Thursday, May 17, 2012

Book Reviews by Gary Roen


My Daddy is a Marine A History of the U. S. Marine Corps
Dennis Vebert
Stark Productions, Inc. 

Told through the eyes of children “My Daddy is a Marine” takes readers from the creation of the Marine Corps to the present war on terrorism.  Each story is of a conflict  in which the Corps has participated.  The author has an easy to follow style that makes it fun to read history.  Though written for kids “My Daddy is a Marine” is for anyone who wants to learn more about the Marine Corps.


11th Hour
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Little Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group USA

“11th Hour” is another fast paced thriller in The Women’s Murder Club series.  This time Lindsay Boxer is pregnant and she has two different murder cases she is investigating.  One is a bunch of severed heads on a movie star’s property and the other is a series of killings that have one common thread.  Patterson and Paetro once again have a very tightly written thriller that races along to its final conclusion with great characters, conflicts, and page turning suspense.  “11th Hour” is a great addition to this series that gets better with each book. 


Robert B. Parker’s Lullaby
By Ace Atkins
Putnam

Spenser is back in “Robert B. Parker’s Lullaby” the first Spenser novel to not be written by Robert B. Parker.  The trick Ace Atkins had to pull off is how near to Parker’s style is this new one.  It is very close in several ways.  The characters of Spenser, Hawk, and Susan have for the most part the feel, as does the writing that is filled with the snappy witty dialogue that was a trademark of Parker and it moves along at a very brisk pace to the end.  Where it is a bit different is that too many of the characters swear,  to where it is so noticeable that it tends to detract from the story.  I can not remember Parkers use of those kind of words to fill the story. Fans of Spenser will enjoy “Robert B. Parker’s Lullaby” in spite of the bad language.   


The Accident
Linwood Barclay
Bantam

“The Accident” is another solid tale of suspense by a master of the genre.  Glen Garber cannot accept that his wife had a drinking problem and died in an accidental car crash.  As he begins to piece things together his whole life begins to turn upside down.  At the same time,  people he thought he knew are anything but what they seemed.  Barclay once again drives the story along with interesting characters and a fast paced thriller that has the readers rapidly turning pages.  “The Accident “ is a chilling tale of greed and how it can change a person’s life. 


Family Affair
Debbie Macomber
William Morrow

“Family Affair” is another great novel by Macomber that is a fast paced read with interesting characters and many different conflicts that are resolved by the end of the novel.  Lacey Lancaster has a cat named Cleo who is the gem of her life.  Lancaster has a neighbor named Jack Walker who is always arguing with a girl whom he wants to move in with him.    He also has a cat named Dog.  It is an interesting reason that brings them together and Lacey finds out that not everything is as it seems.  “Family Affair” is a short wonderful tale that will please Macomber fans. 


Lost and Found
Karen L. Syed
Echelon Press LLC

Allison Ryder is having a terrible day and it does not seem to be getting any better.  She is having problems with a neighbor and her work is not going too well either.  Things just seem to be getting worse and that’s just the beginning of the novel.  Syed has written a fun filled story that has interesting characters and a nice even pace that concludes with a very satisfying ending.  “Lost and Found” is good clean fun. 


Imperfect Justice Prosecuting Casey Anthony
Jeff Ashton with Lisa Pulitzer
William Morrow

There are lots of  reasons this case was lost by the state of Florida and readers will be able to see many of them in “Imperfect Justice Prosecuting Casey Anthony.”  Now Jeff Ashton one of the state attorneys who prosecuted this case,  reveals many of the things often suspected about this case that was a world wide event for over 3 years. Ashton who  was the chief prosecutor of the Carla Larson murder detailed in “Evidence of Murder,” had a winning record until he was brought into the Casey Anthony fiasco.   Ashton is quick to point out that he was not the lead prosecutor for this case and he gives many insights about it and some of the problems the state of Florida had  Some of the things that stand out are how the entire Anthony family lied to protect Casey, the many sides of Casey that were exposed, the request by the jury on day three of the trial and how it was so revealing to the final verdict. “Imperfect Justice Prosecuting Casey Anthony” shows why this case was a travesty of justice. 


The Collaborator Rules 101 Surefire Ways to Stay Friends With Your Co-Author
Sally Shields
Safflower Publishing Inc

I’m not a big fan of partnerships in writing because so many of the ones I’ve been in and that I’ve seen  end up so negative.  I have to say though if there is a formula to not have problems this is the best resource to guide the two writers to a happy working relationship.  Shields easily points out 101 surefire ways to avoid major problems.  The book is easy to follow and has a lot of simple things that people never think to do.  Class 101 Collaborator Rules is now in session. 


The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph
Loretta Faith Harris
Children’s Heart Publishing

“The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy Into Triumph”  is the remarkable account by the author after her major car accident and how she has turned her life around from that incident.  She begins the book the day of the crash that took the life of one of her passengers.  She reveals that doctors gave her very little chance to live through it with all the damage that had been done to her body.  It was a very slow process through many surgeries and rehab therapy. There are several things she shows that  helped her along the way.  Her belief in God, her prayers,  the love and support of her family proved to her that you can choose to make your life happy or bitter.  “The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph” is an inspirational story that shows that miracles do happen and that people can control many of the things that happen to them. 


Is She Naturally Thin or Disciplined? Insider Secrets of the Sexy and Slim!
Sally Shields
Blooming Twig Books

Sally Shields is back with a new slant to the subject of how women stay so thin.  “Is She Naturally Thin Or Disciplined? Insider Secrets of the Sexy and Slim” shows the techniques that women use to stay thin.  Shields divided the book into ages starting with women in their twenties to ones in their sixties.  There are many similar things all have in common.  Eating certain foods in moderation, regular exercise programs, dealing with stress better, more awareness of what is in food are just some of the things they talk about.  “Is She Naturally Thin or Disciplined? Insider Secrets of the Sexy and Slim” is an interesting look at how women of different ages and professions stay thin and physically fit this is a great resource for anyone to stay healthy.


The Lost Tail of the Hare or How the Bunny Lost His Tail
Dennis Vebert

“The Lost Tail of the Hare Or How the Bunny Lost His Tail” is a fun little story about how a rabbit lost a portion of his tail while trying to get away from a big bad wolf.  The characters are fun while the writing is very easy to follow with a very happy ending.  Vebert is a great story teller who is comfortable writing children’s stories or adult novels and the artwork by the author showcases another aspect of his talent.  “The Lost Tail of the Hare Or How the Bunny Lost His Tail” is a kid’s book that is excellent reading for all ages.