The Valley Walker by T. W. Dittmer

The Valley Walker by T. W. Dittmer

Publisher: T. W. Dittmer (April 2012)

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

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Sexual Situations and Violence

Teri Altro has been assigned to be part of a drug task force, but she’s barely had time to settle into the position when an attempt is made on her life, luckily Walker is there to thwart it. Walker is a mystical sort of Vietnam War era Jason Bourne, that seems to have the ability to tell the future, as well as excellent fighting skills, and other seemingly magical abilities acquired from his adoptive Hmong family. The present situation with Altro is tied in with things that happened during the Vietnam War, and the stories of past and present were seamlessly woven into a great story about honor and family ties. I found the war flashbacks particularly compelling, and Walker was such an interesting character. Altro was a little harder to like, but she was very authentically painted, as a driven career woman. Great story!

Daisy Miller by Henry James

Daisy Miller by Henry James

Publisher: Seahorse Publishing (2013)

62 pages, eBook (Purchased Myself for $0.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Ratings:

Violence: Mild-Moderate-Brutal

Swearing: Clean-Light-Filthy

Sexual Content: White-Pink-Red

Summary:

While paying a visit to his aunt, Mr. Winterbourne meets a young American girl that he’s not quite sure what to make of, but he finds her and her habits very intriguing.

My Thoughts:

Winterbourne seems almost consumed by trying to puzzle out Daisy’s degree of innocence, and the degree to which she understands her departure from social norms and the effects of her actions. Daisy seems to be one of those young girls that enjoys toying with people, and she seems to have a very modern view of the liberties she should be allowed and the company she should be allowed to keep. It is as if you took a modern teenage girl and stuck her in the middle of Victorian society—she has no reverence for the societal rules of the time, and flies about doing just as she pleases, going anywhere she wants, unchaperoned with men, at all times of night—for the time period her behavior is very shocking, but I have a feeling she never really did anything a modern person would find objectionable. However, we are looking at things from Winterbourne’s point-of-view and it is his opinion of her that is the focus of this story. 

Edition Notes:

This Seahorse ebook edition includes an author’s biography at the end of the text. The main text is very well organized for maneuverability within the text and pleasingly organized. A decent reading copy for the price.

Quotes:

“—he was vexed with himself that, by instinct, he should not appreciate her justly.” -Henry James, Daisy Miller

“I like a lady to be exclusive; I’m dying to be exclusive myself.” -Henry James, Daisy Miller

“That’s all I want—a little fuss!” -Henry James, Daisy Miller

“Of course a man may know everyone. Men are welcome to the privilege!” -Henry James, Daisy Miller

“—American women—the pretty ones, and this gave a largeness to the axiom—were at once the most exacting in the world and the least endowed with a sense of indebtedness.” -Henry James, Daisy Miller

“He is not a gentleman—he is only a clever imitation of one.” -Henry James, Daisy Miller

The Accused and the Damned by Evan Ronan

The Accused and the Damned by Evan Ronan

The Unearthed Series, Book 3

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (October 2014)

294 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Violence

After an ambiguous 911 call, a woman is found murdered in her own home, the husband claiming it was a ghost that killed her, and Eddie is called in through a mutual acquaintance to investigate the matter—as an expert witness for the defense. An interesting melding of a paranormal case with the legalities of a trial. As always Eddie takes you right up to the wire, before he gets his big break in the case and puts it all together. Fast-paced and riveting. After working in his brother’s shadow, then awkwardly trying to fill his brother’s shoes, I felt Eddie really came into his own in this investigation, developing his own style as an investigator and I can’t wait to see where he goes from here!

In the Blood by Evan Ronan

In the Blood by Evan Ronan

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (October 2014)

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

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Violence

The world has been afflicted by a virus that turns the infected into cannibalistic zombies. When Jimmy becomes infected, he scrambles to prepare his eldest daughter, Sally, for survival without him, before he is completely taken over by the illness. Interesting zombie tale, told from both the viewpoint of the zombie and the surviving angsty daughter. Definitely makes you think about what you might be capable of, if your survival was threatened, and your actions were no longer restricted by the rules of society. Grim and forbidding.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 
by Washington Irving

Publisher: Open Road (September 2014)

40 pages, eBook

Where I Got It: Free on Amazon

Story Rating: 5 Stars

Content Ratings:

Violence: Mild-Moderate-Brutal

Swearing: Clean-Light-Filthy

Sexual Content: White-Pink-Red

Vivid - Mystical - Charming

Summary:

Ichabod Crane, the local schoolmaster, is vying for the attention of one of the popular young ladies of the village, but after a disappointing night at a gathering, local superstitious stories of a headless horseman become much more real on his ride home.

My Thoughts:

This story is very descriptive of place and setting, without much action from the people in it. Extensive setup for a little bit of action, but a good story nonetheless. The way it is told, is like a bit of gossip being passed along.

Quotes:

“If ever I should wish for a retreat whither I might steal form the world and its distractions, and dream quietly away the remnant of a troubled life, I know of none more promising than this little valley.” -Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

“—hurrying along in the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind.” -Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

“—he that runs races with goblin troopers is likely to have rough riding of it.” -Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Movie Adaptations:

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Michael Gambon

Movie Rating: R

My Rating: 5 Stars

Adaption: Verbatim-Tweaked-Veiled

Eye Candy: Plain-Pretty-Sultry

Because She Loves Me by Mark Edwards

Because She Loves Me by Mark Edwards

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (September 2014)

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

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Sexual Situations and Violence

Andrew stumbled upon Charlie just when he was wishing for a girlfriend, his solitary life as a work-from-home freelancer had gotten a bit old and he was ready for a change, but he seemed to stumble into a bit of bad luck around the same time and soon his friends and acquaintances seemed affected with the same bad luck. Riveting stalker-type psychological thriller, with a twist at the end. For me the twist came way out of left field and I’m not sure I really made it all the way around the corner in believing the explanation at the end—things just couldn’t be made clean for me—too much taint lying around. Other than the wrap-up, it was a really good read—fast-paced, ambiguous motivations in many quarters, with a slow reveal on the mystery portion. Now, I’m anxious to read The Magpies!

Stranger at Sunset by Eden Baylee

Stranger at Sunset by Eden Baylee

Publisher: lowercase publishing (June 2014)

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

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Sexual Situations and Violence

Sunset Villa, a small resort in Jamaica, came back from the destruction of Hurricane Sandy only to be slammed by a bad review from a travel writer, so the owners invite the reviewer back (hoping to get a more favorable review) along with a number of friends for support, psychiatrist Kate Hampton among them. This starts out like your average mystery, and the way it was setup reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie. There are a fixed group of people staying at the resort and you are introduced to them all, seeing a bit of their interactions and how some are connected to others—people here and there are behaving a bit strangely—and then this story takes a very dark turn. It’s unlike anything I’ve read. The story is told from multiple viewpoints (some anonymous) over the course of the book, providing little snippets of the motivations of each of the characters—and I loved the emphasis on people’s motivations. Intriguing psychological thriller!