Kobo – Page 21 – Rosepoint Publishing

Death by Cutting Table by Susie Black – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 4

“This fairytale happens when? The second Tuesday of next week.”

Book Blurb:

Mermaid Swimwear CEO Butch Oldham was an equal opportunity scoundrel who screwed anyone and everyone in his wake. So, the question wasn’t who wanted the bastard dead. The question was, who didn’t?
After Mermaid sales exec Holly Schlivnik finds colleague Queenie Levine standing over Oldham’s battered corpse nailed to a fabric cutting table with a pair of cutting shears plunged deep into his chest, the cops soon recover Queenie’s hidden blood-soaked sweater, discover her stormy relationship with the victim, and her public threats to make Butch pay for destroying Mermaid by stealing it blind.
When Queenie is arrested for Butch’s murder, Holly jumps into action to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a slinky, and nothing turns out the way the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent for revenge.

My Review:

What you say? The old girl is reading a cozy mystery? Yes, and I was craftily coerced by glimpsing the cover. Whoever came up with that one deserves a percentage of sales.

The unlikely protagonist is Holly Schlivnik, a houseboat resident, dog owner, and high-level executive of private label division of Mermaid Swimwear—in LA (of all places). Bucks all the normal trope background, except maybe that she owns a canine companion Sigmund (Siggie) who artfully answers all her questions with the appropriate woof.

Mermaid Swimwear CEO Butch Oldham has gotten his just desserts by being offed and pinned to a cutting table; spread-eagled like his butterfly collections. I won’t go into detail regarding further forensics; suffice to say you can’t unsee that one.

Of course, for me, it’s the snarky sense of humor that provides the hook and after that I’m lost—must finish the book and it’s a good one. Well-plotted and paced, the characters are way too much fun (including the Yentas), beginning with co-worker, Queenie Levine, who is accused of the crime. Well, you can’t ignore that one—no way Queenie would have done it—ample motive or not. How many others had a good motive? Lots! Good her bestie Assistant Medical Examiner Sophia Cutler MD (known as Snip) can be called on as Holly has Detective Josiah Jones to maneuver.

I ate it up. And loved most of it! Dialogue is a hoot, the writing style keeps you glued. Loved the characters with the exception of the possible romantic triangle (although it was resolved well).

“Two men frantic over the thought of losing me? Guess neither one got the memo. You can’t lose what you don’t have.”

I have to protest the number of times Nancy Drew is referenced and the conversations with both Detective Jones and Captain Alvarez—I can’t imagine speaking to high-ranking officers like that without receiving a stern warning immediately.

“You want me to quit interfering? Arrest the right suspects.”

Overall, however, the sense of humor was fun, the narrative gripping, and the romp through the investigation highly engaging and entertaining. Will definitely be looking for another in the series. Highly recommended.

I received a gratis copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuths, Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
ASIN: B0C62HRJXM
Print Length: 202 pages
Publication Date: August 2, 2023
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Susie Black biography

Named best US author of the year by N. N. Light Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Reach her at mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

#TuesdayBookBlog

Happy Halloween!!

Rescuing Crockett: A Western Historical Fiction Epic by David Pyke – #BookReview – #WesternFictionClassics

A Silas Grant Novel Book 1

Book Blurb:

What if Davy Crockett survived the Alamo?

Silas Grant prepares for a future with the girl of his dreams. The resourceful sixteen-year-old is learning the blacksmith trade from his father and frontier skills from Texas Revolution veterans. But when a portrait of David Crockett triggers hope that the folk hero didn’t die two years earlier, Silas joins a quest for the truth.

Exploring a world healing from the war, Silas and his fellow Texians investigate the accounts of Alamo survivors and pursue a witness to the battle’s final moments. Their odyssey turns lethal as layers of the last stand’s legend peel away to expose a shocking secret.

Will the revelation stun a nation or ignite a fatal showdown?

Rescuing Crockettis the gripping first book of the Silas Grant western historical fiction series. If you like rousing adventure, immersive storytelling, and commitment to authenticity, you’ll love David Z. Pyke’s captivating tale of redemption that Kirkus Reviewshails as “A thrilling historical drama, as engrossing as it is edifying.”

His Review:

Mexico had just won its independence in 1821 from Spain after 300-plus years of colonialism. Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836. The battle of the Alamo is one of the premier moments in Texas history and, according to historical records, there were no survivors. My recollection from history in high school noted the bodies stacked in the central area of the mission like cords of wood twelve bodies high.

General Santa Ana was President of Mexico and the head of the army during the attack on the Alamo. Santa Ana was a cruel general who accepted no prisoners and considered the Texas fighters traitors to the country. His orders were to leave no person alive after they conquered the fighters at the Alamo. Identifying all of the bodies was not foremost on his mind. (Mexican soldiers numbered 1500 to the Texan defenders of 200.)

David Pyke paints a very illuminating picture of the battle and the subsequent aftermath in San Antonio. A rumor that David Crockett may have survived the battle was the premise of this tale. At the time, the French had embargoed the Mexican ports and were not allowing any Mexican ships safe passage. The rumor was fueled by a drawing made by a gifted artist of someone near Vera Cruz who looked surprisingly like Crockett. Could he still be alive and be held captive by Santa Ana at one of his residences?

This book paints a very colorful and graphic analysis of life in the 1830s in the then Republic of Texas as well as Mexico. Because Crockett had been a U.S. Representative from the state of Tennessee, his history was very important to the population at that time. He became disillusioned with his political struggles in Tennessee and moved to Texas to join that new republic. He fought with the Texas dissidents at the Alamo and was either captured or killed outright. This alternative possible outcome is very fun to read. Enjoy! 4 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four stars

Book Details:

Genre: Western Fiction Classics, Historical Thrillers, US Historical Fiction
Publisher: Leonard Street Publishing
ISBN: ‎ 1959440020
ASIN: B0C1824MVZ
Print Length: 380 pages
Publication Date: March 31, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: David Z. Pyke has always been a writer. His relationship with words began in elementary school, where he read Beowulf and Dracula by the time he was 10 years old. He wrote his first stories for newspapers when he was 15 and has written professionally for 47 years.

His passion stems from his heritage: Pyke is a native Texan related to one of the Alamo defenders. His great-great-great-great-great-granduncle, Isaac Millsaps, was one of the Immortal 32, the reinforcements from Gonzales who answered William Barret Travis’s call for help, rode to San Antonio, and died in the Alamo on March 6, 1836.

In 1991, a mutual friend introduced David to Suzanne, an English literature teacher from Missouri. Their first date was on a Friday the 13th. She later confessed that before that first date, she read some of his stories to make sure he could write. Apparently, he received a passing grade. They were engaged five months later, married four months after that, and in 2022 celebrated their 30th anniversary.

‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt- #AudiobookReview – #AnimalCozyMysteries

An Andy Carpenter Novel Book 28

in Animal Cozy Mysteries

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is at the Tara Foundation’s annual Christmas party. The dog rescue organization has always been his true calling, and this is one holiday tradition he can get behind because every dog that’s come through the rescue—and their families—are invited to celebrate.

This year’s party is no exception. But before the stockings can be hung by the chimney with care, homicide detectives ruin the evening. Derek Moore, one of the foundation’s best foster volunteers, is arrested for murder.

Andy discovers Derek—whose real name is Bobby—is in the witness protection program after giving evidence against his former gang. The police believe Bobby murdered a member. But Bobby swears to Andy he didn’t do this. He’s built a new life, a new business, has two new dogs after being a double foster-failure.

There isn’t much Andy likes about this case, but he likes Bobby. If he’s innocent, Andy wants to help. Before Andy can settle down for his long winter’s nap, he has a client’s name to clear, a murderer to catch, and two new dogs to look after: a golden and a Dalmatian. Andy’s golden retriever, Tara, will have to adjust to not being the only golden at the house while Andy gets to the bottom of this one…

My Review:

Once a year the Tara Foundation throws a Christmas party for the people and their adopted rescue dogs. Andy Carpenter is NOT a fan of eggnog and is relieved when Pete Stanton, homicide detective (and an old buddy of his), calls him outside. The problem is that he warns him one of his party guests is about to be arrested. Surely they can’t be talking about Derek, a foster failure for having decided to keep the two dogs he was fostering.

Andy, though supposedly retired and avoiding working as an attorney, ends up believing Derek’s (Bobby’s) story, and agrees to represent him. Andy’s cases are never simple and neither is this one. The investigation will become complex and uncover some ugly issues from mobsters and drugs to murder.

Andy has an unusual crew that includes his wife Laurie (an ex-cop) and her K-9 team, as well as Marcus, and a guy he calls on for quiet IT work. (Laurie loves Christmas and starts the season by Halloween (which Andy tries to avoid as much as possible—especially the music), so this novel won’t be including a lot of Christmas detail.)

And then there are the dogs, Tara, for whom the rescue foundation is named, Andy’s pug Hunter, and Sebastian, who does little besides warm a bed. While Tara may have featured more prominently in previous installments, not so much in this one. Still, I love the stories of the doggos that this time includes Bobby’s two foster failures, Sasha and Jake. I always remember with a chuckle the times I went to the breeder’s house when we were waiting for Frosty to be released, and the hubby would answer the door to a cacophony of barking and dogs scrambling to see who was there. He would merely sigh—“We have dogs.”

As always, I enjoy the courtroom scenes with Andy doing his best to alienate everyone including the judge with his legal wrangling of appropriate precedent. While he worries about how strong he’s made his case, he always keeps his eye on proving a plausible alternative to his own client.

Along the way is the signature Andy Carpenter sense of humor, the wise-cracking, snarky observation of events, and his interpretation delivered beautifully as only Grover Gardner can do. He has sold this character many times over and the author’s love of dogs shines through every time. You gotta love them.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher. These are my honest thoughts. This series is an easy go-to. My only problem is that they are too short.

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Cozy Mysteries, Animal Fiction, Traditional Detective Mysteries
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B0BV8X894N
Listening Length: 6 hrs 33 mins
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Publication Date: October 10, 2023
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas [Amazon]
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: David Rosenfelt, a native of Paterson, New Jersey, is a graduate of NYU. He was the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures before becoming a writer of novels and screenplays. “Open And Shut” was his first novel; “First Degree,” his second novel, was named a best book of 2003 by Publishers Weekly. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife and 35 dogs.

Facebook
Website

The Narrator:

Grover Gardner’s narration career spans twenty-five years and over 550 audiobook titles. AudioFile Magazine has called him one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and features him in their annual “Golden Voices” update. Publishers Weekly named him Audiobook Narrator of the Year for 2005. His recordings have garnered 18 “Golden Earphones” awards from AudioFile and an Audie Award from the Audio Publishers’ Association.
http://grovergardner.blogspot.com/

Closure by Garrett Addison – #BookReview – #vigilantejustice

A page-turner psychological revenge crime thriller mystery

Book Blurb:

It’s hard to move on when vengeance takes over.

Bestselling author and clinical psychologist James Malter immediately attracts police suspicion when his terminally ill patients suddenly begin suiciding and harming others. His guilt seems even more likely when the seemingly innocent victims are found to be related to his sister’s acquitted killer many years earlier. With mounting casualties and a shadow threatening to derail his past and sully his career, Malter’s quest to uncover the truth will pit his longstanding belief in ‘moving on’ against his long-suppressed want for revenge.

His Review:

Regrettably, the police did not catch this despot in time. He spent a lifetime killing people in the most gruesome manner. The detective who finally outed him had found his sister’s body horribly mutilated with evidence of her horrendous execution. Pleads to let her die were ignored as the criminal reveled in his ability to make his victims writhe and suffer.

Finally captured, he is lying on his deathbed confronting his captor and some of the relatives of his victims. Oh yes, he was apologizing, but the deceased were given absolutely no mercy! How could anyone be so depraved as to subject other human beings to such cruelties?

This writer is very talented! He illuminated the subject with surgical precision and graphic detail. His writing would have garnered a five-star rating from me except that his topic was appalling! Writing with such illuminating clarity about a sadistic serial killer is, in my opinion, an unfortunate misuse of his talent. 3.5 stars – CE Williams

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book provided by the author. Unfortunately, this kind of subject is not for me.

Rosepoint Publishing: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Vigilante Justice, Vigilante Justice Thrillers, Crime Thrillers
ASIN: B0C3YNC8BJ
Print Length: 233 pages
Publication Date: August 29, 2023
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-AU | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Garrett Addison is an Australian revenge author keen to bring something different to people’s reading. Forget your formulaic storylines and cliched characters, Garrett wants to sucker you in to something light, readable, enjoyable and ultimately help you discover (or rediscover) the joy of being totally immersed in a book.

Web: https://garrettaddison.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GarrettAddison
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettaddisonauthor

Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Book Blurb:

At a Texas county fair, amidst carousels and a bustling midway, children’s book author Elle Portman is enjoying a rare night out with her favorite cowboy: her two-year-old son, Charlie. But just as they’re about to head home, the unthinkable happens: a shooter opens fire into the crowd, causing widespread panic to erupt all around them.

Also caught in the melee was corporate consultant Calder Hudson. Arrogant, self-centered, and high off his latest career win, he’s frustrated and confused when he wakes up in the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery on his arm. The doctor tells him that he was lucky—that as far as gunshot wounds go, he pulled through remarkably well. Others weren’t so lucky, which instills in Calder a furious determination to get justice . . . a goal shared by Elle.

Their chance encounter at the police station leads to a surprising and inexplicable gravitation to one another, but even as the attraction grows, Elle and Calder can’t help but wonder if the unimaginable tragedy that brought them together is too painful and too complicated to sustain—especially while the shooter remains at large.

My Review:

Not like I haven’t read Sandra Brown before or was aware she’d throw in an unanticipated romance to mess up a good story, but somehow it just didn’t work at all for me in this book.

A random mass shooting at a county fair throws together Elle Portman and Calder Hudson. Elle has taken her two-year-old with her to the fair along with bestie, Glenda. When the shooting starts and the stampede begins, Elle loses hold of her son’s stroller. Calder, who sees the stroller tries to grab it and ends with devastating results.

Here’s where I have the first problem. Calder is a rich, arrogant narcissist. He is living with an ambitious TV reporter who is his narcissistic equal. I disliked both of these characters and thought Glenda was absolutely correct in her assessment of him. After a couple chance meetings, Calder turns macho protector, dictating her next movements.

For her part, Elle lost a son. A two-year-old. I couldn’t seem to get past that as the romance first blossomed then turned up the heat. She seems more than happy to be told what to do, be the object of hot pursuit, and become accommodating.

The police think they have the shooter, then they don’t, and Elle and Calder join forces to ferret out the culprit. But they keep getting distracted by the hormones shooting between them and the sex scenes get to be a bit much. Her loss and his injuries are a blink and they move on.

There are a number of twists and a big one at the conclusion. You gotta give it to the author for throwing another good zinger at the end. In the meantime, I wasn’t a fan of either main character and Glenda was a bit too good to be true, but then, that was another of those little twists. Overall, not wholly thrilled. I liked it (for the fast pace, well-plotted storyline), but I’m not in love.

I read and reviewed Overkill on June 15 of this year and had a few problems with it even though I enjoyed the unexpected twist at the end. This one just bogged down on the romance and for me a let down of what could have been more of a suspense thriller.

I downloaded a copy of this book from my local library that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Thrillers, Romantic Suspense, Suspense Thrillers
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ASIN: B0BP2HW59K
Print Length: 417 pages
Publication Date: August 1, 2023
Source: Local Library

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE (2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), and the critically acclaimed RAINWATER (2010).

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into thirty-three languages.

Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Constant Soldier by William Ryan – #BookReview – Historical World War II Fiction

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

Paul Brandt, a soldier in the German army, returns wounded and ashamed from the bloody chaos of the Eastern Front to find his village changed and in the dark shadow of an SS rest hut—a luxurious retreat for officers recuperating from their injuries and for those who manage the nearby concentration camps of Auschwitz. The hut is run with the help of a small group of female prisoners from the camps who, against all odds, have survived the war so far. When, by chance, Brandt glimpses one of these prisoners, he realizes he must find a way to access the hut. For inside is the woman to whom his fate has been tied since their arrest five years earlier, and now he must do all he can to protect her.

As the Russian offensive moves closer and partisans press from the surrounding woodlands, the days of this rest hut and its SS inhabitants are numbered. And while hope for Brandt and the female prisoners grows tantalizingly close, the danger is greater than ever. In a forest to the east, a young female Soviet tank driver awaits her orders to advance . . .

His Review:

Brant is a soldier wounded badly at the Russian front and has been given a discharge from the German army. He is considered a hero by many because of the arm that was lost and terrible burns received in battle. Although discharged, he is responsible for a rest facility for Germans back from the front. Officers mostly, who are in desperate need of rest and relaxation.

Before the war, Brandt attended university in Vienna. At 25, with the war starting, he no longer wishes to continue at the university and is swept up in the expansion of the German army. Assigned to the facility he is running are a number of women who are charged with cleaning the linens and preparing foods and other domestic chores required to keep the soldiers on leave comfortable. Among the women is one who he was romantically involved with before the war.

The town where the facility is located is near his father’s old family farm in Ukraine. The local mayor of the town has taken it as one of his responsibilities to help run the retreat as well. He is overweight and vicious in his treatment of the women and anyone else that he can push around. He reports to the camp commandant and makes everyone’s life miserable.

The constant threat of the Red Army pushing through the area is a constant concern. Brandt and the others feel there will be no mercy shown by the Russians toward them. The people from the surrounding area are frantically trying to head west towards the approaching American army to avoid being captured by the Russians. The situation has become desperate.

William Ryan has spun a very believable story of the frantic situation lived by the people in Eastern Europe nearing the end of WW II. The struggle for the basics of life and just to be alive is continuous and unremitting. The mental images and development of the characters in this book is illuminating, revealing, and gripping. Putting myself in their shoes made my appreciation of the tragedy of war and their survival more personal. 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own thoughts. The novel is highly recommended.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical World War II Fiction, 20^th Century Historical Romance
Publisher: Arcade
ISBN-10: ‎ 1956763783
ASIN: B0BTZWD21K
Publication date: ‎ November 7, 2023
Date First Available: ‎ January 1, 1970
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: William Ryan’s first novel in the Captain Korolev series, The Holy Thief, was shortlisted for a Crime Writer’s Association’s New Blood Dagger, a Barry Award, The Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award and The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. The second in the series, The Bloody Meadow, was shortlisted for the Ireland AM Crime Novel of the Year and the third, The Twelfth Department, was also shortlisted for the Ireland AM Crime Novel of the Year as well as the CWA’s Historical Fiction Dagger and was a Guardian Crime Novel of the Year..

The Constant Soldier, William’s fourth novel was described as “subtle, suspenseful and superb” by The Daily Mail and shortlisted for the HWA’s Gold Crown and the CWA’s Steel Dagger. A House of Ghosts, (as W.C. Ryan),was published in October 2018 and was described as “an intelligent, absorbing, exquisitely spooky mystery” by The Irish Times. The Winter Guest, published in January 2022, was called an “impeccably researched and utterly intriguing historical mystery that lays bare the societal fractures caused in Ireland’s fight for freedom” by the Irish Independent.

Visit http://www.william-ryan.com for more information.

Enjoy Your Sunday

Three Wise Men by Lou Bavou – #BookReview – #OccultUFOs

The answers to those profound questions about the Universe, Time, the Origin of Life and are we alone or not?

(Three Wise Book Series-Part 1)

Book Blurb:

Most science books are hard work!
So, this is a fact book with a fictional twist. It sets out to make science and religion more understandable and enjoyable to read, plus hopefully pose a few thought-provoking insights along the way.

It’s a novel way of explaining the science behind those profound questions we ponder on occasionally: What are the origins of the Universe and life? Are we alone in the Universe? When did Time begin? Does God exist? Is there an afterlife?

To make the science, which explores questions, more palatable, the scientific facts are presented as a dialogue between three fictional friends, who give factual commentaries on the above questions with a little humor added into the mix.

The narrative is set mainly in a Manhattan bar where the three friends meet every Friday after work. As a change of scenery, the friends also spend weekends at a hunting lodge.

The diverse social background of the three main characters; an investment banker with a scientific background, a pious Catholic of Irish descent and a down-to-earth Italian plumber, together with the insights given by the female proprietor of the bar, allows for a balance of views and opinions: from academic, religious and pragmatic perspectives on life.

Each chapter covers one of these profound questions, starting with the existence of God which naturally leads on to the reasons why people are religious. Having challenged the rationale behind religion, the book then counterbalances this with chapters on the origin, size and the end of the Universe. This then leads onto discussions on the link between space and time. The natural progression from the Universe and time leads onto a chapter on the origin of life including the possibility of life elsewhere. Finally, there’s a historical perspective on death and burials.

His Review:

Three friends are spending Christmas Eve at the local watering hole. Their conversations turn to the mysteries of the universe. Does God exist; How did the universe even happen; and is there other life in the cosmos? These are questions that mankind has been pondering for ions. Michael, Jess, and Gio bandy about these questions while enjoying various libations.

The author, Lou Bavou, has delved deeply into these questions while being at the least an agnostic. Belief in a God is fundamental to every religion on the planet. But there is no apparent proof that He even exists. Certainly, enlightened populations around the planet have developed theories and speculations about this question but is there tangible evidence?

Are there aliens or some other species living in the vast array of our universe? And are these aliens aware of our presence here on earth? SETI, the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence has pondered this question for over a decade. Maybe our planet’s location in the Milky Way Galaxy is akin to someone in a backwater yet discovered.

Time and distance make the discovery of our planet problematic! Even at the speed of light mankind cannot expect to explore habitable planets outside our solar system. The time is just not available for us as fragile creatures. This entire novel is a serious look at astronomy and philosophy and is a well-written treatise. 4 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the author for providing me with the opportunity to read and review his book with no expectation for a review. These opinions are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four stars

Book Details:

Genre: Occult UFOs, UFOs, Astronomy
Publisher: Bavou
ASIN: B0C85CV31L
Print Length: 257 pages
Publication Date: June 14, 2023
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Lou Bavou is a unique new voice in the world of science books. With a strong education in math, physics and chemistry, he graduated with an honors degree from Birmingham University, UK. He spent a long career as a consultant engineer to the energy industry running his own small consultancy company with extensive travel and work around North America, Europe, Russia and Asia; learning about the local cultures and history. During his travels he has rubbed shoulders with oil rig ‘bears’, negotiated with Arabic oil ministers and been tailed by the Iraqi secret service and still found time to write numerous professional reports, papers and guidelines for the energy industry.

Lou recently decided to change direction and take-up writing full-time.

Nowadays, when he’s not researching his keen interests in astronomy and astrobiology, he spends time running a small holding. He still travels and has wild camped in the Sahara Desert, ice skated on the highest rink in the world in Kazakhstan, sheltered from major cyclones in China and Sri Lanka – and they say lightening never strikes twice, once nearly drowned in the River Thames and survived his wife’s meatballs, but still lives with her on the outskirts of SW London with their children of all ages.

That Others May Live by Sara Driscoll – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

An FBI K-9 Novel, Book 8

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

A treat for dog lovers, this latest novel in the only mystery series that revolves around a K-9 search-and-rescue unit is gripping, timely, and “wonderfully readable” (Publishers Weekly), with a gutsy heroine and an authentic, harder edge that will appeal to fans of harder-edged mysteries.

There are situations that fill even the most seasoned FBI K-9 handlers with shock and horror. Meg Jennings is preparing for another work day when she gets words of a catastrophic scene in downtown Washington, DC. Part of a twelve-story condo building has collapsed, and the rest of the structure could soon follow. Every search-and-rescue worker and K-9 team is needed on-site immediately to find survivors—and assess the casualties.

Putting aside her fears for her firefighter fiancé, who’s already inside the unstable building, Meg turns to the task at hand. If anyone is still alive within the rubble, she and Hawk, working alongside other K-9 teams, must find them. Every hour, every moment counts—and a wrong move could trigger a deadly chain reaction for those buried beneath. But beyond the present danger is a deeper threat, as evidence indicates that this wasn’t a random tragedy, but an act of domestic terrorism. And identifying the culprit and motivation, in time to stop another attack, means taking on an enemy with terrifying skills—and nothing left to lose.

His Review:

The call came in and Meg and Cody, a canine disaster recovery team, were called in to put their rescue efforts to the test. How could a building just over 30 years old collapse? Talbot Terrace at the corner of I and 9^th streets collapsed.The event was so sudden that families getting ready for their days were trapped in the collapsed building. The 12-story building had collapsed into a little over three stories high.

Rescue teams were called in including some of the finest from all over the Eastern seaboard. Meg with her rescue dog Cody began at the top of the pile looking for survivors. It seemed impossible looking at the pile of rubble that anyone could have lived through the catastrophe!

Finding a young man near the top floor felt like a major accomplishment. The F.B.I. and other teams were called in because the smell of explosives gave away the cause of the collapse. Was someone trying to kill a high-level diplomat or someone else in the melee? Meg and Cody were able to find a few survivors but the less than four feet between floors left a grim cleanup.

Sara Driscoll writes with clarity and authority. I felt like this book gave me an introductory primer to the construction of high-rise buildings. The description of the building methodology made it seem that there was little chance of a collapse but the investigation pointed pretty quickly to sabotage.

Could it have been a foreign power or enemy of the United States? This book explains the investigative process and subsequent means of identifying the culprits. Enjoy! 5 stars – CE Williams

Note: I read Before It’s Too Late in June and love the Sara Driscoll series. The crunch of time had me reluctantly sharing this book with the CE. You can see he enjoys the K-9 series as much as I. vw

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

Book Details:

Genre: Terrorism Thrillers, Conspiracy Thrillers, Serial Killer Thrillers
Publisher: Kensington Books
ASIN: B0BZBK2PW1
Print Length: 352 pages
Publication Date: November 28, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Link(s): That Others May Live

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The Author: Sara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna, coauthor of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries and author of the FBI K-9s and the NYPD Negotiators. After over thirty years in infectious diseases research, Jen hung up her lab coat to concentrate on her real love—writing “exceptional” thrillers (Publishers Weekly). She is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband and four rescued cats outside of Toronto, Ontario. You can follow the latest news on her books, including the FBI K-9s, at http://www.saradriscollauthor.com.