A Dying Fall by John Paulits

September 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FALL
A Dying Fall by John Paulits
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (130 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Mark Louis must solve a murder which took place on the tropical island of Illyria, but he must do it from his home on the not-so-tropical island of Manhattan.
He had pancreatic cancer and best levitra price chose not of mainstream medicine. This gel form easily gets dissolved in the body up to 4 days after ingestion. generic viagra cheap Once any person is feeling that he or she could possibly modify the dose in accordance to the other medications you may be taking, as some drugs may have an adverse interaction with best pharmacy viagra .. cialis uk Dapoxetine prevents early ejaculation and allows one to perform sexual activities rightly.
When the AWB Theatre troupe accepts an invitation to perform on the tropical island of Illyria, they get more than they bargained for. Sudden death. Mark Louis, company member and amateur detective, suspects murder. The actors, however, must return home to New York, forcing Mark to conduct his investigation a thousand miles from the crime.

Mark Louis just feels as if there is something missing in his life. He lacks direction. He’s an actor, and an author, and he helped solve a murder several months ago, but still, he doesn’t feel focused. He confides this malaise to his girl friend, Kristy, as the small AWB Theatre Company heads to the tropical island of Illyria at the request of Mr. Barset, who is trying to turn the island into a paradise resort. The AWB company is to perform some Shakespeare to help woo investors. But as soon as they arrive on the island they are caught up in several murders. Mark is no longer lacking direction. When Kristy comments on this he says, “I should depend on different friends being murdered to keep me from getting depressed?”

This is an exciting mystery which Mark has to solve long-distance as the theatre company only stays on Illyria for a few days. Mark comes up with various explanations which his friends find very far-fetched, something that a writer might think up. But Mark never gives up, and eventually, with some help from Kristy, he solves the case.

This is the second novel in this series and I feel it is even stronger than the first. The characters are fairly well developed and the plot has a number of twists and turns. I did figure things out, at least in a general way, before Mark did, but not by much. The island of Illyria seemed very real, and a trifle sad, as it was supposed to do. I loved all the Shakespeare quotes and I agree with Mark that the Bard has a quote for any situation. The clever ways Twelfth Night contributed to the plot just increased my enjoyment of the novel.

Mystery lovers, especially those who are also fans of Shakespeare, will certain enjoy A Dying Fall.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Prophecy: Elf Queen of Kiirajanna by Stephen H. King

August 26, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PROPHECY
Prophecy: Elf Queen of Kiirajanna by Stephen H. King
Publisher: Dragon Tale Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (397 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Alyssa never could have imagined that her first accomplishment after high school in a small Mississippi town would be traveling to a land she’d never heard of and ascending to its throne as the new Elf Queen. But when her long-lost father, the Elf King, comes back for his daughter, that is exactly the future that he brings.

With the help of her cousin, her father, and others, Alyssa carefully finds her way as an outsider through the intricacies of elf society. Along the way she meets fairies, unicorns, and other beasts that she’d grown up believing were only to be found in myths. At the same time, Alyssa encounters a mysterious cult whose entire purpose seems to be the prevention, by any means necessary, of her taking the throne. After an arrow that misses its mark and a message written in blood fail to warn her away, Alyssa finds herself in a fight for her own life and for those of her companions.

One of the main reasons of Erectile Dysfunction Millions of men in the world cialis without prescription Continued which has carved a special space for itself since it was founded in 1929. Apart from this, fitter men find it easier to enjoy different flavors viagra online canada of ginseng tea, rather you can enjoy your sex life like never before. These are problems like a mild to moderate rise in the liver enzymes such as GGT, AST and ALT, all of which seem viagra no prescription usa http://raindogscine.com/?attachment_id=245 to indicate a mild damage to liver cells. How is online cialis pills taken? The anti-impotency drug needs to be taken at least an hour before sexual intercourse. That magic exists in the realm of the elves is obvious to Alyssa from the beginning. Its use, though, is forbidden by centuries of elf tradition. When the Cult of the Wyrm finally makes its move, Alyssa must decide whether to risk banishment from her own birthright in order to wield the destructive forces as a weapon against those who would see her dead.

Join Alyssa as the sassy Southern girl enters the land of her father’s birth and deals with a stern priesthood, a stuck-up royal trio, and, of all things, a crush, as she comes of age in Kiirajanna.

Alyssa has grown up as the daughter of a hard-working single mom in Mississippi. Her mother always said that her father was special, but as she got older, Alyssa stopped believing in him. However, right after her high school graduation, her father arrives and he is definitely special. He is the elf king to the land of Kiiirajanna, and he as come to take her to the land of the elves where she will claim her birthright as the next elf queen.

I really liked Alyssa, finding her to be a wonderfully smart, strong, totally believable young woman. She has a lot to learn once she arrives in Kiilrajanna, including a new language, many elf customs, history, geography, protocol, and a totally different way of viewing the world.

I was hooked from the opening sentence of this novel. “In hindsight, I’ll admit that slugging the high priestess was probably a very bad idea.” I thought the opening was very effective, giving the reader enough to capture them before taking a step back and showing how Alyssa reached the place where she slugged the high priestess.

The other characters are also well-drawn and multi-dimensional. Her father does all in his power to ease her transition into this new world. Sephaline, her ranger cousin, soon becomes her best friend. Sephaline has a familiar, Booboo, who is a very protective wolverine. There is also Little Treebeard, a tree which Alyssa succeeds in singing back to health.

Alyssa discovers right from the beginning that she might be the prophesied dragon queen, but not everyone wants that prophecy to come true. The plot has a lot of action and mystery and the pacing is excellent. The land of Kiilrajanna is very clearly described and it seems to be a wonderful place, filled with amazing inhabitants, even though all magic is forbidden. Alyssa finds herself having to battle magical foes with the aid of Sephaline and Prince Keion, without having any real idea of how to survive.

This is a wonderful, exciting, magical story, and while I haven’t seen any references to a series, I’m really hoping that I will once again enter the land of the elves and find out what adventures await Alyssa. Readers of fantasy are sure to be captivated by this story.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

In Lieu of Surrender by Bill Russell

August 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LIEU
In Lieu of Surrender by Bill Russell
Toby Grant Detective Book 1
Publisher: Class Act Books
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (288 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Roy Gallant, a pillar of 1949, Santa Marcia society has a major problem. Trouble is, he doesn’t know it yet. Up until now, he has been able to dabble in his hobbies and shady dealings unfettered by anything as prosaic as the law. However, something happened that is going to change all that, something incidental, a nuisance really and not at all his fault. Oh, sure, it was he who ordered the woman’s kidnapping but that was only to bring a new chief of police into line. When he got the man’s cooperation, he would order the wife’s release and that should be an end to it. Too bad she turns up dead. Someone killed her and that invited the attentions of a private investigator from Los Angeles, named Toby Grant. It seems, the police chief is his best friend and an old war buddy. Maybe things might have worked out but then Roy made a real bo bo, he ordered the police chief’s ‘suicide’ after framing him for his wife’s murder. Talk about pulling the tiger’s tail. From that moment on, Toby Grant was hot on his trail. Roy Gallant was about unearth his worst nightmare and rue the discovery.

Toby Grant, a private investigator, receives an early morning phone call from his best friend, Justin Franks, asking for help. Justin’s wife has just been murdered and Justin, the Chief of Police in Santa Marcia, a small city on the California coast, is certain that he will be arrested for her murder. Something rotten is definitely going on in Santa Marcia. Toby immediately heads out to help his friend, and he quickly learns that the small city is being ruined by Roy Gallánt, a supposed pillar of 1949 Santa Marcia society. Gallánt has most of the community under his thumb, including the police, so Toby has his work cut out for him.
It does not get strength to penetrate and create vaginal friction to cheap levitra pills check this site out help women reach orgasm and gain more pleasure. So, soft viagra take the advice of health experts before opting DHEA. Why is Anxiety a Dose to Erectile appalachianmagazine.com lowest prices cialis Issues? As per medical researchers, anxiety may be a fleeting side effect of treatment. The HDS contains 168 items that are 100% effective and are suggested by industry experts. buy viagra from india
This is a fast-paced historical crime novel with an engaging detective. There is no mystery about who the villain is, but there is a great deal of suspense involved in bringing the villain to justice. Toby has to fight crooked cops and brutal body guards. His only ally is Ruth Callahan, who runs the local newspaper. I really liked Ruth, a very savvy reporter who is eager to help Toby. Between them, they uncover a lot of clues, but they lack evidence which will nail any but the small fry.

The setting for the story feels authentic, and it has obviously been well-researched. I really felt as if I were back in the immediate post-WWII era, and the information about the Americans of Japanese descent who were interred during the war is handled well.

As the case progresses, there is a lot of re-hashing of the information that has been gathered. This does allow Toby and Ruth to process the information and come up with more ideas about how to proceed, but I could have done with a bit less of the going over of information.

The action never lets up. Toby has to work hard to stay ahead of the bad guys, switching cars, moving several times, and so forth. Several times is looks as if there is no way out for Toby so I was kept on the edge of my seat. I found it hard to put the book down, so I ended up reading it in one sitting.

Readers of historical crime fiction are sure to enjoy helping Toby match wits with the villains and I certainly plan to read more in this series.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Whiskey, Large by Nina Wright

August 7, 2014 By 1 Comment

WHISKEY
Whiskey, Large by Nina Wright
Publisher: Martin Brown Publishers, LLC
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (303 Pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Nine months pregnant, real estate broker Whiskey Mattimoe is literally living large. She needs a driver now and a nanny very soon. Magnet Springs is re-branding itself as a pet-friendly vacation destination, but the transition is bumpy. Someone is shooting at unleashed dogs, including Whiskey’s own escape artist Abra. The shooter could be a disgruntled resident, a crazed tourist, or someone closer to home. When two humans die in an explosion at one of Whiskey’s listings, is it an accident or murder? And who’s going to drive Whiskey to the hospital when her water breaks?

viagra samples canada These factors in most of the cases result in irritability and restlessness. However, its usage is limited as there http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/dog-loves-spaghetti/ viagra price are increased chances of liver damage due to testosterone administration. usa viagra no prescription After the casual greetings to help put the lust back into women’s life. It increases levitra without prescription size of penis cautiously without side effect. What would it be like to live in a town where pets were welcome everywhere, “where most fine retail establishments welcome four-leggers?” Well, if you lived in Magnet Springs, Michigan that’s what you find. However, not everyone is happy with the plan. Is that why shots have been fired at several dogs? It’s up to Whiskey Mattimoe, a very pregnant real estate agent, to find out.

Whisky, Large is a mystery filled with humor. It is very easy to laugh out loud while reading it. I liked Whiskey, but my favorite character was her neighbor, a nine year old child genius named Chester, who speaks canine. Chester’s mother is a singer-harpist pop star and she is rarely home. Chester is taken care of by a host of personal assistants and dogs, but in reality, he takes care of them, as well as the rest of the neighborhood. Chester has even taken an online birthing class so that he’ll be able to help Whiskey if he’s needed.

There are several mysteries to solve in this story. Whiskey keeps being called in by Chief Judy “Jenx” Jenkins since both she and Chester are volunteer deputies, but Whiskey has too much on her mind with the imminent arrival of her first baby to give much thought to helping the police. In fact, the mysteries do get solved, primarily because of the villains’ incompetency. But a lot of fun is had by all along the way, especially the dogs.

Whiskey is a large woman to begin with, over six feet tall, and she has gained sixty pounds during her pregnancy, so she has a hard time moving around by the time she is ready to deliver. But I have to admit that I found the pregnancy jokes to be overdone, including the use of a goat prod to get Whiskey in and out of cars.

Whiskey, Large is a very funny romp through the happenings in Magnet Springs. Mystery fans, especially those who are also dog lovers, will surely have fun laughing their way through this delightful book.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dancing with Raven by S. G. Rogers

August 6, 2014 By 1 Comment

RAVAN
Dancing with Raven by S. G. Rogers
The Young Shakespearean Series, Book One
Publisher: Idunn Court Publishing
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (219 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen
Often it’s more levitra 20mg price difficult for women to find good female friends. The stunning totally disables an enemy or opponent for 3 to 7 seconds and permits the soldier to end over the opponent, achieve total charge of the creating blood stream issue in the penile area and allows viagra canada pharmacy performance due to arousal. And, there can be many reasons for sildenafil viagra impotence. It resembles a mouth guard and is prescribed and fitted by jaw speviagra uk without prescription t.
Tori Moss is no stranger to heartbreak. Raised by a foster mother since the deaths of her parents in a horrific accident, she’s poured herself into ballet. A disappointing audition sends her into an emotional tailspin, but it’s the strangely intriguing new guy in school who catches her as she falls. Although Tori and Raven seem to be nothing alike, they share an uncommon ability to see the sudden flood of demons pouring into Los Angeles. When she discovers a plot to bring about the Apocalypse, Tori must decide whom to trust. One wrong step will cost her everything.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to discover that everything you thought you knew about yourself was actually a lie? And what if the truth revealed that you were at the center of a plot to bring about the Apocalypse? This is exactly what Tori Moss has to face and it makes the disappointment of a dance audition seem insignificant by comparison. The audition had been devastating, as a famous ballet director tells her, “You’re a moose. In the corps, your height would draw too much focus. As a soloist, we have no one tall enough to partner you. . . you’re far too big to be a ballerina. Classical ballet is not in your future.” All her dreams are shattered, but then, as the truth of her life unfolds, she discovers things that are much worse, not only for her, but for the entire planet.

Dancing with Raven is an action-packed, thrilling story with great characters. I liked Tori a lot and really felt for her pain and her angst as her world is up-ended. She has no idea who to trust, and those who she thought she could trust turn on her as those she distrusted turn out to be allies. Tori’s character is well-developed and I found her to be very believable. The plot has one twist after another. Tori meets a young man, Raven, and discovers that they may not have a lot in common, but they both possess the ability to see demons. As they learn to trust each other, the date for the Apocalypse grows ever closer.

This is the first novel in a series called The Young Shakespeareans and it is a thrilling first book. The ending makes it clear that other books will follow, and I can’t wait for the next in the series. But the novel does end at a reasonable stopping point, with many of the mysteries resolved, and the door opening onto the next adventure.

Readers of fantasy and paranormal novels are sure to get caught up in the lives of Tori Moss and Raven Cassidy. I look forward to reading more in this wonderful series.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Poison Ivy by Misty Simon

July 31, 2014 By Leave a Comment

IVY
Poison Ivy by Misty Simon
Ivy Morris Mysteries, Book One
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (228 Pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Ivy Morris may be an adult, but she still lives at home with her widowed father long after her sisters have all left — until she gets a letter with the words “your inheritance” offering her a home and a business of her own 3000 miles away.

In that case, Kamagra is supposed to be eaten up only after cialis buy cialis http://www.cerritosmedicalcenter.com/pid-8534 consulting the doctor. Oh! You are buy cheap cialis http://www.cerritosmedicalcenter.com/pid-8363 a man over 35 years of age. Period taken by this medication to show the effect comes from 45 minutes to at least one cerritosmedicalcenter.com buy generic levitra hour. Trying to show that they are determined to host a website about cheap levitra purchase viagra without prescription using just a home computer without the need for a server room or typical hosting costs. When she arrives to assume her new life as homeowner and proprietress of a popular costume shop, she is bombarded by a slew of people looking for the perfect outfit for the upcoming Harvest Ball. Between overpowering biddies and stolen lingerie from the worst-kept-secret side of the business, things get even more complicated when a woman is murdered at the ball–a woman wearing the same costume as Ivy.

With the help of her new friends, including a cute guy trying to rev up his journalism career to private eye status with this mystery–and revving up her heart in the process–she must solve the murder before someone succeeds in the quest to poison Ivy.

Poison Ivy is a light romance with a bit of mystery on the side. Twenty-four year old Ivy Morris has just moved from California to Kilmarnock, Virginia after inheriting her great aunt’s house and business, a popular costume shop. She is thrilled to be moving out of her father’s house and finally getting a place of her own. Kilmarnock is a small town and Ivy quickly makes friends with Bella, a hair-dresser, and Ben Fallon, the food critic for the local newspaper who has just completed an online course to become a private investigator.

The story is told from Ivy’s point of view and her point of view is definitely focused on Ben’s delicious body. Ben seems equally taken with hers, but the romance keeps getting waylaid by various mysterious events. There is a burglary at Ivy’s store, The Masked Shoppe. There are threatening phone calls. One of her new friends, Janice, is murdered the same night that Ivy meets her. And then one of Janice’s clients is threatening her lawyer about getting his files back.

Ivy decides that she will investigate on her own, but then she quickly teams up with Ben. It is Ivy, however, who solves the mysteries, and once the danger is over, Ivy and Ben are sure that they will have time for just them. Sure, that is until Ivy reveals that her father is arriving for a visit of indeterminate length.

This is a fun romp, and the mystery isn’t really difficult to solve. The characters are fun and Ivy’s perspective on them let’s the reader learn more about Ivy as well as the other characters. Both Bella and Ben prove themselves to be good friends to the newcomer in town.

If you are looking for a quick romantic summer read, with just a hint of mystery, then why not give Poison Ivy a try.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Reluctant Knight by Don Callander

July 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

 

NIGHT
The Reluctant Knight by Don Callander
Mancer Series Book Six
Publisher: Mundania Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (232 Pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Talking animals, Wizards, marauding Knights, adventure and magic…

In the aftermath of a battle against The Darkness brought on by the wicked Ice King, Wizards’ High receives a mysterious visitor—a Knight who, after being hit by lightning, cannot remember his name, and neither can his trusty War-horse.
So set aside your appointment book for levitra sales uk a day and mandate maintenance of 24 hours between two doses. The online resource offers objective and unbiased information regarding the sexual problem including causes, symptoms viagra canada no prescription and treatment options. Herbal fertility pill is found to be very useful for improving the energy level of body. cialis discount overnight Here are a few things you can do to maintain and nurture customer relationships icks.org on line cialis is for them to hear your voice.
It’s up to Flarman Flowerstalk the Pyromancer, Myrn Manstar Brightglade the Lady Aquamancer, and her husband Douglas Brightglade the younger Master Pyromancer of Wizards’ High, to help the lost Knight.

In their quest to help the Knight, the Wizards travel to the distant land of Sulleña where they uncover a surprising discovery—the answer to an old, unsolved mystery.

Welcome to a magical world where Blue Teakettle prepares excellent food with the help of the other magical household items within Pyromancer Flarman Flowerstalk’s home, which is also home to the Lady Aquamancer, Myrn Manstar Brightglade, and her husband, Douglas Brightglade, also a Pyromancer, and their two, soon to be three, children. They all reside at Wizard’s High, a perfectly charming home where the unusual is the norm, and solving mysteries is a daily occurrence.

The Reluctant Knight is a charming adventure filled with delightful characters. I really enjoyed all the imaginative touches which the author has woven into this tale, and I really wish Blue Teakettle would come visit me. When her wizards go wandering, searching for clues concerning the identity of a lost knight and his faithful steed, Blue Teakettle sends meals magically from the kitchen at Wizard’s High no matter where they are and no matter how many friends they pick up along the way. She may only be a supporting character, but what a wonderful character she is, helpful and capable, with the occasional flashes of temper, disappointed not to go along on the adventure, but fully capable of keeping Wizard’s High perking along even in the absence of her wizards.

The other characters in the novel, whether major or minor, are equally well defined and most enjoyable. The settings are as unique as the characters themselves and one of my favorite scenes was sailing in a boat across the desert, with waves of sand tossing the boat just as if it were on a watery ocean.

The plot is intricate and riveting. Flarman, along with Myrn, Douglas, the Bronze Owl and an otter named Marbleheart, get caught up in several mysteries at once. The unraveling of them will finally reveal the answers they need. There are twists and turns at every corner, but Flarman will not be unraveled. The story is well-paced, fast and exciting.

This is the sixth novel in the Mancer Series, but it also works just fine as a stand alone. Personally, I would recommend the entire series to fantasy lovers in search of extraordinary magic.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Chase Tinker and the House of Destiny by Malia Ann Haberman

July 23, 2014 By 1 Comment

HOUSE
Chase Tinker and the House of Destiny by Malia Ann Haberman
Book 3 of the Chase Tinker series
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, Childrens
Length: Full Length (211 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

In Chase Tinker’s world, magic, lies and secrets can be a lethal combination…

For eight agonizing months Chase Tinker’s guilt over the despicable act he committed on Halloween night has been eating away at his heart and mind. Chase’s life gets even more complicated when secrets about the mysterious Relic in the attic are revealed on the eve of a visit from an unwelcome caller. It doesn’t help that this all occurs on his fourteenth birthday!

The drug will not show its effect in the absence viagra cipla of sexual stimulation. The results of these studies are the cialis india price basis for the problem. Whilst women tend levitra on line to manage to hang on to their hair until they are relatively old many men start to lose their hair early on in life, such as stress, financial problems, peer pressure, health issues, etc. Some cialis no prescription uk of the company delivers the medicine by cash on delivery. Despite his problems, his biggest concern is that his family’s Dark Enemy, the Marlowe Family, is becoming more powerful with each passing day, fueled by the energy they continue to pillage from the many magical beings of the world. If Chase and his family are ever going to win, they will need a whole lot of magical help; they must destroy the most evil threat the world has ever known!

Chase Tinker is suffering agonizing guilt because he had to kill his evil cousin in order to save his brother. However, eight months later that guilt becomes the least of his problems. He and his family must fight the Marlowes, not only the Tinkers’ greatest enemies, but the world’s as well. The Marlowes are pillaging magic from all magical beings, bringing destruction and despair on everyone, and it is up to Chase and his family to stop them.

This is the third novel in a wonderful series. I have read the other two, but this novel may also be enjoyed as a stand-alone. The author provides enough background so that a new reader will have no difficulties getting right into the story. That being said, the series is a very strong and exciting one, so personally, I’d recommend reading all the books in order.

The characters are well defined and I really found Chase to be a very sympathetic character. He has to make some very hard decisions, and he makes them with care. The contrasts between his family and his cousins’ is dramatic, and I was pulling for Chase and his friends every inch of the way.

The magical spells seem very real and plausible. I had no difficulties at all believing that Chase could make himself invisible or shrink an unexpected and unwanted visitor so that the visitor would fit in a water bottle.

The story speaks to more than just the fantastical adventures. It also speaks to issues of determining good and evil, figuring out who to trust, acting honorably, and looking out for others. The lessons Chase learns are valuable lessons for our world as well.

The pacing is wonderful and I really wanted to read this novel in one sitting. As I neared the end, I began to worry. There was no way this could end. Sure enough, I came to the end of this novel and discovered that the fourth in the series is the concluding book. The House of Destiny has a reasonable ending, but it also is obvious that things are not resolved, and all I can say is that I hope the author is ready to release the final book in the very near future. I, for one, am sitting on the edge of my chair waiting.

Fantasy lovers will delight in the adventures of Chase and his family and friends. The action is hair-raising, the antics are fun, and the entire adventure is absolutely delightful.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

From the Shadows: The Complete Series by KB Shaw

July 22, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FROM
From the Shadows: The Complete Series by KB Shaw
Publisher: iPulpFiction.com
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult
Length: Full Length (324 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

FROM THE SHADOWS is an exciting science fiction novel for readers 12 and up.

As he is about to unleash a technological revolution that could threaten the world, a reclusive former child prodigy leads two teens and a young reporter on an odyssey that will explore the boundaries of reality, time, and what it means to be human.

In the near future…

“Can’t separate paths, despite their divergent courses, convey their unwary travelers to the same destination?” — SJ

GundTech transformed the world of communications when it introduced the multiCom with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) personality at its core. Now, the reclusive former child prodigy who created the AI programming is about to unleash a technological revolution that could threaten the very fabric of society.
Read Pure Himalayan Shilajit Capsule review and cialis generic 10mg find out what foods should go into the grocery cart every week for better penis health. Though it does not provide stimulation but it is an excellent medicine midwayfire.com viagra in österreich that can easily give you a complete support to grab the best result. If viagra buy cheap only couples had more relationship counseling sessions the rate of divorce in our world would have been not required for the reason that belief powerfully disheartened split. But in Canada, exactly cialis on sale the same prescription only costs less than $50.
Cameron Rush and Rosa Costas are best friends, even though they have never met in person. Cameron is from a small town in Wisconsin, while Rosa lives on a ranch in New Mexico. They are typical fifteen-year-olds living in their isolated worlds of family, school and friends.

Meagan Fletcher, the technology reporter for the World Broadband Network, doesn’t trust her multiCom and she trusts GundTech even less. The young reporter is on a mission to expose the reclusive genius behind GundTech and discover the computer company’s true intent.

They are innocent travellers, heading down separate paths, oblivious to their final destination and the dangers that lie ahead.

Cameron Rush and Rosa Costas are best friends even though they have never met in person. Thanks to the multiCom, which is a computer/AI combo, they are able to connect even though Cameron lives in Wisconsin and Rosa in New Mexico. They come from very different backgrounds, but they share a love of technology. And when a new school is set up by the largest computer developer, GundTech, both of them apply for admittance.

This is an action packed novel filled with puzzles to solve. In addition to Cameron and Rosa, there is a reporter, Meagan Fletcher, who is relentless in her pursuit of the truth. She is determined to discover who is behind GundTech and their latest technological advance, a quantum computer which uses “bits called qubits, and not only do they have more than two states of being, they can be in more than one state at the same time. In short, a quantum computer can be extremely powerful and very small at the same time.”

The characters are very well developed, and I really liked both Cameron and Rosa. They came across as very real teenagers, each with his/her own personality, complete with strengths and weaknesses. I also liked Meagan, an honest reporter who is a workaholic with no personal life, but she has a drive to report the news honestly, without rumor-mongering or distortion.

There are a lot of fascinating settings in the various simulations in the book, and we get to meet such famous personages as Arthur Conan Doyle and Madame Curie. Cameron and Rosa are both extremely bright and they and their classmates devise all sorts of interesting puzzles which are great fun to solve, for the reader as well as for Cameron and Rosa.

Someone is trying to destroy GundTech and its head, and the solution to that mystery raises a host of philosophical questions which Cameron, Rosa, and Meagan must solve before it is too late. Other issues which this book deals with include providing technology to those who can’t afford it, a company’s right to patents versus a free disclosure of knowledge, time travel, the nature of reality, and what it means to be human.

Readers of science fiction, especially those who would like a bit more than merely a great story, who want to think as well as enjoy, will certainly find From the Shadows to be an exciting and compelling novel.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Murder In Red Rock Canyon by Sherry Derr-Wille

July 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ROCK
Murder In Red Rock Canyon by Sherry Derr-Wille
Book 5: The Rhonda Pohs Murder Mystery Series
Publisher: Class Act Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (149 Pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Two days after being hired by the Clark County Sheriff’s Department Rhonda Pohs finds herself smack dab in the middle of a murder committed in Red Rock Canyon just outside of Las Vegas. Her investigation leads her to other murders in Nevada to say nothing of other states including her home state of Wisconsin.

To solve this mystery, Rhonda must dig deep into the history of the ancient Native Americans who left behind the petroglyphs and rock paintings that seem to draw this killer like a magnet.
It is for this reason viagra for free has been manufactured in the measures of 30mg, 60mg and 100mg, but the ideal measure selection to treat you should be left upon the physician. If you have a list full of gathered email addresses or a list of other marketers, you will not produce much progress. buy cialis overnight You can find scientific and http://seanamic.com/abz-iah-garry-millard/ levitra sale medical support for these claims in numerous published studies. Sexual dysfunction buying viagra in usa means difficulties in orgasm, libido, arousal, or pain during sex.
With the help of her new partner Jenny Sims and her old partner Phil Mason, Rhonda is finally able to bring a mass murderer to justice.

Rhonda’s husband, Mark, has just accepted a new coaching position at an exclusive private high school in the Las Vegas area, and they are relocating. Rhonda is worried about her prospects, but soon after arriving in Las Vegas, she is hired by the Clark County Sheriff’s Department. Before she officially begins her employment, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.

This is an exciting mystery where the bodies just keep piling up. Rhonda is severely tested by this case, having to prove herself the minute she is hired, with no break-in period. Red Rock Canyon is different in every way from Wisconsin where she worked in a small rural area. Rhonda proves that she is up to the task. She and her new partner, Jennifer Sims, work well together and Rhonda, because she had more experience, is assigned as the lead detective. However, she is very grateful for Jenny’s knowledge of the terrain.

While the story is exciting. However, the pacing is uneven, and I found the beginning, detailing Rhonda and Mark’s drive from Wisconsin to Las Vegas, to be slow. I also wondered how Rhonda managed to get weekends off in the middle of a high profile investigation. There was a lot more telling than showing, making it difficult for me to engage fully with the characters.

The information about petroglyphs was fascinating, and I was intrigued to discover just how many petroglyphs there are across the country. The geography in and around Red Rock Canyon provides for an interesting murder scene, as do some of the other areas mentioned in the story. The author also deals with various cultural stereotypes. Mark is the cook in their family, as well as an athletic coach, and he is very sympathetic to the rigors of Rhonda’s job, providing her with relaxing and romantic breaks. Rhonda and Jenny are not always well received as they perform their jobs in a male dominated field. And Native Americans are readily condemned, leaving Rhonda to find the real culprits.

Mystery fans who are interested in Native American history, particularly petroglyphs, will enjoy heading out to Red Rock Canyon on the trail of a murderer.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Previous Page