Toys
James Patterson & Neil McMahon
Little Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group USA
www.HatchetteBookGroupUSA.com
“Toys” is not the usual novel Patterson fans are used to reading. It is a science fiction novel in which humans are the target of extinction from man made beings that are out of control. The subject is reminiscent of “Logan’s Run” and other science fiction novels that show what happens when technology is out of control. The problem with this one though, is there is too much confusion. It is a great subject but it is not handled very well. Toys” is a very disappointing science fiction novel.
The Confession
John Grisham
Doubleday
www.doubleday.com
www.jgrisham.com
Grisham has always told a good story but with “The Confession” he outdoes himself with a novel that is very timely on the issue of capital punishment. A death row inmate is to be executed for a crime he says he never committed. A man contacts a priest and tells him that he is the killer. The priest wrestles with what he should do because of his oath to the church that what is told to him is confidential. The inmate also has an attorney who will do anything for his client to prove his innocence. The novel races along with finely drawn characters and a tense pace to its final pages. “The Confession” is a commentary on a social problem as well as a great tale for any reader.
Long Lost
Harlan Coben
Signet
www.penguin.com
Coben is back with “Long Lost” another rapid fire thriller. This time Myron Bolitar is roused from his sleep by a phone call from an old flame who is in Paris France. She tells him she needs him to come and help her. He meets with her and is told about her child she thought was killed in a car accident. She then tells him that she saw her daughter and they need to find her again. The story is a tense complicated weaving of generous doses of suspenseful situations that are resolved at the end of the novel. “Long Lost” is for anyone who wants a good suspenseful yarn that will keep the reader turning the pages.
Sixkill
Robert B. Parker
www.penguin.com
“Sixkill” is the last Spenser novel written by Robert B. Parker. Unlike Donald E. Westlake or several other authors whose last works were very disappointing this one is a great one to leave behind. It has all of the elements that made this series so much fun to read. Parker was the master of snappy dialogue and interplay between Spenser and other characters. “Sixkil” l is a good mystery to end the series of popular Spenser novels and any fan of Parker should be pleased.
I’ll Walk Alone
Mary Higgins Clark
Simon & Schuster
www.simonandSchuster.com
In “I’ll Walk Alone” Mary Higgins Clark delivers a tense nail biting thriller that races along to its final revealing ending that shows why she is the number one lady of the suspense novel. Clark tells a story of a woman who has lost a child but refuses to believe even after five year that her child is dead. The issue of identity theft is also a part of the novel that further complicated matters. The writing is fast paced with believable characters caught up in the web of suspenseful situations. “I’ll Walk Alone” should please anyone who is looking for a good fast paced summer read.
100 Great Poems for Boys
Edited by Leslie Pockell
Hachette Book Group USA
www.HatchetteBookGroupUSA.com
Some of the poems in this collection are “Paul Revere’s Ride,” “Old Ironsides,” “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” and “Richard Corey.” The pieces are geared to a male audience and might get boys to read them because of the subject matter that might be more appealing to them. Poetry with boys has not been very popular possibly because of the way it has been taught in school. 100 Great Poems for Boys is for anyone who wants to read some interesting poetry.
100 Great Poems for Girls
Edited By Celia Johnson
Hachette Book Group USA
www.HatchetteBookGroupUSA.com
“Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Bear,” “Jack and Jill,” “The Bells,” and “Little Bo Peep,” are some of the poems in “100 Great Poems for Girls.” The pieces are interesting and fun for girls to learn to appreciate poetry. “100 Great Poems for Girls” and “I00 Great Poems For Boys” are two great collections of poems for males and females of all ages to enjoy.
The Happy Hollisters On a River Trip
by Jerry West; illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton
The Svenson Group, Inc.
www.TheHappyHollisters.com
Jerry West who also wrote many of the popular “Hardy Boys” series brought that same kind of writing to the Hollister novels.. “The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip” is another delightful story that moves along with great characters and fun situations. This time out the Hollister kids have to solve the mystery of why a friend of theirs ran away. They trail him and have many different adventures along the way. Also back is Joey Brill who once again is causing lots of trouble. “The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip” like the first novel “The Happy Hollisters,” are bound to find many new readers young and old who want to read good writing and interesting plots
The Underwear Dare
The Nardini Sististers
Sorelle Publishing Inc
www.nardinisisters.com
I don’t know why writers feel they have to fill a novel, TV show, or movie with so much toilet humor. That is the case with “The Underwear Dare,” too much off color bathroom subject matter and not enough story line. The authors have two boys in the fifth grade who for many years did not get along from single parent homes. Then the two parents get married. Now the two boys are forced to become step brothers. There’s also the fact that one of them will take over a room in the attic that is being converted into a bedroom. To decide which one gets the room the two stepbrothers come up with several bets before it is decided. At least the authors have on the back of the book a warning to the reader of what is inside making their choice to pursue. Series like The Happy Hollisters, Wizard of Oz, The Kipton Mysteries, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Harry Potter do not resort to this offensive subject matter because it is not needed to tell the story “The Underwear Dare” misses its mark of young adult readers because it is just too disgusting . I hope these authors do a better job in their next novel of these characters.
Portfolio Volume III
Jasmine Becket-Griffith
www.strangelin.com
“Portfolio Volume III” picks up where Volume II left off with many charming pieces by a very talented artist. Most striking are two things: the remarkable colors and the eyes of the girl in each of the depictions that are all so different. Many of the pieces in the volumes also show up in her card series “Oracle of Shadows & Light” With the cards there is a little book inside the box of cards that tells a little more about the works. “Portfolio Volume II and “Oracle of Shadows & Light” are bound to please the Sci-fi/ Fantasy fans attending conventions who are always looking for different works of art to purchase.
Lucky’s Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yoyos History and Values
By Lucky J. Meisenheimer M. D.
Lucky J’s Swim & Surf Inc
www.ljsspublishing.com
“Lucky’s Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo Yos” is the place to learn everything you ever wanted to know about Yo Yos. The author talks about Duncan and every other company who make the toy. There are also price guides based on condition of each brand. I learned a lot more than I ever thought I could. “Lucky’s Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo Yo's is for anyone who wants to know more about the kid’s toy or for any collector.
L RON HUBBARD PRESENTS WRITERS OF THE FUTURE VOLUME XXVII
Edited by K.D. Wentworth
Galaxy Press
www.Galaxy-Press.com
When this series began, no one ever believed it would last this long. This twenty seventh volume shows that Writers of the Future program will be around for a lot longer. This newest installment continues the yearly collection of novice writers who for the first time get a chance to be published. Like all other volumes in the series there are also some great editorials by many noted writers in the field of fantasy and science fiction. Some are former contest winners themselves. Galaxy Press and “Writers of the Future “ continues to be one of the biggest contributors to the field of science fiction and fantasy and carries out the mission author Hubbard set forth to bring new talent to the genre.
Abner The Clown
Jeffrey Breslauer
Illustrations by Linda Campbell
Helm Publishing
www.publishsdrive.com
The message in “Abner the Clown” is be happy with who you are. At the beginning of the book Abner is not so pleased with his name and wants to change it to something else. What he finds is that his is a special one and each is unique. Breslauer tells his story well and the boldly colored artwork by artist Linda Campbell adds another dimension to the delightful kid’s tale. ”Abner the Clown” has a new publisher and a much cleaner more professional look that should appeal to readers of all ages.
Face of Betrayal
Lis Wiehl with April Henry
Tor
www.tor-forge.com
“Face of Betrayal” is the first novel in a series by these two talented writers. A seventeen-year –old senate page goes missing while out walking her dog. So begins this tense complicated thriller that races along with believable characters and fast paced writing. “Face of Betrayal” is a sure fire hit for anyone who wants a tense page turner novel.
In Desperation
Rick Mofina
Mira
www.RickMofina
www.MIRABOOKS.com
This time the story is personal for journalist Jack Gannon. His estranged sister Cora frantically reaches out to him to help find her eleven-year-old daughter who has been kidnapped. “In Desperation” is the best of the series of novels about Jack Gannon. The tale races along with believable characters caught up in a web of deception. “In Desperation is a page turner that will please anyone who is looking for a suspenseful read.
Diamonds to Dust, The Life and Death of Jayne Mansfield
Frank Feruccio
Outskirts Press Inc
www.outskirtspress.com
Ferruccio delves further into the world of Jayne Mansfield in “Diamonds to Dust.” There are plenty of pictures and more interesting things of her very sad life. Mansfield was always competing to be a number a #1 sexy bombshell actress. She worked so hard but just never seemed to make it. “Diamonds to Dust” should appeal to anyone who wants to read more about a tragic stars life.
A Turn in the Road
Debbie Macomber
Mira
www.DebbieMacomber.com
www.MIRABOOKS.com
Debbie Macomber’s “A Turn in the Road” is another delightful read from a master story teller who keeps getting better. Ruth plans to drive from Seattle to go to her 50th high school reunion in Florida. She takes along for company Bethanne Hamlin her former daughter in law and Bethanne’s daughter Annie. The three women encounter many different and interesting characters along their trip to Florida that make the novel so enjoyable to read. The writing is easy and conveyed the same feeling of the TV show “Brothers and Sisters.” Fans of Maccomber will love “A Turn in the Road.”
How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This?
Reclaim your Health with Humor , Creativity, and Grit
Carla Ulbrich The Singing Patient
Tell Me Press Inc
www.thesingingpatientcom
www.tellmepress.com
What is most impressive about “How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This?, is how the author uses humor to help her fight her condition. She says that medical professionals do not always know what they are talking about. She talks about how she is misdiagnosed. One says she has one kind of disease and another says something else. What she shows is that with humor you can help treat yourself more than any drug because they only treat the condition not the cause and they have side effects. Laughter and positive mental attitude are two very important things she shows. She also has out several CDs that are written in her book. They are Sick Humor the Lighter Side of Illness, Carla U. and Live From Outer Space. These three CDs give you a chance to hear her music that is the basis of so much of what she is talking about. They can be purchased at the author’s website. The picture on the cover of two rabbit slippers is an example of how anyone’s life can be happy or sad, you pick How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This? “ is for anyone who needs to know an alternative way to treat a disease. It is also for anyone who wants to be a more positive person
Fandemonium Selected Short Stories & Poems from Talented Facebook Writers
Outskirts Press Inc
www.outskirtspress.com
Fandemonium Selected Short Stories & Poems from Talented Facebook Writers” is a first of its kind. Writers on Facebook were asked to participate and this collection is the end result. There are many talented authors with short stories and poetry that fill the pages of this book. Proceeds for this collection are being donated to the American Red Cross on behalf of Outskirts Press and its Facebook Fans.
American Due Process
Dr. Paul A. Jones
Outskirts Press Inc
www.outskirtspress.com
“American Due Process” has a lot of interesting ideas on how to reform the criminal justice system of this country but I did not agree with any of the proposals the author presents. He wants to do away with many of the things that presently enable the process to convict many offenders. He also does not do much for the victims of crimes and his ideas are not as well thought out as they could have been. “American Due Process” is a book that courses of law and criminology should overlook because his ideas are too farfetched.
No comments:
Post a Comment