. 
 
 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤
 
PURCHASE LINKS:  Paperback / Kindle
 
 
 
Don’t let the gray hair fool you; writing keeps me forever young! Author of four acclaimed suspense novels and working on more!
 
Connect with John via his website or on Twitter.

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