The Boys on the Mountain by John Inman

The Boys on the Mountain by John Inman

Publisher: DSP Publications (May 2015)

330 pages, eBook (provided by the publisher for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Graphic Violence, Explicit Sexual Situations, Abuse of Minors

Jim is an author of horror novels, and decides it might be amusing to move to a haunted mansion in the middle of nowhere that used to belong to a deranged film star from the 1930’s, inviting his friends along for a bit of a housewarming gathering, but he finds the house a bit more haunted than he anticipated. This is a ghost story involving a serial killer that preyed on young men, many were just boys really that had been forced by circumstance to sell their bodies in prostitution, and their torture and abuse is described in great, horrifying detail. Jim and his five friends are all gay, as was the original owner of the house, and as part of their constant banter they are continually poking fun at themselves and their own homosexuality. The six gay men determined to free the house of its supernatural guests are what carry this story through. With the exception of one, they have all known each other for a number of years, are very close, and are hilarious when gathered together. Given the subject matter of the main storyline, it’s actually quite disturbing how entertaining this story is. I found the accounts of what happened to the boys very difficult to read, as I imagine many people would, and wished we hadn’t been asked to read so much of it. As the story draws on, it becomes more and more outlandish and flamboyant, the ending taking me completely by surprise—and I’m not sure it was in a good way. Everything aside, the characters—both good and bad—were vibrant, complex creations that leapt off the page at you, holding you captive as they told their story. Interesting read.

Exposed by Carla Cassidy

Exposed by Carla Cassidy

Tough Justice, Episode 1

Publisher: Harlequin Special Releases (January 2016)

85 pages, eBook (provided by the publisher for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Violence

Lara has just finished a dangerous undercover assignment as well as a long stint in a safe house as a result, and she is looking forward to getting back to a more normal existence, something she hopes her new assignment will help her achieve, but her first day on the job ghosts from her past show up to haunt her. Interesting fast-paced detective mystery, but you only get an introductory taste here. This is part one of an eight part serial written by four different authors (each author has written two parts of the serial). Lara and her FBI partner, Nick, are both intriguing characters, clearly they each have things from their pasts they’d rather not rake over again, but I found Nick the more engaging of the two. Lara, the main character, could be quite abrasive and overly secretive—understandably so given her past—but I wished I could have liked her a bit more. You are left on a cliffhanger here, which I normally don’t like, but it is what it is and I definitely want to know what will happen next. I look forward to reading the next installment, Watched!

The Second Seminole War by Dwayne Walker

The Second Seminole War by Dwayne Walker

Native American History, Volume 2

Publisher: Dwayne Walker (November 2015)

62 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

This is a short book about the largely overlooked Second Seminole War of the late 1830’s to early 1840’s. Interesting, factual read with a scholarly textbook feel, identical in style to the first book in the series. Well organized, with extensive Table of Contents in the ebook edition for easy maneuvering. Included a few superfluous attempts at reconstructing dialogue, and was at times a bit repetitious. Nonetheless, a nice little introduction to an often overlooked period of Native American history, which has inspired me to want to read more on the topic!

St. Clair’s Defeat by Dwayne Walker

St. Clair’s Defeat by Dwayne Walker

Native American History, Volume 1

Publisher: Dwayne Walker (October 2015)

80 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

This is a short book about the little known catastrophic defeat of St. Clair and his men at the hands of the Native Americans during the Northwest Indian War in 1791. Interesting, factual read with a scholarly textbook feel. Well organized, with extensive Table of Contents in the ebook edition for easy maneuvering. The text was a bit repetitious at times, and there were a few attempts at reconstructing dialogue that were scattered throughout the text, but they felt  a bit contrived and random, and could have just as well been left out. Nonetheless, a nice little introduction to an often forgotten topic of American history, which has inspired me to want to read more on the topic!

The Châtelet Apprentice by Jean-François Parot

The Châtelet Apprentice by Jean-François Parot

A Nicolas Le Floch Investigation, Book 1

Publisher: Gallic Books (February 2008)

417 pages, eBook (provided by the publisher for review)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Violence and Implied Sexual Situations

Young Nicolas Le Floch has arrived in 1760’s Paris to embark on a career with the city’s police force, his naiveté and inexperience, with not only the city but life in general, make his first investigation more difficult, but his assistant and acquaintances help him along the way as he learns the ways of the city. Entertaining detective mystery set in a particularly seedy time period of Paris’s past. The investigation was interspersed with details of Nicolas’s personal life and detailed descriptions of gourmet food as well as the preparations thereof. The way in which this story was told reminded me a bit of the The Hangman’s Daughter series. Great mystery and I look forward to reading other books in this series!

The Guise of Another by Allen Eskens

The Guise of Another by Allen Eskens

Publisher: Seventh Street Books (October 2015)

274 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $8.33)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Sexual Situations and Violence

Amid a corruption scandal, Detective Alexander Rupert has fallen from grace and finds himself hidden away in the Frauds Unit, spinning his wheels while his fellow officers ostracize him, until an identity theft case falls in his lap that turns out to be a great deal more involved than it would first appear—dragging Alexander into something much bigger than he’d ever imagined. The sole link between this book and the previous one by this author is the secondary character, Max Rupert (Alexander’s brother), who appears in a limited role in both stories. For the most part, this story is told from Alexander’s point-of-view as he moves through the investigation, struggling along the way with the possibility of his wife’s infidelity. Fast-paced, intricately woven mystery that keeps you guessing all the way through. I liked that some of the characters, Alexander included, had concealed motivations that weren’t revealed until near the end of the story. Great read, and I hope to see more stories featuring Detective Max Rupert!

Through the Narrows by Nathanael Green and Evan Ronan

Through the Narrows by Nathanael Green and Evan Ronan

Tomahawk and Saber Series, Book 2

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (September 2015)

272 pages, eBook (borrowed from the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Implied Sexual Situations
and Graphic Violence

Hugh Pyke and Wolf Tongue are off on another thankless mission, this time investigating reports of indian attacks on Millers Town, a shady out-of-the-way place where they encountered scalpers the last time around. Hugh’s strong sense of duty can’t leave the townspeople to their fate when he finds a few good people do in fact reside there. Great story of battling against the odds and steadfast loyalty to a friend even when things get rough. So many interesting, complex characters fill the background of this story. This is a brutal, fast-paced adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through—I couldn’t put it down! Great story and I look forward to the next installment!

OtherWorld by Evan Ronan

OtherWorld by Evan Ronan

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (August 2015)

309 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Aoife enjoys slipping off into her own imaginary world, where her imagination can make anything real—that is until someone hijacks her world and starts to change it for their own purposes. Fun, fast-paced fantasy adventure featuring an unlikely crew of quirky friends to help Aoife along the way. The originality of the characters reminded me a little bit of Harriet the Spy. The mystery/adventure side of the story was very enjoyable and really keeps you on your toes! Good read, with a great message!

Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green

Publisher: Speak (October 2008)

321 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.99)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Sexual Situations

Separated by social strata and the many others reasons childhood friends grow apart, Quentin receives a surprising late night visit from his estranged neighbor, Margo, which takes them on an adventure that lasts into the wee hours of the next morning and hints that a renewal of their childhood friendship may be possible—that is until Quentin discovers the next morning that Margo is missing (and has likely runaway from home). This leads Quentin to become obsessed with finding Margo—a girl I found manipulative, self-important and just generally didn’t like. It may be that my age colored my perception of this story, but I found nearly all of the characters to be both selfish and immature, doing reckless things that I found unimpressive, yet they termed adventurous—but, I think that was kind of the point of this story. This is a book about teens (specifically teens with only one month or less left of high school—kids on the brink of adulthood) and the realization that people are not always who we think they are—a close look at most anyone is likely to disappoint. This delved a little further into teen drama and antics then I found interesting, but I absolutely loved the road trip (broken down hour-by-hour in Part III of the book)—hilarious! The road trip alone, is worth the read! Quick read and I think anyone who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars  and The Perks of Being a Wallflower may enjoy this.

Movie Adaptations:

Paper Towns (2015)

Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams

Movie Rating: PG-13

The Circle by Mario Escobar

The Circle by Mario Escobar

Publisher: Mario Escobar (March 2015)

145 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Graphic Violence

After years of humanitarian work in India, Solomon returns to London with his family to take up a prestigious role at a mental health facility, and as he is familiarizing himself with the files he is drawn to the seemingly forgotten case of a young woman named Maryam, who still resides in the facility. This book is described as a dark psychological thriller, and it certainly is that. If I were to describe this book in a just a few words, I would say creepy and uncomfortably sinister. I wasn’t sure about the beginning, but it really got rolling after a while. Throughout much of the story you are unsure how much of Maryam’s psychosis is an act and how much of it is in fact genuine, while Solomon just keeps digging himself deeper and deeper into the mess she is involved in, ultimately bringing the threat down upon his family as well. Despite its short length, this story is very well-developed, and delivers a suspenseful ride as the mystery unfolds. Entertaining Read!

Language of the Bear by Nathanael Green and Evan Ronan

Language of the Bear by Nathanael Green and Evan Ronan

Tomahawk and Saber Series, Book 1

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (May 2015)

320 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing  and Graphic Violence

Hugh Pyke, a British officer, is forced into an unsavory mission and takes Wolf Tongue, a young Susquehannock warrior, as his guide through the wilderness. This story reminded me of a combination of Last of the Mohicans and the movie Cold Mountain. We are following two men as they make their way through a gritty, unforgiving world full of people who are less noble than the heroes we are following, but at the same time, our heroes are forced to wade into the muck themselves at times, navigating vast grey areas in which it is hard to discern what is right and wrong. Pyke started out very idealistic and a bit naive, but he grew along with the friendship between Wolf Tongue and himself, and it was fun to see their relationship evolve. I loved the constant banter between the two men, and thought it put a nice accent on the action.  I’m usually not too much for battle scenes (which this had in plenty), but with this one I was happy to go along for the ride. The story is fast-paced and really sucks you in from the beginning. You are never sure what is going to get thrown at them next, or how they will get themselves out of the latest dilemma. Great story and I look forward to further adventures with Pyke and Wolf Tongue!

The Traveler by Evan Ronan

The Traveler by Evan Ronan

The Unearthed Series, Book 5

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (April 2015)

318 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing , Violence and Sexual Situations

This time around Eddie is asked to consult on a case with a police department regarding a couple of people who appear to have been frightened to death by a ghost. Eddie is partnered with Detective Christie, an attractive Asian woman that forces him to consider the possibility of settling down in a committed relationship, despite her reluctance to get involved with him. Eddie is dealing with some heavy psychological trauma from his past cases in this one, but it is fun to see how much he has grown as a character throughout this series. The mystery was great, and kept me guessing right up to the end, never sure what was going to get thrown at them next. Very suspenseful! I’m looking forward to further adventures with Eddie in The Dream Machine!

Gypsy Cradle by Andrea Drew

Gypsy Cradle by Andrea Drew

Gypsy Shields Series, Book 2

Publisher: Andrea Drew (April 2015)

207 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Graphic Violence and Sexual Situations

Things seemed to have just settled down for Gypsy, when she receives a message through her paranormal gifts that her boyfriend’s niece (secretly his daughter) is in mortal danger from an unknown source. But, the rocky relationship between the two women isn’t conducive to warning the niece of the danger, and things just get worse from there. There are so many complex characters in this and the interaction between the two couples (Gypsy and Connor/Christie and Ryan) was interesting too. Gripping mystery, and even though you pretty much know who the bad guy is from the beginning, the constant action definitely keeps you in suspense until the end. Entertaining, quick read! I look forward to the next book in the series, Gypsy Curse, as well as the prequel, Gypsy Life ( due out in June).

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

Thomas Cromwell Trilogy, Book 2

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (May 2012)

436 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $8.62)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Violence and Sexual Subject Matter

In this sequel to Wolf Hall, we pick up where we left off, with the downfall of Thomas More, the King turning his attentions from Anne Boleyn to Jane Seymour, and Cromwell beginning to feel less secure in his position and influence with the King. Though I understand his motivations, in this portion of the story Cromwell (especially toward the end) is crossing the line into doing things that are irredeemable. The slow slide into this less noble version of Cromwell is interesting to see develop, and provides a logical version of a complex historical period.  I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this series, The Mirror and the Light, and hope to see it out soon!

Movie/TV Adaptations:

Wolf Hall (TV Mini-Series 2015)

Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, Claire Foy

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Thomas Cromwell Trilogy, Book 1

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (October 2009)

560 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Violence and Sexual Subject Matter

This series is the novelized account of the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, a close advisor to both Cardinal Wosley and King Henry VIII of England. We begin with his humble beginnings, as a runaway blacksmith’s son, and we follow his gradual elevation as his career advances and he becomes the King’s closest advisor. I’m usually not too much for stories of political intrigue (and it was admittedly a little long-winded at times), but these characters really came alive for me. Thomas Cromwell is presented as a deep-thinking academic, with quick wit and a tendency to say things to important people that others wouldn’t dare. His dry sense of humor and his unique view of events makes him a riveting narrator of the goings on at the court of King Henry VIII, and it makes for an entertaining review of a tumultuous time in British history. This first book takes you up through the downfall of Thomas More and has the King beginning to tire of Anne Boleyn. I’m excited to continue on with Bring Up the Bodies!

Movie/TV Adaptations:

Wolf Hall (TV Mini-Series 2015)

Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, Claire Foy

Dead Secret by Richard Milton

Dead Secret by Richard Milton

A Tony Gabriel Paranormal Mystery

Publisher: Richard Milton (June 2011)

372 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Sexual Situations and Violence

After his mother’s death, Tony is left with a strange bequest, that has him questioning just how well he knew his mother. The mysterious collection of items leads him to investigate an organization that is interested in an obscure branch of fortune-telling that uses human skulls to develop their predictions. This was a fast-paced paranormal mystery that reminded me a lot of The Da Vinci Code. The story alternates between three different time period’s narratives. You aren’t quite sure what is real and what’s not, or who you can really trust until the very end, but it is all delivered with just enough real fact to make it entirely believable. Tony is a colorful character, bouncing back and forth between his various lady friends, as he slowly unravels the whole story. Very entertaining read. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending—I felt it was a bit sinister, but perhaps in a good way.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote

Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote

Publisher: Vintage (May 2012)

194 pages, eBook (Purchased Myself for $9.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Ratings:

Violence: Mild-Moderate-Brutal

Swearing: Clean-Light-Filthy

Sexual Content: White-Pink-Red

Summary:

This is a kind of depressing story of a wild and mysterious young lady that captures everyone’s attention, but always seems a few steps behind the happiness that she is seeking, throwing away her chances before she knows she should have held on to that one.

My Thoughts:

This novella is told from the point-of-view of one of her neighbors, and has a very modern feel to it (reminded me of The Great Gatsby). Holly is a wild party girl, that always seems to be up to some sort of antic. Everyone seems in awe of her and the air of mystery around her seems to make her all that much more fascinating. But, the more you get to know about her, the less ideal her life seems. I’m definitely interested to watch the movie now.

Edition Notes:

This collection also includes three short stories: House of Flowers, A Diamond Guitar and A Christmas Memory.

Quotes:

“Even so, my spirits heightened whenever I felt in my pocket the key to this apartment; with all its gloom, it still was a place of my own—” -Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“You can love somebody without it being like that. You keep them a stranger, a stranger who’s a friend.” -Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“—you got to want it to be good and I don’t want it—“-Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“I don’t mean I’d mind being rich and famous. That’s very much on my schedule, and someday I’ll try to get around to it; but if it happens, I’d like to have my ego tagging along. I want to still be me when I wake up one fine morning and have breakfast at Tiffany’s.” -Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“I don’t want to own anything until I know I’ve found the place where me and things belong together.” -Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany’s, then I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name.” -Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“—the average personality reshapes frequently, every few years even our bodies undergo a complete overhaul—desirable or not, it is a natural thing that we should change.” -Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“They would never change because they’d been given their character too soon; which, like sudden riches, leads to a lack of proportion—“-Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“But you can’t give your heart to a wild thing: the more you do, the stronger they get. Until they’re strong enough to run into the woods. Or fly into a tree. Then a taller tree. The the sky. That’s how you’ll end up, Mr. Bell. If you let yourself love a wild thing. You’ll end up looking at the sky.” -Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“—it’s better to look at the sky than live there. Such an empty place; so vague. Just a country where the thunder goes and things disappear.” -Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

“I’m very scared, Buster. Yes, at last. Because it could go on forever. Not knowing what’s yours until you’ve thrown it away.” -Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Movie Adaptations:

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal

Saint Odd by Dean Koontz

Saint Odd by Dean Koontz

Odd Thomas Series, Book 7

Publisher: Bantam (January 2015)

354 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $9.79)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Odd has finally come back home to Pico Mundo, but with the knowledge that his home and the people who live there are threatened by the satanic cultist dark forces that he’s come up against before. An entertaining final adventure of Odd, with glimpses of many of his friends from previous books. A nice ending to the series. I especially liked the hopeful collective sentiment expressed at the end.

The Hysteria by Evan Ronan

The Hysteria by Evan Ronan

The Unearthed Series, Book 4

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (January 2015)

302 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Violence

Eddie is contacted by a rich man to find his missing daughter, and though the case doesn’t exactly jive with Eddie’s area of expertise, he decides to take it because the father tells him he thinks his missing daughter was possessed  . . . and Eddie needs the money. This story really takes things up a notch even from the one that preceded it, and though the action was exciting and riveting, I kind of missed the more low-key investigations that Eddie had done in the first two books. This involved a lot of people with different motivations and you are in the dark for a long while about who is siding with who and who Eddie can really trust. Eddie struggles a lot in this story with things he was forced to do in self-defense. As a character, he just keeps getting more and more interesting and complex, and I can’t wait to see where his next adventure will take him!

Veronica Mars: Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

Veronica Mars, Book 2

Publisher: Vintage (January 2015)

338 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Violence

This time around Veronica is asked to investigate an assault and rape that the victim says happened at the Neptune Grand Hotel, but with little to go on and seemingly no footage on the surveillance tape, it’s hard to tell who’s story is true. Enjoyable mystery that plays out a little predictably at times, but with plenty of unseen twists to make it a great last adventure with Veronica. Logan makes a few appearances, though he’s largely in the background of the story, and even though I don’t think they could ever have a true happily ever after (between their personalities and their careers), I thought the ending is about as close as you get with them, and I found it very satisfying. Great read!

The End of America by Naomi Wolf

The End of America by Naomi Wolf

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing (September 2007)

193 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $8.32)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

I read this book when it first came out, but I recently re-read it and was surprised at how relevant much of the information still is. Though the anecdotes in the book center primarily on things that were relevant at the time, and things from the past; the ten steps that regimes use to dismantle a democracy are laid out so clearly and concisely, that I think that in and of itself makes the book worthy of a read.

You are Destined to be Together Forever by Dean Koontz

You are Destined to be Together Forever by Dean Koontz

Odd Thomas Series, Prequel

Publisher: Bantam (December 2014)

38 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $0.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

This is a short adventure that Odd Thomas and Stormy shared before going to the carnival where the mummy gypsy gave them the fortune that gave this story its title, and to which Odd Thomas refers to throughout the series. A nice little refresher about where things all started before we launch into the final chapter of Odd. Looking forward to Saint Odd, due out later this week!

Gypsy Hunted by Andrea Drew

Gypsy Hunted by Andrea Drew

Gypsy Shields Series, Book 1

Publisher: Andrea Drew (October 2014)

244 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Graphic Violence

After a blind date with a police detective, Gypsy interrupts a kidnapping and is grievously injured rendering her unable to talk, but her psychic/telepathic abilities allow her to contact the detective through her niece and set the investigation going in the right direction while she heals. I wasn’t initially all that keen on the main character here, Gypsy’s stories from her past (in which she seemed wild, irresponsible and selfish) had me sympathizing more with her estranged sister than her, but as the action heated up, the investigation became more front and center, the story less character-driven, and I enjoyed following the adventure as Connor and Gypsy moved along with their search for truth. Great mystery/thriller!   I look forward to the second installment, Gypsy Cradle, due out later this year.

The Professional Freelancer by Rory Scherer

The Professional Freelancer by Rory Scherer

Publisher: Rory Scherer (May 2014)

114 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Sexual References and Graphic Violence

The narrator begins by getting laid off from his job and his luck just keeps getting worse from there. We never learn much about the narrator’s appearance, and are never given his name, but his anonymity lends a kind of extra mystery to the telling of the story. The story alternates between past and present, until we are all caught up to the present situation, and I thought the style of delivery was very engaging—it definitely kept my interest. It was a little heavy on analogies and references at times, but I eventually got used to that and just took it as part of the narrator’s personality. Great novice meets underworld adventure, and I hope to see a second installment!

Effective Immediately by Evan Ronan

Effective Immediately by Evan Ronan

Close of Business Trilogy, Book 2

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (December 2014)

66 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing

This time around the VP is not only unable to email, but has also had his fish stolen, so the narrator must again embark on a workplace investigation. It took me a little longer to get into this one, then with the first installment, but the wrap-up was great, and there were a few really funny parts. Quick read!