#nottobemissed – Page 19 – Rosepoint Publishing

The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived by Will Pass #BookReview #animalfiction

Book Blurb:

The human who found me is fine. She feeds me. She cuddles me. She puts a roof over my head. But I do not appreciate being held captive. Because I have the intelligence of a human. And I aim to find out why.

Accompanied by Shakespeare, a Pug with the intelligence of a Pug, I run away from home, embarking on an epic quest for freedom, understanding, and, quite possibly, revenge.

Together we must survive a harsh desert of cannibalistic coyotes, stray humans, a fugitive white tiger, and one hypnotic beacon that shines from a city of sin, luring us back into so-called civilization.

My name is Rousseau. I seek the truth. Even if it means I lose my mind…

Full of imagination and humor, The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is a dog book like no other, with a canine narrator who questions the value of human society, and a dog’s place within it.

His Review:

The life of a stray is not an easy one. Even near the country’s largest casino city. The primary risk is the game warden. His job is to capture the strays and run-aways and either adopt them out or eliminate them. The cute puppies are adopted quickly and sent to loving homes. The older more mature animals are usually slated for euthanize.

Dr. Francis attempts to save them all. However, his budget is limited so he must keep the adoptable numbers to a minimum. Mary is a kind soul who saves as many slated for death as she can. The result is a large population of strays around the desert areas near Los Velos, a large gambling community in the desert.

We all have to eat and strays are no exception. One of this band of strays has secured a local hamburger joint. The trick is to hide beside the driver’s side of the car and wait until the bag of burgers is offered through the drive-up window. A quick jump and there may be hamburgers all around. A hungry dog can eat four or more at a time.

Leo is one of those strays and a little bigger than most. He has been living in the desert with coyotes and is thankful he is not their dinner. A few smaller dogs that travel with him take advantage of his size and protective tendencies. However, sufficient food is never available for all.

Trigger: Animal death

The book is well written with many fun vignettes. The writer has woven human relationships and prejudices into a very believable tapestry of adventures. The underdogs are literally the escaped or abandoned. Read and enjoy. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

This is a real surprise for a debut that combines both humor and anguish with an animal POV—rather unlike most you’ve read before. You’ll enjoy the adventure and characters whether or not a dog lover.

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

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Satire Fiction
Publisher: Thiessen Press
ASIN: B0CW1D8T8N
Print Length: 467 pages
Publication Date: October 4, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Will Pass practiced as a veterinarian in Las Vegas before becoming a novelist and medical writer.

He lives in Colorado with his wife, son, two cats, and very good dog.

The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is his first novel.

Battle Annie by Trish MacEnulty #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

The Queen of Hell’s Kitchen

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

No woman in Hell’s Kitchen is as tough as Battle Annie. Known as the sweetheart of the notorious Gopher gang, Annie makes a living as a brick hurler and brawler, always working for the highest bidder during the railroad strikes of the 1890s. An orphaned girl named Cora endures the brutal life of a guttersnipe on the street. Her only hope for survival is serving as Annie’s helper during the brawls.

After an encounter with the famous socialist Eugene Debs, Annie has second thoughts about hurling bricks against striking workers. Those second thoughts lead to trouble when a rival comes for Annie’s throne and a powerful railroad executive wants more from Annie than he’s paid for. When she’s falsely accused of murder, Annie flees New York with Cora in tow. Hiding in plain sight, they pass themselves off as a respectable milliner and her orphaned niece. But eventually Annie’s past catches up to her and she must run again or face the electric chair. Cora will need to shed the trappings of her new life in order to save Annie, but Hell’s Kitchen is in her blood. Without anyone around to guide her, will she abandon Annie and return to a desperate life in the rookery where she was once a guttersnipe? And will Annie be executed for a crime she didn’t commit?

My Review:

Absolutely loved this unique novel showcasing Battle Annie (Annie Walsh), who becomes queen of the Battle Row Ladies (Lady Gophers) Social and Athletic Club of Hell’s Kitchen of New York. She organized other women of the streets in the job of brawling—throwing bricks and creating general mayhem. Annie sells her business to the highest bidder in the battle between the unions and the railroad barons. She learned from the best, her pa, convicted and sent to prison for a murder he didn’t commit.

Annie has a smart, fighting spirit and living in the rookeries has organized a gang of hundreds of women. They speak in a special lingo.

Life takes a risky turn when she meets Eugene Debs, honorary member of the union.

“Mr. Debs, you can’t squeeze blood out of turnip and you can’t squeeze pity out of a tenement rat..”

“Annie, I do have to present myself in a certain way to accomplish union business, but believe this: While there is a lower class I am in it, while there is a criminal element I am of it, while there is a soul in prison I am not free.”

He talks her into brawling for the union side against Webb and the railroad. Webb proves to be a powerful enemy, particularly when she refuses his favors. Discovery of his body leads the police back to Annie. With the help of Debs, she manages to escape, taking with her one of her guttersnipes, Cora, desperate for Annie’s food, protection, and street knowledge.

Relocated to Baltimore, she has a new name and assumes the role of respectable society lady. And that disguise works well years enough that Cora grows into a beautiful young woman and has learned to love the new respectable society their successful millinery has brought.

“The main rules here are never swear, never get angry, always be cheerful.”

POVs switch from Annie to Cora and Cora divulges she’s on the search for her sister—separated when they hit the streets.

But can the Pinkerton’s be far behind?

No sag in this narrative. It’s descriptive of both locations to the point where it’s easier to breathe once out of the slums of Hell’s Kitchen. I loved the support characters in Baltimore, and both Annie and Cora are well-developed, defined in their roles. Humorous to watch how awkwardly Annie assumes the role of milliner and devoted aunt to Cora who quickly discovers she loves the new well-heeled society. Very well-researched and further explained in Author’s Notes following a satisfying conclusion.

If you enjoy historical fiction, you can’t help but love this one and if you don’t, it’s an absorbing and entertaining story. You’ll enjoy it either way.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction, Historical Mysteries
ASIN: B0D3J28Q2S
Print Length: 212 pages
Publication Date: September 3, 2024 Happy Publication Day!
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Trish MacEnulty grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and earned degrees from the University of Florida and Florida State University. For 20 years, she lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was a Professor of English at Johnson & Wales University, teaching writing and film classes. She now lives in Florida with her husband, cat, and two dogs and teaches journalism. In addition to her historical novels, she has written novels, stories, plays, and a memoir under the name “Pat MacEnulty.” She currently writes book reviews and features for The Historical Novel Review.

Check out her website for book club visits, reader guides for her historical fiction, upcoming events, book news and more: https://trishmacenulty.com.

#TuesdayBookBlog

Rosepoint Reviews – August Recap – Books, Covid, and Dogs

Rosepoint Reviews-August Recap

Just when we had a stretch of mild weather, beautiful temps for everything I wanted to do outside, I went grocery shopping. A few days later, I came down with Covid—whichever variety is currently going around, I guess, and a few days after that, the CE came down with it. Here we’ve gotten all through ’20, ’21, ’22, and ’23, then got caught. Definitely laid me low for two weeks and then another two weeks still lacking any energy and short on stamina. Fortunately, our son didn’t catch it for another few days, so he was able to see we had something to eat. Well, I covered that saga in my reviews posted both the eleventh and the thirteenth.

Also fortunate that our son was able to double down and take care of his own dog, a mini-Aussie-Jack Russell and ours as well. Punkin is always careful to make sure Cooper remembers the house is hers, but Cooper made herself at home early on. Cooper (Remember the puppy?) It is a year last August our daughter surprised us with her. I was missing Frosty so much—but more than that—the joy and companionship a dog brings to the household. Cooper grew into approximately 35 lbs of exuberant and energetic watch dog and indefatigable ball retriever. She tries so hard to talk, but I haven’t quite understood a word yet.

So obviously, not a lot of activity on the blog in August, although I did get some reading done. I’m still getting books from NetGalley as well as author and publisher requests, and my local library. Two novels were given a DNF this month (not included in the list below), one from the CE and one from myself and both at just about 25%. Just didn’t click with either of us, totally unusual. As always, links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase or source information.

Rosepoint Reviews - August Recap

The Blind Devotion of Imogene by David Putnam
On Wahoo Reef by Tim W Jackson
The Broken Truth by Reavis Wortham (CE review)
Zephyr Trails by Nicki Ehrlich
Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee
Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll (audiobook)
Big Love and War Horse by Shallen Anne Chitwood
Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance (audiobook)
Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt (audiobook)

Favorite Book of the Month

I really enjoyed Hillbilly Elegy but waffled on five stars. The CE gave The Broken Truth five stars, so I must bow to his choice.

**Favorites for August – The Broken Truth by Reavis Wortham**

My Reading Challenges page…

Reading Challenges page—at this point woefully behind schedule and forced to reduce the Goodreads Challenge from 150 to 130. The CE is reducing his reading and reviewing and I still owe two reviews to Goodreads.

Love my new subscribers—welcome! Thank you to those of you who continue to monitor, read, and comment on my posts. I appreciate you!

Enjoy Your Sunday

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt #AudiobookReview #animalfiction

An Andy Carpenter Mystery #29

Book Blurb:

Paterson, New Jersey’s favorite reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter returns in Dog Day Afternoon, the next mystery in this fan favorite series from National Bestselling Author David Rosenfelt.

Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter has run the Tara Foundation—the dog rescue organization named after his beloved golden retriever—for years. It’s always been his calling, even as Andy’s pulled into representing clients in court. His investigator, Marcus Clark, has been at Andy’s side for a long time. Even though they’ve known each other for years, Marcus keeps his personal life a mystery.

So it’s a shock when Marcus arrives at the Tara Foundation with two strangers in tow. Turns out Marcus takes disadvantaged young men under his wing, gets them jobs, a place to live, and a chance at a different life. And they want a dog. Andy’s specialty. One of the young men, Nick Williams, instantly falls in love with one of the dogs, Daisy.

When there’s a mass shooting at Nick’s work, leaving six dead, all signs point to Nick. Marcus, who’s never asked Andy for anything, asks Andy for help. Despite Nick’s troubled background, Andy trusts his friend and takes the case.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

My Review:

Yes, it’s time for another Andy Carpenter legal mystery narrated by one of my favorites, Grover Gardner—who is Andy Carpenter personified. I just have to hear that voice and I see the man. (Andy may need to walk his dogs a little longer.)

You’ll remember by now, since this is one of my favorite series, that Andy Carpenter has been trying to retire from being a defense attorney for years. He no longer needs to work but is heavily involved in the dog rescue organization he created with a partner, a former client. He has three dogs in his own family dynamic, each with very different personalities, levels of energy, and contributions to the storyline.

And then there is Marcus, who never known for his verbosity, suddenly seeks Andy’s help in the defense of a disadvantaged young man he helped get the job where there has now been a mass shooting. Marcus knows he couldn’t have done it, Nick is a dog lover.

I love the complexity of the installments. They are multi-layered and twisty, and you never know where the storyline is heading. These narratives are never simple. Andy has his usual crew besides Marcus, including Sam and his wife Laurie. Each character adds an authentic touch to the crew that helps with his investigation and legal proceedings.

Along the way, just in case things are getting heavy, are the usual banter, snide remarks, and casual snarky observations.

While the author follows his successful format pattern, the characters are well drawn and relatable, balance each other well, and the stories work as standalone. This is absolutely a series you’ll opt for the audiobook as Gardner’s narration is always a hoot and just too much fun. (Of course, it helps that the author has penned his signature sense of humor.)

The novels are always well-paced and, of course, I love the inclusion of the dogs. Each of the installments is engaging and entertaining.

This last book in the series I read in October 2023, Book 28, was ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas” and I loved it. I’m thinking we’ll soon have one for Christmas 2024. I’m looking forward to it.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Traditional Detective Mysteries
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B0CH1D7WJF
Listening Length: 7 hrs 13 mins
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Publication Date: July 2, 2024
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: Dog Day Afternoon [Amazon-US]
Amazon-UK
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/

Big Love and War Horse: a novel by Shallen Anne Chitwood #BookReview #HistoricalLiteraryFiction

Book Blurb:

In the wake of the Great Depression, during the 1942 bombings off the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the Deacon family has lost the life they knew before the Second World War. As the family and their closest friends struggle to make sense of the secrets they keep from one another, their dogs—Big Love and War Horse—help them find the strength and endurance to survive the aftermath of devastating loss and adversity.

Abandoned by their father, Luke, after the sudden death of their mother, fifteen-year-old Jonas and his younger sister Kay are coming of age in a world shrouded in secrecy and uncertainty. Luke’s sister Linnie steps in to help mend the broken family, but haunted by her own hidden truths, her life is shattered by the past.
Through the intimate perspectives of the Deacon family and their dogs, this intricately woven tale of tragedy and love reminds us of the power of the human spirit to rise above seemingly impossible circumstances.

My Review:

Yes, of course, I grabbed this book because of the promise of dogs in the story—sweet cover.

The promise is kept and this turns out to be a great book with a fairly unique plot, the premise of the life of the dogs living with their humans in Autumn of 1942 in North Carolina. The family has been beset with a recent tragedy that has threatened to tear the remaining family members apart.

Jonas at fifteen, his sister a couple years younger, lost their mother to suicide and then their father in an inability to cope finding solace only in a bottle. The two have been left almost wholly on their own, learning to survive, and preparing for a harsh winter.

Told largely in the POV of the dogs as they observe their humans grappling with the changes to the family dynamic, Big Love, a old Great Pyrenees, and War Horse, a Doberman puppy too big to succeed as a Marine war dog, the reader is privy to the private struggles of the kids.

Their aunt comes around to check on the kids and later becomes a bigger part of the family. She has secrets and struggles of her own. The father eventually comes back and tries to make up to the kids, Jonas now bitter and angry at having been left to survive on their own. The reconciliation is slow and deeply moving, poignant.

The novel evokes many emotions as it navigates the grief, anger and profound confusion over the loss. The writing style is simple, sometimes reminding you it’s a debut author, while still managing a beautiful narrative.

A lot going on in this novel with twists and turns and themes of love, loss, murder, suicide, and reconciliation. I loved the interpretation of the circumstances by the dogs who do their best to take care of their humans while strongly conveying a canine sensibility to the situation rather than going anthropomorphic.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery Thriller Suspense Literary Fiction, Women’s Literary Fiction, Historical Literary Fiction
ASIN: B0D6RR9Z77
Print Length: 208 pages
Publication Date: June 10, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

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

The Author: Shallen Anne Chitwood is the recipient of the Literary Titan’s Book Award for her debut novel Big Love and War Horse. She was born and raised in the Midwest. The time she spent on her grandparents’ farm down South and the stories she heard as a young girl influenced her writing and her way of life. After earning her Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University, she moved to Tennessee, where she and her husband live on their own farm. When she isn’t writing stories or poetry, Shallen can be found in the garden or tending to her furry and feathered friends.

Chill--It's Sunday

The Broken Truth: A Thriller by Reavis Wortham #BookReview #ContemporaryWesternFiction

Tucker Snow Thrillers

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

The endless Texas landscape hides all manner of sins…

Special Agent Tucker Snow knows there’s big money roaming the fields under the wide Texas sky—and the cattle rustlers committing large-scale thefts on remote ranches know it, too. But when a prominent local rancher dies unexpectedly and his property is quietly sold to an unknown buyer, Tucker suspects there’s something more sinister going on in his jurisdiction than the usual steal-and-resell racket. Still raw after the tragic death of his wife and young daughter, the lawman can’t bear the thought of more innocent lives destroyed by people whose greed poisons everything around them.

Working alongside his brother, Harley, Tucker uncovers a dark ring of organized crime that goes well beyond cattle rustling—a breed of deception and greed that has turned into a silent killer and will take down anyone who crosses its path. The question is whether Tuck and Harley will be able to shut it down before it finds the people they love the most…

His Review:

Ah the wild West and cattle rustling, memories of my childhood. Rustlers tracking across the prairies, sleeping under the open stars and collecting $10 to $20 a head on the animals delivered to a railhead. But that thieving life still plagues the country today with rustlers bagging up to $1,000 per head for these animals.

Tucker Snow is a special ranger for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assn. He shows up at most stock sales and verifies the shipping tickets with the stock actually brought to market. Trying to catch cattle thieves is a full time and very dangerous job. With a horse trailer full of 10 or 12 head of animals the payoff is over $10,000. Many of these animals may have no brands or other identifying marks and the ownership is declared by possession.

Tucker’s brother Harley often assists him tracking lost shipments. He has a quick wit and even quicker temper. Together they team up to reduce the amount of thefts. The drivers of the getaway trailers are often very skilled. They also utilize decoy vehicles and intervention teams to separate Harley and Tucker from their goals. The banter between them is hilarious as they continue to track the bandits.

Revis has woven this story into a very believable narrative. State and Federal authorities often assist in capturing the thieves. Large-scale profits attract high-level, cold-blooded thieves. Consortiums grow and the biggest thieves get the richest. Can Tucker and Harley thwart these thieves? Enjoy! 5 stars – CE Williams

I read Hard Country last year and really enjoyed the writing style of the author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Contemporary Western Fiction, Organized Crime
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN: 1728256739
ASIN: B0CMC3J2QY
Print Length: 375 pages
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

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

The Author: As a boy, award-winning writer, Reavis Z. Wortham hunted and fished the river bottoms near Chicota, Texas, the inspiration for the fictional setting for The Rock Hole and The Red River Mystery Series. He was born in Paris, Texas, but lived in Dallas. “We grew up in the city and went to school there, but every Friday evening my parents put us in the car and made the 120-mile drive to Chicota, where we truly lived at my grandparents’ place in the country until Sunday evening, when we came back to the city. Our real home was that little scratch farm in Lamar County.”

Author Reavis Z. Wortham’s first novel, The Rock Hole, is described by Kirkus Reviews as “an unpretentious gem written to the hilt and harrowing in its unpredictability.” Kirkus also listed it as one of the “Top 12 Mysteries of 2011.”

[Truncated]

Reavis also penned Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Café. More than 2,500 newspaper and magazine articles bear the byline of this award-winning Texas writer. The Rock Hole was a finalist in the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award presented by the Independent Book Publishers Association, is a member of Mystery Writers of America, the Writers’ League of Texas, International Association of Crime Writers (North American Branch), and International Thriller Writers.

He lives with his wife, Shana, in northeast Texas.

Book Reviews - check

Authors to books to reviewers

Book Reviews - check

Rosepoint Reviews – July Recap – Six Audiobooks of Twelve Reviewed

Rosepoint Reviews - July Recap

Too hot for much in the way of outdoor activities, but I’ve been working on saving rain water as we are charged for every drop out of the faucet and then the same for sewer services, so I hate watering the garden with water that will also be charged for sewer.

One barrel in the front is enough to water a few potted plants decorating the front yard. Then I got a temporary rain barrel for the back and the first time it filled to capacity in one of our upper Midwest T-storms it went over. One hundred gallons is a LOT of water and quickly overwhelmed the overflow at the top. So I reconfigured the base and siphoned the water out in anticipation of another gully washer. It’s going a long way to watering the veggie and flower bed as well as the potted plants on the deck and the deck plants are looking very happy. We used to have dry periods, not this year though. This year, we’ve not just had rain, we’ve had some serious major storms, and looking ahead, August is promising some douzies. We are still cleaning up a couple trees that came down in the fairy garden.

Update on Punkin the Pom: that little stinker is still a challenge now at almost ten months with us. Looks like progress with housetraining, then we regress. She continues to bond with the CE but must still equate me with the dragon that forced her to have another litter. Now she’ll occasionally initiate a walk, running outside then plopping butt down to have the leash attached. (That doesn’t mean a successful potty walk, however.) I have found a new treat she’ll accept (that’s two!) and she is beginning to spend some “social” time near the CE (play time, however, was apparently something she never had nor a clue how to jump up on a couch).

I managed to bake a successful loaf of bread from my third sourdough starter—long story there that includes an attack by a demon squirrel on the starter left on the deck to slow rising—and the separation of 20 grams I’d saved in the fridge for use later. Turned out, later was the next day, but it turned out wonderful, great texture, light and airy, flavorful. Thrilled but now wonder if I could have siphoned off ten grams to save and ten to use.

So yes, July was a blur with the CE’s attention divided and my spending more time in the kitchen. I’m still thinking of a short break, so much going on, it’s been a struggle and I’m relying on more audiobooks to provide content as evidenced by July stats.

I’m still getting books from NetGalley as well as author requests, but July saw more audiobooks than before from my library (six in July!) or half the books reviewed for a total of twelve. As always, links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase or source information.

July Recap

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (audiobook)
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (audiobook)
Knee High by the Fourth of July by Jess Lourey
Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda (audiobook)
City Gone Askew by Matt Cost (CE review)
The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear (audiobook)
Lilac Ink by Jean Grainger
12 Coffins by Lewis Pennington
Middletide by Sarah Crouch (audiobook)
Dark of the Moon by John Sandford (audiobook)
The Road to Roatan by Michael Reisig

Favorite Book of the Month

I actually had two five-star books in July—loved them both—and if I had to choose just one, fail. 12 Coffins was a YA, unusual for me, but more than quirky enough to really keep me glued to the pages. Lilac Ink is by one of my favorite authors and this novel begins a new series—totally captivated by the characters—all so real they came alive on the pages. Thoroughly invested and looking forward to Book 2.

Favorites for July – 12 Coffins by Lewis Pennington

Lilac Ink by Jean Grainger

My Reading Challenges page…Reading Challenges page—I refuse to give up on this page—I will bring it up to date, but at this point, it will probably be Fall. The Goodreads Challenge is still six books behind schedule at 80 of 150. I must be having too much fun somewhere!

Welcome as always to my new subscribers and thank you so much to those of you who continue to monitor, read, and comment on my posts. I appreciate all of you.

Happy Thursday!

The Road To Roatan by Michael Reisig #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

The Road to Key West Book 14

Book Blurb:

Once again, we find our intrepid adventurers, Kansas Stamps and Will Bell, in the midst of a wild Caribbean adventure on an exotic island, and in a whirlwind of extraordinary circumstance – a lost pirate treasure, a godfather villain with horrible pets, vengeful monastery monks, beautiful women who rarely take no for an answer, and an impending hurricane with absolutely no appreciation for timing. Then, when you add the regular wild bunch of Travis Christian, Cody Joe, and Crazy Eddie, you’ve got a serious package of adventure…
Did I mention the crocodiles? Or the drunken bombmaker, or the Lorenzos?

Oh well, you’ll just have to read it to find out….

My Review:

“Remember, you’re not dead until someone can touch your eyeballs and they don’t flinch. Until then, you got a fighting chance. – Crazy Eddie”

Yes, I’m well overdue to review the latest book by one of my favorite authors, this owing to a personal tragedy in his life that shut down any writing until many of his good buddies encouraged him to get started with life again. Fortunately, he managed to find yet another adventure he hadn’t previously given his spell-binding storytelling efforts.

This one has the Hole in The Coral Wall Gang looking to Roatan Island seeking yet another treasure. The gang is populated by our storied band of treasure seekers with equipment and many skills honed from some serious recent military service.

Our two main guys, Will and Kansas gather together Crazy Eddie, Travis, and Cody in a quest to Roatan Island to help a plantation owner with a troublesome neighbor. Of course, one thing leads to another and soon ole Will and Kansas are up to their necks in alligators.

Literally.

There has to be a good side to this crazy adventure and that’s the beautiful daughters from the plantation but the bad side is the neighbor with the caimans who develops a strong dislike for our two boys and decides they must not make it off the island alive. It’s an honor thing, you know.

Now, that’s not going to end well!

For the neighbor, that is,

and that sets up a progressively humorous distraction from romancing the girls and seeking the treasure. (Well, not so funny for him.)

Reisig is back with all the history (which I love reading about), the adventure, humorous twists, non-stop action, and the occasional Rufus proverbial phrases.

“…as Rufus would say, ‘Da Gods, dey get bored and so dey make…interesting coincidences…”’

“Sometimes de gods, dey jus’ lightly brushstroke de situations of humans, jus’ for entertainment. Coincidence be dere favorite color – Rufus”

“Da gods, dey love complication. It be like seasoning on da chicken of life.”

I love the characters of the gang, they are well-developed and offer so much spice to the plot. The antagonist is strongly formed in your mind—you can see his rage, smell the sweat. (But how many serious parts could Alteraz afford to lose?)

Slipped in without your notice with all the tumult is the moral that has you realizing later these guys are stand-up, generous, and incredibly lucky. It’s an impenetrable brotherhood borne of shared perilous history.

Welcome back, Michael!

I received a review 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: American Humorous Fiction, Satire Fiction, General Humorous Fiction
Publisher: Clear Creek Press
ASIN: B0D7SH45YF
Print Length: 175 pages
Publication Date: June 21, 2024
Source: Author
Title Link(s): The Road to Roatan [Amazon]

The Author: Michael Reisig has been writing professionally for 20 years. He is a former Caribbean adventurer turned newspaper editor, award-winning columnist, and best-selling novelist.

After high school and college in Florida, he relocated to the Florida Keys. He established a commercial diving business, got his pilot’s license, and traveled extensively throughout the southern hemisphere, diving, treasure hunting, and adventuring.

Reisig claims he has been thrown out of more countries in the Caribbean Basin that most people ever visit, and he admits that a great many of the situations and the characters in his novels are authentic – but nothing makes a great read like experience…

He now lives in the mountains of Arkansas, where he hunts and fishes, and writes, but he still escapes to the Caribbean for an occasional adventure.

#TuesdayBookBlog