Wolf’s Revenge – a Book Review

Wolf's Revenge by Lachlan SmithTitle: Wolf’s Revenge by Lachlan Smith

Genre: Currently #21042 on Amazon Best Sellers Rank for Books, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thrillers & Suspense, Crime

Publisher: Mysterious Press

Publication Date: October 3, 2017

Source:  Mysterious Press and NetGalley

Title and Cover: Wolf’s Revenge – Cover needs work

I definitely enjoy a legal thriller every now and then and picked up Wolf’s Revenge, the fifth in the series of the Leo Maxwell mysteries by Lachlan Smith. The courtroom drama alone is worth the read, but the plot regarding the Aryan Brotherhood was as new to me as the author and his series. The protagonist is an attorney in the Bay Area of California and has inherited a dubious legacy from both his older brother (now handicapped) and his father (now deceased). His clients are just as apt to be corrupt politicians as well as gangland leaders. Continue reading “Wolf’s Revenge – a Book Review”

#ThrowbackThursday – Author Amanda Hughes – Book Reviews

#ThrowbackThursday on It's Book Life blogRenee began the Throwback Thursday meme on her blog, “It’s Book Talk” to share some of her old favorites as well as sharing books published over a year ago. Sounded like a good reason to join! My TT posts will not come from current ARCs or new releases. Means I’ll be going back over some of my oldies but goodies, my favorite authors, and some of my favorite stories from authors you might not have previously experienced. Hopefully, you’ll find either a story or author that interests you and you’ll check them out.

  • This week I am highlighting another terrific, prolific author, Amanda Hughes. Ms. Hughes writes about bold women of the 18th, 19th, and (now the) 20th centuries, but they are all stand alone books and do not carry the protagonist from one to the next of the same series. She just released The Looking Glass Goddess (Bold Women of the 20th Century Series, Book 1) on April 26, 2017. I’ve read the three highlighted below from her Bold Women of the 18th Century Series and I loved them all. First one we’ll look at is…

Continue reading “#ThrowbackThursday – Author Amanda Hughes – Book Reviews”

Are You a Kinetic or Digital-Driven Reader?

Is a generation growing up in a high-tech, electronic world, spelling the end of print books? Are we beating this horse long after it’s last breath? Maybe so, but we’ve tested this digital medium for years now, and print books are still the favorite and not likely to gallop into the sunset any time soon.

Ivana Kottasová of CNN Media revealed on April 27, 2017 that the Association of American Publishers reported a 20% drop in eBook sales whereas print books rose 7.5% during the first nine months of 2016. There are just some books that do not work as well digitally (and never will)–think the current fad of coloring books for adults. And print books have always been the go-to for children’s books.

Print books vs ebooks
Photo attribution from CNN Media article

Please participate in my Print or Digital Survey at the end of this post!

Continue reading “Are You a Kinetic or Digital-Driven Reader?”

#ThrowbackThursday – Author Alex Lukeman – Book Review

#ThrowbackThursday on It's Book Life blogRenee began the Throwback Thursday meme on her blog, “It’s Book Talk” to share some of her old favorites as well as sharing books published over a year ago. Sounded like a good reason to join! My TT posts will not come from current ARCs or new releases. Means I’ll be going back over some of my oldies from Goodreads, my favorite authors, and some of my favorite stories from authors you might not have previously experienced. Hopefully, you’ll find either a story or author that interests you and you’ll check them out.

This week I am highlighting another prolific series author, Alex Lukeman. Mr. Lukeman likes Barbados rum, fast old motorcycles and playing guitar. He writes action-adventure thrillers. There are 15 in the Project series with Solomon’s Gold #15 just released July 19, 2017. The series project features a small, elite counter-terrorism unit, answerable to no one but the president. This series will take you to all parts of the world and you’ll learn to love the dynamic, seriously talented and experienced fully-fleshed characters. Continue reading “#ThrowbackThursday – Author Alex Lukeman – Book Review”

Robert B Parker’s The Hangman’s Sonnet – a Book Review

TRobert B Parker's The Hangman's Sonnet by Reed Farrel Colemanitle: Robert B Parker’s The Hangman’s Sonnet (Jessie Stone #16) by Reed Farrel Coleman

Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons

Publication Date: To be published September 12, 2017

Source: G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley

Title and Cover: Robert B Parker’s The Hangman’s Sonnet

Oh duh! Yes, of course, THAT Jessie Stone! I did recognize that name, but not having read any of Robert B. Parker’s books, nor recognizing the name of this author, Reed Farrel Coleman (sorry, Mr. Coleman!), I just didn’t connect the two until I went looking for a reason that Mr. Coleman was writing Parker’s books. This release will constitute his fourth Robert B. Parker Jessie Stone series, which he began writing in 2014. (Mr. Parker passed away January, 2010.) Continue reading “Robert B Parker’s The Hangman’s Sonnet – a Book Review”

#ThrowbackThursday – Bob Mayer author – Book Review

#ThrowbackThursday on It's Book Life blogRenee began the Throwback Thursday meme on her blog, “It’s Book Talk” to share some of her old favorites as well as sharing books published over a year ago. Sounded like a good reason to join! My TT posts will not come from current ARCs or new releases. Means I’ll be going back over some of my oldies from Goodreads, my favorite authors, and some of my favorite stories from authors you might not have previously experienced. Hopefully, you’ll find either a story or author that interests you and you’ll check them out.

Chasing the LostThis week I’m spotlighting Bob Mayer, prolific writer of several fast-paced series that include The Green Berets, The Presidential Series, and his #1 bestselling series Area 51, Atlantis. If he’s written it, I’ve probably read it, albeit some time ago now. I particularly love Cool Gus, his yellow lab who frequents Twitter. Cool Gus - cool yellow Lab

Chasing the Lost – Originally posted on Goodreads July 25, 2015 (Published August 25, 2013) Continue reading “#ThrowbackThursday – Bob Mayer author – Book Review”

Close to Home – The Tracy Crosswhite Series – a Book Review

Close to Home by Robert DugoniTitle: Close to Home – (The Tracy Crosswhite Series) by Robert Dugoni

Genre: Currently #1 on Amazon Authors Rank for Kindle eBooks, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery, Police Procedurals

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publication Date: September 5, 2017

Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title and Cover: Close to Home – Boat, nautical theme suggests coastal location

Congratulations to Robert Dugoni today on his book launch of my first (but won’t be my last) Tracy Crosswhite novel, Close to Home, his fifth for this exclusive series.

Close to Home hits a home run with me!  The novel employs a complicated cross-plot tying Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite with Navy JAG attorney Lieutenant Leah Battles after it is discovered that the 12 year old killed in a hit and run was hit by Navy Petty Officer Lazlo Trejo from the local naval base. Continue reading “Close to Home – The Tracy Crosswhite Series – a Book Review”

An Echo of Murder – a Book Review

An Echo of Murder by Anne PerryTitle: An Echo of Murder by Anne Perry

Genre: Currently # 62 on Amazon Best Sellers Rank in Books, Literature & Fiction, British & Irish, Historical

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Publication Date: To be released September 19, 2017

Source: Ballantine Books and NetGalley

Title and Cover: An Echo of Murder – Attractive cover creates slight hint of historical quality

Having come into An Echo of Murder: A William Monk Novel by well-established author Anne Perry, I knew I’d missed something important when there were references to Mr. Monk’s amnesia. This being the 23rd of the series, the back story of Monk’s amnesia was obviously the plot of a previous book. This installment gets bits and snatches of it and I was left wondering how in the world then did he ever get to be Commander of the Thames River Police.

In this offering, there is an appalling series of murders of London’s Hungarian citizens. Yes, it is an historical fiction novel set in London. Hester Monk, his wife, certainly his equal and perhaps then some, has a strong history with the Crimean War in which she attended to front line casualties as a nurse. The end of the war precipitated an influx of alien citizens to the area. Continue reading “An Echo of Murder – a Book Review”