Book Review: The Doll

The Doll by Taylor Stevens is a thriller with heart-racing action, unexpected twists and dangerous turns.

The main character, Vanessa Munroe, can change herself and "become" whatever she needs to be to survive.  She's a fighter. More importantly, she is a survivor. In The Doll, she gets kidnapped and taken into an underground world in Dallas where women and girls are sold, used and abused.  This world and the women forced there are controlled by a man known as the Doll Maker. He captures women and young girls and sells them.

Munroe has not only herself to save, but also a young girl, Neeva, who also has escaped. Munroe doesn't want to be saddled with Neeva, but Munroe knows if she doesn't take Neeva with her, Neeva will either be killed or taken back into slavery.

Munroe is used to violence. Most of her life has been marked by violence. She can speak multiple languages and she knows how to fight and how to survive. She could escape and disappear into the shadows, but she'll have to take Neeva back to the Doll Maker, even though she knows what will happen to her.

Munroe will have to decide between Neeva and someone she dearly loves. I give The Doll a rating of Hel-of-a-Ride.

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This is a dark book. Women and young girls being kidnapped and used in sex trade. It took me a while to realize the book was set, not in some far away country, but in Dallas. But the story moves at a fast clip and will keep you turning pages.

Shelby O'Neill

If you have time, zip over to Bookworm Reviews on Chicksters. Shelby O'Neill wrote a review of Angel Sometimes. Thank you Shelby for the review.

Shelby is a great writer and editor. The local chapter of Sisters in Crime does a Mentor/Mentee event each year. Those more established in publishing mentor up-and-coming authors. This year, Shelby was my mentee. Not that she needed much advice from me.

Shelby's first novel is currently a quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. And she's already hard at work on her next book.

Keep an eye on Shelby, 'cause I think she'll be big.

Tequila Sunset

Tequila Sunset is the second book I've read by Sam Hawken. It's set primarily in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which is just across the border from El Paso. Felipe "Flip" Morales is the main character in this tense story.

Flip, whether he wants to or not, joins the ruthless Azteca gang. Being part of a group or gang is necessary to survive. Over the course of Tequila Sunset, Flip is pulled deeper and deeper into the gang. At the same time, the police and a Mexican federal agent are trying to use him to rat on the Aztecas. They don't care that he's being forced to do things he does not want to do. Things that he will pay dearly for doing. What he wants is peace and a life with his girlfriend Graciela without violence

Nothing could be more dangerous for Flip. He's not only trying to survive, he has family that he needs to protect, as well as Graciela.

There's quite a bit of violence in the book, but that's the way it is in Flip's life. That's the way it is along the border of Mexico.

Tequila Sunset is a captivating and powerful book. And at times, very intense. 
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Disclaimer: Okay, what do you think of the cover? I think it's great. It really fits the story and the setting. My husband and I used to go into Mexico every year. Friends who lived close to the border would go across for dinner or lunch. But we haven't been in years, probably decades. It became too dangerous to go. The last time we went, we got to the border back into the U.S. and the border patrol guy waved us back into the U.S. without looking at our passports. It pays to have a Federal agent in the front seat. If I ever went back to Mexico, I think I'd look for the mask on the cover. I'd hang it on the living room wall. Probably wouldn't have relatives showing up at the front door unexpected.

Pearls and Poison

Pearls and Poison by Duffy Brown is a cozy mystery. As in other books in this series, Reagan Summerside is up to her neck in craziness going on in town. If you've read a Consignment  Shop Mystery, then you know Reagan is like a daisy caught up in a wind storm. She tries not to get involved but, in this case, she has to stand up for her mom.

Reagan's mom is running for alderman and Regan supports her campaign. But then her mother's opponent in the race is poisoned. With her dead, Regan's mom becomes the number one suspect. From there things move fast, from costumes to sneak around in, to friends trying to help, and, of course, there's Boone, the best looking guy in Savannah … and possibly the most dangerous.

I think anyone would like this tale, whether you're from the South or not. I was born in Georgia and lived there ten years. I can relate to this community. But even if I weren't originally a Georgia peach, I would have liked Pearls and Poison. It moves fast, has characters who feel real (and the crazy ones could be my relatives), and is set in Savannah.

If you've never read a Consignment Shop Mystery, Pearls and Poison is a good place to start, but don't blame me if you get addicted.

What She Saw

I downloaded What She Saw from Audible and listened to it on my iPad. The main character, Jenna, has lost her memory. In the opening, she is on a train and has no idea how or why she's there, let alone where she's going. She also has no idea why she has amnesia. When the train stops, she gets off and decides to stay since the area seems a bit familiar. But since she remembers almost nothing, she has to find not only her life, but also herself.

What She Saw moves quickly with unexpected turns and dark secrets. There are no dull moments as the action and plot moves at a fast pace. As Jenna tries to find who she is, she realizes she must be very careful about who she trusts. Some things are familiar, some are not. People who seem to know her are strangers to her.

This is the first Sheila Lowe book I've read, so I can't compare it to others in the Forensic Handwriting Mysteries. This one is a page turner with lots of twists. It's fast-paced and will pull you into Jenna's world, along with her fears, doubts, and, in the end, her strength and determination.

If you like thrillers or suspense, I recommend What She Saw. I give What She Saw a rating of Hel-of-a-Fast-Paced-Thriller

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Disclaimer: Since the title of the book is What She Saw, you're probably wondering what she saw. I can't tell you what she saw except to say she saw what she saw. To find out what she saw, you'll have to read the book yourself. You may be wondering, if she forgot what she saw, then how does she remember that she saw something. Well, that's the way amnesia works. I think. Aw, what do I know. I can't even remember what I had for breakfast.

The Roses Underneath

The Roses Underneath by C.F. Yetman is an historical novel set in a time of war. But it's not about the war. It's about Anna and her daughter Amalia. The Roses Underneath is about survival. And hope … and love and fear and a time period that should not be forgotten.

From the opening paragraph of The Roses Underneath, you see and feel how desperate the conditions are for Anna. She eats a spoonful of lard for her breakfast and brushes her teeth with her finger.  Anna does not make enough for child care, but she does find a spot where Amalia can sit and Anna can see her from her office window. She finally gets a job working for the Americans and is able to make enough money to buy bread for her and Amalia. She is making enough that she and Amalia can survive.

Because she can speak English, she is recruited to help the Americans find and catalog the stolen art. She begins working at the Collecting Point of the American Army's Monuments Men. As she begins to help find stolen art and to translate, she begins to trust the Army architect she is assigned to. But there are others she cannot trust. Her life is better, but it is also tenuous.

The Roses Underneath is not a book to read and forget. It will stay with you. It will touch you. You will see yourself in Anna.  You will worry for Amalia. You will come to know the people in Anna's life. And you will be taken back to a time and a war that you've read about in history books. With The Roses Underneath, you can live that time through Anna. 

I give The Roses Underneath a rating of Hel-of-a-Time.

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FTC Disclaimer: The Roses Underneath was sent to me by C.F. Yetman's publicist. I read the book because it was interesting. I kept reading it because it was captivating. I have a feeling that if you begin reading it, you, too, will keep reading.

Blogathon ATX

Saturday I'll be at Blogathon ATX. I'll be on an Author/Blogger panel from 10 a.m. To 11 a.m.

We'll be talking about blogging, online book reviews and guest bloggers/reviewers.

BlogathonATX is an annual day-long event facilitating blogging, collaboration, tech support and roundtable discussions led by Austin’s brightest blogging experts and social media enthusiasts. All levels welcome! Experienced Blogger? Come join your blogging colleagues and share information on the latest trends. New Blogger? We have a staff dedicated to helping you with technical questions as you ease your way into the blogging waters. Blog curious? Come see what all the fuss is about. While many people come to BlogathonATX to write, just as many come for all the other activities and great socializing.

If you live in the Austin area, come by Tech Ranch Austin for BlogathonATX:

9111 Jollyville Road, Austin, TX 78759

Twitter: @BlogathonATX
Hashtag: #BlogathonATX

Book Review: The President's Hat

Never fear, this is not a review of President Obama's hat. In fact, I've never seen him wear a hat. ThePresident's Hat is a book by Antoine Laurain. The book starts in a Parisian brasserie. An accountant, Daniel Mercier, is astonished to see President Francois Mitterrand sit down to eat at the table next to him. He's even more surprised when Mitterrand leaves, forgetting to take his black felt hat.

From the moment Mercier picks up the hat and puts it on his head, he changes. In fact, his life changes. He sets out with the idea that he will return the hat, but the hat makes such a difference in his life that he can't give it up. He becomes more sure of himself. He moves up in the status of life. The lives of those around him change.

Mercier is not the only one affected by the President's hat. When he loses it, someone else picks it up. And their life changes.

The President's Hat was interesting. I enjoyed watching (or reading) the changes that occur because of a hat. It’s not that the hat is magical. It's more about what the hat symbolizes to each individual who puts it on and then sees themselves differently.

Just under 200 pages, The President's Hat is not a long book. It kept me reading, though. I enjoyed seeing the changes these people underwent, all because of how the hat made them feel and how others saw them.

I give The President's Hat a rating of Hel-of-an-Idea.

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FTC Disclaimer: The President's Hat was sent to me by Antoine Laurain's publicist. This did not affect my review. I thought it was a new twist on character growth. Mercier and the others who wore the hat may have become more confident on their own even if they'd never found the hat. But probably not. Was it actually magical? Read the book and decide for yourself. I'm going to keep my eyes open for lost hats.

Forgiving Effie Beck

Forgiving Effie Beck is Karen Casey Fitzjerrell's second book. Her first book, The 
Dividing Season, won the EPIC Award for Best Historical Fiction. Efe Beck’s story takes place during the Great Depression and is told through multi-points of view, though mostly the reader will “see” the world through the eyes of Mike Lemay, an interviewer for the Federal Writers' Project.

Effie Beck, an elderly ranch woman is reported missing in the first pages of the book.
Mike Lemay is drawn into the search for the woman and discovers she had secrets that
no one knew about. Through Mike’s interviews we learn about other people in town, not all of them lovable, and none of them are paper dolls. They come across as real people with real feelings, problems, joys, and secrets. You can tell Fitzjerrell did her research on the time period and place. She seamlessly settles you into the hearts of the town’s people and into times long gone.

Over the course of the book, people accept Mike as one of their own. He discovers some things he doesn't want to know. But most of all, he discovers truths about himself -- and Jodean Travis, the young woman who rents him a room.I'd like to read another book set in this town with these people. This time is long gone, but so very relevant to today's world.

I give Forgiving Effie Beck a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.

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FTC Disclaimer: This book was sent to me as a Proof. I, on my own, made the decision to review Forgiving Effie Beck. If Fitzjerrell decides to write another book set in this town, I'd like to see the world through Jodean Travis' POV. In fact, I'd like to read a book about her life from when she was born to the time Mike enters her world. And that's the problem with Fitzjerrell's books. She brings her characters to life. They're so real, you want to know more about them, more about this time period. You want her to hurry up and get the next book out. You want her to sit down and get to writing the next book a Hel-of-a-Lot-Faster.

Book Review: A Wilder Rose

A Wilder Rose: Rose Wilder Lane, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Their Little Houses was written by Susan Wittig Albert. It's a really interesting book, for many reasons.

You can tell that Susan did her research. Her writing takes you back to the 1930s, a time of depression and dust storms.  Have you ever read Little House in the Big Woods? If not, have you seen the TV series based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's books? If you can say yes to either question, then I suspect you'll find this book very interesting. It takes you back to that time period and you'll learn about how Laura Ingalls Wilder's books were written and how they came to be published. You also learn about her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. This book is primarily about Rose.

At the front of the book, Susan has written A Note to the Reader. It's only a page and a half long, but once you read it, you'll see how much research Susan did to write this book. All that research paid off because the characters feel as real as if they were still alive today.

I found it fascinating to read about this time period and the relationship between Rose and Laura. No one at that time wrote down conversations or the words that were spoken, but Susan Wittig Albert does a great job of giving them voices that feel true.

I recommend A Wilder Rose and give it a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.

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FTC Disclaimer: Susan emailed to see if I would review her book. I said yes. The fact that she sent me the book did not influence my review. The fact that she's a really good writer influenced me a because I was pretty sure I would enjoy the book. (I was right. I did.) I did not realize how many books she's written until I read the back cover. Take a guess. How many do you think Susan Wittig Albert has written? Whatever you guess, you're probably wrong. She's written "50 adult novels and works of nonfiction, as well as 60+ novels for young adult." Her writing resulted in her book getting a rating of Hel of a Story. Susan herself gets a rating of When-in-the-Hel-does-this-woman-sleep?

The Suicide Shop

The Suicide Shop by Jean Teule (the last name should have an accent mark over the final "e", but I have no clue how to insert that) is book of black humor. Long ago, there used to be a cartoon character who always walked with a black cloud hanging above his head. His sadness was nothing compared to the invisible black clouds that follow these characters. Everyone in the Tuvache family, along with just about everyone in their town, is depressed. Their only joy is The Suicide Shop, which carries a vast array of ways to kill yourself.

No one smiles when they come to the shop, even when they find the perfect-for-them suicide tools.

But then the unthinkable happens. A happy child is born to the Tuvache family and he refuses to step into the darkness and follow his family. He is the oddball in town and an enigma to his family.

This book was almost depressing, as person after person comes into the shop looking for ways to kill themselves. The Tuvaches have an unlimited list of methods to get the job done. And yet, there is Alan's tiny smile and joy that bring light to the shop, much to the chagrin of the family and shoppers.

Can the smile of one boy change his family? His town? Or will he succumb to the doom and gloom?

Amazon  

Barnes &Noble   

Powells  

Book People      

If you like dark humor, you'll probably like this book. I give The Suicide Shop a rating of Hel-of-a-Twist.

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FTC Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by Jean Teule's publicist. I did not request a copy, nor did I offer to do a review. I think most followers of my reviews know that I don’t review a book I don't like. So, you can surmise that I liked the book, odd as it is. While The Suicide Shop is dark humor, it also has a small ray of sunshine, but like most dark stories, there is always an unexpected twist to the story.

Good As Gone

Good As Gone is a thriller by Douglas Corleone. His protagonist is Simon Fisk. The story starts with Simon in France being arrested, but he's not being taken to jail. Instead they take him to a house where he's asked to find a missing girl who's been abducted. They ask him because they know who he is, a former United States Marshall. His own daughter was abducted and after that, he became the person who searched for children who were taken by a parent.

This child, Lindsay Sorkin, was not abducted by a parent, but by a stranger. After talking to the parents, Fisk agrees to take on the case.

At that point, the book races to the end, from town to town, country to country, death to near death. Fisk moves through nightclubs, dark alleys, and his own dark memories. The goal of all this is to find the young girl and save her from a very black future.

The story moves fast and I quickly turned pages. By the end of the book, Fisk is looking not for one person but for two. It is a very unexpected twist that will shock the reader.

Amazon  

Barnes and Noble   

Book People  

Book Woman  

Powells   

I give Good As Gone a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.

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FTC Disclaimer: Good As Gone was sent to me by the author. I read it not because he sent it but because this is not the first Corleone book I've read, so I knew it would be not just a good book, but a captivating one. If I'd known he lived in Hawaii, I would have called him while I was there last year and said, "Hi, it's Hel." And he would have said, "Yes it is. How in the Hel did you get my number?" And I would have said, "Hel-O! It was in the phone book." To which he would have replied, "Like Hel you did. I'm unlisted." And of course I would say, "Well, duh. Of course you're unlisted. You're a big name thriller writer. Hel-O! That's not gonna stop me." There would be silence, then Corleone would say, "Well, US Marshall Simon Fisk will be waiting for you when you get home. No way in Hel will you call me again." And he would be right.

Book Review: Christian Bale

 Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman is an intimate look at the actor, Christian Bale, by his assistant and former publicist, Harrison Cheung, along with reporter Nicola Pittam. According to Cheung, he's the one who rocketed Bale to stardom.

Cheung began an online fan site for Bale long before such sites were the norm. The Internet was still pretty much in its infancy. For years, he focused on Bale and was the driving force behind Bale's rise to stardom. So much so, that Bale eventually hired him. Cheung ended up living and working with Bale for almost ten years.

The book doesn’t focus on Cheung, though. It's a tale of Bale, who doesn’t come across as a particularly likable person. Cheung does, however, show how committed and driven he is. Bale throws himself completely into characters. Doing whatever it took to become that character, including losing incredible amounts of weight when the role called for it. He would change himself into that character. At times, Bale is unable to control his anger, either with his family or on set. He does, also, come across as an actor totally immersed in the characters he played and dedicated to stepping into their skin, no matter the cost to himself.

We are taken from when Christian Bale was a child actor to years later when he took on his most known role as Batman in the movie, The Dark Knight. And I admit that as soon as I finished reading Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman, I loaded my copy of The Dark Knight and watched it. Having a new understanding of the actor, I saw the movie and the role differently. Knowing how completely Christian Bale becomes the character he's playing makes you worry about what kind of toll it takes on him. This book isn't a fan book. Christian doesn't always come across as likable. But in ways, it helps the reader understand Christian. Cheung shows the sad childhood of Bale. Keeping the family afloat and housed fell on Bale's shoulders, even as a child.

This is an interesting book, whether you're in the movie industry or not. For those who are entering the field, it can be a cautionary tale. For those of us who are not, it's a look behind the red curtain and into obsession.

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble 

The Twig Book Shop 

BookWoman 

BooksAMillion 

Powell's 

I give Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.

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Disclaimer: I do not know Christian Bale. I do not know Harrison Cheung, although I did meet him when we were both doing readings at Central Market. It was at that event that he gave me a copy of his book. After reading Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman, I wish I had the money to hire Cheung to promote me and my books. He took Bale from an unknown to a huge star. 

Edge of Black

 The Edge of Black by J.T. Ellison is fast-paced. It moves from Washington to Colorado and back, as Samantha, "Sam", and Xander try to find out who released a pathogen into the Washington Metro, killing three people. Sam and Xander are dating, so they're juggling the start of their relationship with this case that has to be solved before more people die.

This is the second in a series starring Samantha Owens, a forensic pathologist. I, however, felt this book had duo lead characters -- Sam and Xander. The two of them work well together and complement each other with their viewpoints and skills. They have to find out who's behind the release of the pathogen and why. 

They also have to determine whether this was a mass attack or an assassination. And heating on the back burner is the question of whether their relationship will go to the next level.

The Edge of Black is a fast read. Not because it's short, because it's not. It's a fast read because I kept picking it up and reading instead of doing other things that needed to be done.  It has a lot of interesting side characters, action, twists, and just a tad of a growing romance.

Amazon   

Barnes & Noble   

BookPeople   

BookWoman   

Powell's   

The Twig Book Shop   

I give The Edge of Black a rating of Hel-of-a-Situation

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FTC Disclaimer: I did not buy this book. It was sent to me by a publicist. Unfortunately, my office looks like a cyclone hit it and I cannot find the package that it came in. Therefore, I cannot acknowledge that person. Whoever sent it, thank you. I enjoyed the book. Disclaimer #2: A cyclone did not actually hit my office. I don't think there's ever been a cyclone in central Texas. Disclaimer #3: We've had hurricanes hit the coast of Texas, but I believe a cyclone takes place over dry land, not water. Disclaimer #4: I could be wrong on that. The dry land/water thing. Not the book. I liked the book. 

The Bughouse Affair

 The Bughouse Affair, by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, is the first in their Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series. This series is set in the nineteenth century in San Francisco and stars Sabina Carpenter (a former Pinkerton operative) and John Quincannon (an ex-Secret Service agent).

The time period allows for an interesting backdrop to the story. We get to see the Barbary Coast as it was at that time. There are even pirates and what we today would call whore houses, but back then were called houses of joy. And, yes, of course there are murders and robbery and thievery, and even piracy. There's even a man claiming to be Sherlock Holmes. But how can he be Sherlock Holmes? Holmes is dead … isn't he?

Carpenter and Quincannon remind me of Sherlock and Watson. Carpenter and Quincannon are working separate cases and don't work together often, but they employ the same methods of detection and deducing. When their separate cases come together, they join forces to solve both of the cases they were working.

I especially enjoyed seeing a female detective on equal footing of the male, which I suspect would have been unusual in this time period. The story and the characters are believable and strong. It doesn't take long to pick up on the lingo of the time and it's fun to trek along with them through the streets and bowels of early day San Francisco. They go and search many places that I, a wimp, would have avoided.

This has the makings of a new great series. So, if you like historical mysteries, get The Bughouse Affair and get in on it from the beginning.

Amazon   

Barnes & Noble  

BookPeople    

Powell's   

I give The Bughouse Affair by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini a rating of Hel-of-a-Story.

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Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by a publicist with Tor/Forge. I was asked if I would like to read the book. I said yes. I was not asked to write a review. But I did. I have never met Marcia Muller. Nor have I ever met Bill Pronzini. I have never met John Quincannon, nor have I met Sabina Carpenter. Okay, the last two are characters, not real people, although they seemed real as I read their story. In fact, I think perhaps Sabina and I are related. Cousins, once or thrice removed. I mean, we must be. Carpenter was my maiden name. If Muller and Pronzini ever set one of the series' books in Austin, I'll invite Sabina over for tea and barbecue. That's what cousins do.

Book Review: Political Suicide

 Political Suicide by Michael Palmer is one of Palmer's 18 books, 17 of them being medical suspense. This one stars Dr. Lou Welcome, but is a political suspense. Lou's friendship with fellow doctor, Dr. Gary McHugh, gets him caught up in murder, high-level military conspiracy, and the possibility of losing his own life in his determination to save his friend.

What starts out as Lou trying to help a friend quickly turns into a race to save his own life, as well as the lives of many others, including the very people trying to kill him. The action moves at a whiplash pace. Each move that Lou makes seems to bring him closer to the megalomaniac out to rule the world, or at least the men under and around him.

Lou will have to do things and go places he's never done or gone before. He'll have to use his brain in areas having very little to do with medicine, discover he has brawn, and do things he never would have imagined he could do.

If you like fast-paced, action filled, the average man must save the world books, then you'll like Political Suicide by Michael Palmer.

Amazon  

Barnes & Noble  

Book People  

Books A Million   

Powell's   

I give Political Suicide a rating of Hel-of-a-Plot

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Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by Michael Palmer's Marketing Manager. That in no way influenced my review. Even though I'm sure this book was written long ago, it seems to fit perfectly in with these political times and discontents.

Book Review: The Seven Wonders

 The Seven Wonders is the latest in Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series, set in ancient Rome. There are now 13 books in the series. This one, though, instead of being a sequel, is a prequel. It takes readers back to the beginning, or actually, before the beginning of the series.

In The Seven Wonders, the protagonist, Gordianus, is 18 years old and he sets off with Antipater of Sidon as his guide. Their journey takes them on a tour of the Seven Wonders of the World. Of course, as readers, we go along on the journey.

I found the book fascinating. We're taken back to the year 92 B.C. as we travel with Gordianus and Antipater to Greece and Asia Minor to Babylon and Egypt. We see the beginnings of the Olympic Games. We not only see the wonders of the world, we go inside them. We're introduced to the politics of the time.

Discovery by discovery, experience by experience, we follow Gordianus as he comes of age. There are murders; travel by sea, foot and camel; plotting; love; new experiences; and unexpected twists.

What I most enjoyed was seeing the Seven Wonders. I've never seen even one in real life. Through this book, I saw them all and got to see what they looked like centuries ago, both inside and out. I also got to see the beginnings of the Olympics and the people of this time period.

Saylor shows all of this through the action, conversation, and eyes of the characters. He does it without teaching or preaching. For me, it was a page-turner of a book.

Amazon   

Barnes and Noble   

Books A Million  

Powell's Books    

I give The Seven Wonders a rating of Hel-of-a-Book.

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Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the Texas Book Festival. They did not request or expect a review. I received the book because I was the Moderator for Steven Saylor's talk at the Festival. I read it before the Festival and meeting Saylor. Now that I have met him, I can tell you that he is brilliant. It's amazing how much he knows about this time period. He's also very friendly and a great speaker. Go hear him if he ever comes to your town.