Category: Genre

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan

Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Author: Mark T. Sullivan
Pub. Date: 1-May-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

A friend of mine, knowing I love books with a historical setting, highly recommended Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan. Hands down, this is the best historical nonfiction book I have read in several years. Mr. Sullivan takes us through the incredible true story of Pino Lella, as a young man, living in Milan through the last two years of WWII.

At the age of seventeen, Pino Lella is sent by his parents to a Catholic camp for boys in the Italian Alps, near the Swiss border, in order to escape the allied bombing of Milan. Drawing upon his mountaineering skills, he assists the priest in guiding Jews across the Alps into Switzerland and to safety. Upon his eighteenth birthday he will be faced with the draft. Therefore, his parents recall him home to Milan and insist he enlist in the Germany Army. They feel this is the only way he will remain safe, since youths enlisting in the Italian Army are sent directly to the Russian front. Continue reading “Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan”

Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch

Title: Stone Circle
Author: Kate Murdoch
Pub. Date: 1-Dec-2017
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch is a mixture of fantasy, historical fiction and coming-of-age set in Itlay during the 16th century.  It is a fascinating story of a young man’s first steps into adulthood.

Antonius has always known he was special. He can hear others thoughts.  So when he finds out that the local seer, Savinus, is having a trial to accept a new apprentice he is eager to go.  Once Antonius demonstrates his abilities to the seer, there is no question who will be the next apprentice. However, the Conte’s son, who is a major employer of Savinus, also shows a small amount of talent. Rank is everything in this society and the seer is left with no choice but to accept both as apprentices. Continue reading “Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch”

Greatest Enemy by Jason Kasper

Title: Greatest Enemy
Author: Jason Kasper
Pub. Date: Dec. 2017
Rating: 4 Stars

Greatest Enemy by Jason Kasper is book one of the David Rivers series and an explosive way to start. It is a roller coaster ride, full of action and suspense, that will you have rushing to the end.

David Rivers is adrift in life and suffering from PTSD from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq as an Army Ranger. Since his release from the military, he has become an alcoholic with suicidal tendencies and is in desperate need of an intervention. He gets one of sorts, just not in the form he truly needs. He is recruited to join a team of mercenaries because of his experience in BASE jumping. Just the thing an adrenaline junkie needs to stave off the suicide thoughts. Continue reading “Greatest Enemy by Jason Kasper”

High Noon in Hollywood by Warren Adler

Title: High Noon in Hollywood
Author: Warren Adler
Pub. Date: 2017
Rating: 4 Stars

High Noon in Hollywood by Warren Adler is a down and dirty look inside of Tinseltown. It is what is left after the glitz and glitter have been stripped away from the surface and you are left with the seedy under belly of the beast we call Hollywood.

Zane Galvin has made a movie, Drowned Rats, an apt name since it has left him drowning in $5M of debt. To him it seems like every debt collector in Hollywood is after him and he is facing bankruptcy. He will never make another movie again. In addition, Mim, his budding actress girlfriend, is depending on him to jump start her career. Continue reading “High Noon in Hollywood by Warren Adler”

The Lightning Stenography Device by M. F. Sullivan

Title: The Lightning Stenography Device
Author: M. F. Sullivan
Pub. Date: 19-Mar-2018
Rating: 1 Star

The Lightning Stenography Device by M. F. Sullivan was not what I expected. I can sum it up in one word – boring. I tried multiple times to finish. In the end I could not force myself beyond 28% complete. Therefore, it goes to the DNF list with no regrets.

I knew going in the book was classified as literary ; therefore, I expected the pace to be slow and the story thought provoking. I got the slow part, but never in a million years would I count it as thought provoking. Maybe I did not read far enough to get into the real philosophical parts. Continue reading “The Lightning Stenography Device by M. F. Sullivan”

The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller

Title: The Philosopher’s Flight
Author: Tom Miller
Pub. Date: 13-Feb-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller is an alternate history/fantasy work set in the early 20th century. It is a stunning debut novel and appears to be the first book in a series.

In this alternative history, Philosophy, or Empirical Philosophy as it is better known as, is a relatively new branch of science. Those people, mainly women, who are born with this innate ability can move or shape energy to transport people hundreds of miles, send messages instantly across thousands of miles, and fly, among other things, by drawing a sigil. Of course, leave it to the government to turn it into a weapon for war. Continue reading “The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller”

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano

Title: Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions
Author: Mario Giordano
Pub. Date: 6-Mar-2018
Rating: 3.7 stars

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions is the first in a series of murder mysteries by Mario Giordano.  The story is related to the reader by Auntie Poldi’s nephew who is staying with her while he writes, or attempts to write, a book.

The main character, Auntie Poldi, is an eccentric sixty year old German that has recently arrived in Sicily, after the death of her husband, to retire and be near family. Her only goal seems to be to drink herself to death. That is until Valentino Candela, a young man who does odd jobs for her, fails to show up one day to fix her leaky roof.  Unfortunately, Poldi is the one to find him dead, of a gunshot to the head, a few days later. On the spot, she vows to him that she WILL find his killer. Continue reading “Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano”

Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman

Title Ice Wolves
Author: Amie Kaufman
Pub. Date: 27-Mar-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

I am always on the lookout for new fantasy for my 9 year old grandson who reads on a college level. Yes, a college level! Therefore, I was super excited to get an ARC of Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman from the publisher. He enjoys stories about dragons and wolves and after reading it I know he will love the book at much as I do.

The story is set in a world where Scorch Dragons and Ice Wolves are sworn enemies. The last battle between the two is fresh in everyone’s mind. Hence in the port city of Holbard, Ice Wolves are the police force. They are ever on the lookout for dragon spies and are trained and ready to defend the city against the next Scorch Dragon attack. Continue reading “Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman”

My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd

Title: My Name Is Venus Black
Author: Heather Lloyd
Pub. Date: 27-Feb-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd is a thought provoking story of how a young girl commits a horrible crime and yet in so many ways is innocent.  The story is told from two points of view. First and foremost Venus and then secondary by Tessa. At the heart, the story is about family, love and forgiveness.

Venus Black is just thirteen when she is convicted of killing her stepfather. She escapes being tried as an adult – barely. She is sent to a juvenile correction facility to serve her six year sentence. Her brother Leo, a high functioning, autistic child, is kidnapped just days after the crime. He is never found. Once Venus serves her time and is released, she wants two things. First, to start over with a new identity. Second, to find her brother. Continue reading “My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd”

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

Title: As Bright as Heaven
Author: Susan Meissner
Pub. Date: 6-Feb-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner is a poignant story about a young family who moves from a small town in Pennsylvania to Philadelphia to begin a new, and hopefully better, life after the death of their youngest child. The story is told from four points of view, Pauline Bright and her three daughters, Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa.

When Thomas Bright’s Uncle, a permanent bachelor, asks him to move to Philadelphia to learn and take over his funeral pallor business, Tom sees it as a chance to lift his family out of poverty. With much hope, the family relocates and starts their new life. As everyone settles in to their new home in Philadelphia, the Great War in Europe is raging and the United States enters the conflict and Tom is called to serve his country. Not long after, the Spanish Flu makes it way to North America and to the city the Bright’s now call home. Continue reading “As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner”