Reviews (Others) – The Writer's Grab-Bag

Two Down, Two to (Happily) Go

Prolific author Jina S Bazzar has (as you know by a recent post) finished Shadow Pawn, the thrilling sequel to Shadow Walker. Originally, planned as trilogy, it appears this project may evolve into a quartet. All the better—while we like to see our favorite characters win battles and settle into a “happy ending”, it’s also great to have their entertaining/intriguing stories continue a wee bit longer. 😉

The Shadow books are a fascinating, dark series that takes us to a fantastical realm of treacherous otherworld souls with unsavory goals.

In Shadow Walker, we’re introduced to the resilient, indomitable heroine, Melaina (Mel). Per Jina’s blurb: she lives by one hard rule, and that’s never to mingle with the supernatural community. Driven by fear of discovery, she remains on the fringes of society, occasionally stealing to provide for her aunt and her brother. So when the opportunity to work for a big corporation falls in her lap, Melaina can’t believe her luck. But when life looks too good to be true, it’s because it is. Instead of a dream job, Melaina finds herself facing a blackmailing assassin, with her magic and thieving skills her only salvation. Failure would expose her darkest secret, but success would destroy any chance for a normal life.

Shadow Pawn follows Melaina as she fights the aforementioned forces, who now hold her aunt and brother as pawns. Bradley, a former beau, assists in the quest to find them, a challenging feat given it’s difficult to differentiate between friend and foe. The second book is chockablock full of action, with nary a moment of calm as the two contend with a sundry of devious sorts who will stop at nothing to complete their quest.

Jina is a writer and blogger, as well as mother and baker, and “chocolate fiend” and “coffee enthusiast”, among other wonderful things. I love this quote from Jina: There is no boundary I can’t cross, no limit I can’t push; my mind is my passport, my thoughts my mode of transportation. Kudos to you, my dear.

I became familiar with Jina via the Roxanne Fosch Files trilogy, an urban fantasy series that follows the strong-willed, bewitching Roxanne, a young woman with supernatural abilities who is tracked by government scientists and other supernaturals. To find out more about this talented (and most charming) author, please visit the following:

Blog: https://authorsinspirations.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jina_Bazzar

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jina-bazzar-b4a08967/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jina-S-Bazzar/e/B07B2989VT/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17738345.Jina_S_Bazzar

Sci-Fi in the so High Sky

In terms of catchy headings/titles, a little alliteration or rhyming words can work well. Sometimes they bomb, big time, and sometimes they result in head-scratching or “huh?”. This one popped into my head and refused to leave, so at the top of this post it had to go.

A while ago, I promised to revisit a couple of authors . . . and I always honor pledges. Sean Robins’ latest book—The Gray Emperor: An Epic Space Opera/Parallel Universe Adventure, the seventh in the series—has been garnering great reviews.

★★★★★ “I have to say the ability for this author to tell a story has got me hooked. I fell in love with all the characters and it became a goal to find out what happened.”
★★★★★ “I loved this! I highly recommend this to any fan of pop culture, especially Star Trek fans!”
★★★★★ “This book was a Godsend as I was struggling to find a book to engage me. Sean Robins got it right with this book and I’m super excited for more.”
★★★★★ “Plot and characters are well developed and filled with real emotion. Pleasantly surprising twists!”
★★★★★ “I found myself becoming involved with the characters and caring for them and their struggles.”
★★★★★ “I loved this book! Great story, great characters, awesome movie references and humor.”
★★★★★ “This author is very talented, grabbed and held my interest.”

My own one-sentence review: A quirky and fun read with engaging characters and thrilling sky-high battle scenes.

For those not in the know, in The Gray Emperor, ever staunch General Maada leads his fleet to the White Republic universe, where the Xenoakakies rule with an iron fist. There, he encounters a few old friends, as well as some new foes, including the Death Angel, the legendary enemy pilot who’s killed the general’s doppelganger.

While Maada has been through his fair share of dangerous and/or doomed battles, this one takes him into an entirely different realm. The resolute insects’ hold on this universe seems unshakable, and their fleet dwarfs the general’s in vast numbers and power. But Maada is indomitable and will fight, whatever the cost.

Maada, flying the Crimson Deathbringer off the ground and towards the approaching enemy fleet, checked his tactical display. Forty-six thousand space fighters from seven different species were following him. He had led the forces under his command into battle countless times, but this was the first time he was in command of an allied force fighting an aggressor with the entire galaxy’s survival at stake. That thought filled his chest with fierce pride.

He had been in this position before, fighting first the Volts, then Father, and later the White Republic’s navy to save billions, but on both those occasions Jim had been in command. This, however, was his fleet, and it would be his victory.

Along for the electrifying ride: Jim Harrison the protagonist and narrator for all the books in the series, Tarq the jokester, and Xornaa the femme fatale mercenary and Xortaag spy.

For those not familiar with Sean, he’s a huge fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Star Trek. He’s also a university/college level English teacher who has lived and worked in different countries. To find out more, please check out Sean and his new book at:

https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Robins/e/B07PS1116K%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/18999889.Sean_Robins

https://www.audible.ca/search?searchAuthor=Sean+Robins

https://www.facebook.com/seanrobins300/

https://seanrobins73.wixsite.com/website

High-Five to # 5

Jina S Bazaar’s fifth book, From Fame to Ruin, is set to release on December 21^st – a standalone romantic thriller/suspense novel.

As the [lucky] editor, I got first dibs re reading it (okay, other than the beta readers and whatnot). I was glued to the story. It’s so good, I have to give it five thumbs up.

Known for fantasy (like the Roxanne Fosch series), Jina said it was “incredibly easy to switch genres and writing style”. Kudos. That’s not an easy feat.

I don’t want to give a lot away; Jina can do that with her marketing and promotion strategies, when the time comes. But it’s set in Brazil (a luscious location) and revolves around the music world and the various people that reside within that oft turbulent environment. Love at first sight does exist. So does love lost. The characters are dynamic, as is the compelling storyline; like a mystery, it’s filled with sensational twists and turns, and a wonderful “whodunit” component.

An entertaining and thrilling read, to be sure!

(Write another, Jina . . . please!)

https://www.goodreads.com/…/58827418-from-fame-to-ruin

https://www.amazon.com/-ebook/dp/B09HSGMFYC

https://authorsinspirations.wordpress.com/

Review: The Scarlet Queen by Sean Robins

It’s time for another Sean Robins review. Our prolific writer has penned another book, The Scarlet Queen, the prequel to the well-received The Crimson Deathbringer series. This time, we follow beautiful Xornaa, a “femme fatale mercenary”—and Xortaag spy—who becomes involved in time traveling with the intriguing if not unique Klatzo, creator of the time machine. In addition to (expected and desired) engaging battles, there are more life-saving episodes (but no spoiler alerts as to outcomes).

There are references to characters from the series (like Tarq the impassioned prankster and Maada the dogged general), which bring back welcome memories of those other exhilarating stories and danger-fraught and oft crazy adventures.

Here’s a little taste:

Up until then, I still had a faint hope that we could make it to the jump point, but it evaporated with the arrival of the new enemy ships. I closed my eyes, let out a long low sigh, and covered my face in defeat. The thought that everything I’d done, including inventing a freaking time machine, had been for naught stabbed at my heart.

I clenched my fist so tightly that my hands started shaking as a vein began to pulse in my forehead. Then I heard my doppelgangers shouting in excitement. I looked at my tactical display and, in sheer astonishment, realized the new ships were shooting at their own space fighters.

I blinked and checked my tactical display again to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me. Nope. It was real.

Two of the pursuing space fighters were hit before their pilots realized what was happening. The other two broke and flew in opposite directions, but each had three vessels on their six, and I was certain even their pilots knew they were doomed. They threw their space fighters up and down, left and right, and tried to avoid the incoming fire, but they joined their dead comrades in less than two minutes.

What the hell is going on?!

What the hell indeed? You’ll just have to read The Scarlet Queen to discover what happens!

For those not yet familiar with Sean, he’s a huge fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Star Trek. He’s also a university/college level English teacher who has lived and worked in different countries. To find out more, please check out Sean and his new book out at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Scarlet-Queen-Adventure-Crimson-Deathbringer-ebook/dp/B091FMTSX4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+scarlet+queen&qid=1625919260&s=books&sr=1-1

Twitter: @seanrobins300

Facebook: facebook.com/seanrobins300

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18999889.Sean_Robins

Rating:

Review: The Silver Timeship by Sean Robins (The Crimson Deathbringer Series Book 4)

Sean Robin’s heroes and principals are back—Jim, Kurt, Xorgaana, Maada, Tarq—to save the universe before it’s too late! Can they <shiver, shudder, gasp> do it?

They can if Jim, the ego-heavy protagonist, has anything to say about it—once he gets through licking his wounds, of course. Kurt, Jim’s best friend, has no qualms about assisting. Stunning, mind-reading Xornaa’s all in; so are prankster Tarq and former nemesis, General Maada. And we have a sharp-witted newcomer, the beautiful Benedita, who flies a silver timeship (thus adding an interesting dimension, in more ways than one).

For the first time in a very, very long while, Benedita allowed herself to hope. Jim, Tarq, Maada, Kurt, and Xornaa were legends (especially Maada, that man was an apex predator). Together, they’d defeated the Volts, and they would go on to overcome more sinister threats in the future. If anyone could stop the Ghost Fleet, it was them. She might be able to pull this off, after all, which meant Diogo, Bia and Belinha wouldn’t die a horrible death. Of course, without the Time Engine, she was trapped here and would never see them again, but just knowing that they’d be alive and well was enough.

An odd array of “soldiers”, they set off to set things right. En route, they encounter a sundry of curious characters, including Mother, an AI who turns out to be anything but maternal. You want to talk about a run for your money, er, life, er . . .

The fourth in the Crimson Deathbringer series, The Silver Timeship, delivers . . . action, drama (of several sorts), and the usual wackiness. There are a few nail-biting battles, where it appears that victory—and the fate of the illustrious universe—might belong to either side.

Overall, The Silver Timeship is a fun ride. You’ll not want to put down the book until you know the outcome: did they or didn’t they?

A definite 4 out of 5.

And, just so you fans are aware, coming in the not-too-distant future (but who really knows what “future” entails when time travel’s involved), is The Scarlet Queen. It’s a prequel and features a few of your favorite characters’ adventures before the Xortaag invasion of Earth. There will also be one called The White Republic, but I’ll leave you with a bit of mystery as to what that one entails.

You can find Sean Robins on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Robins) and Twitter (@seanrobins300) and Facebook (facebook.com/seanrobins300).

For those not yet familiar with Sean, he is a huge fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Star Trek. He’s also a university/college level English teacher who has lived and worked in five different countries( like Canada, eh?). He’s met people from all around the world, and his parents and wife are from different backgrounds—hence, diversity as a major theme in his novels.

Becoming Bulletproof – Part 2

Per the previous post, I wanted to share a [sort of] review of a book—Becoming Bulletproof by Evy Poumpouras—one I’d label both enlightening and engaging.

As mentioned, it was given to me by a friend who understands what “space/place” I’m in these days and thought it might serve of value. It has, as it’s certainly giving me food for thought.

Besides giving us a bit of background as to how she became a Secret Service Agent, and what that entailed, Evy provides guidance on how to “protect yourself / read people / influence situations / live fearlessly / become bulletproof” (per the back of the book jacket). Sounds good—is good.

Divided into three sections/parts, we have “Protection”, “Reading People”, and “Influence”.

There are, for example, three types of fear: flight, fight, freeze. I tend to embrace fight mode, though on the odd occasion, I might freeze. Speaking of fight, you’ll find information on how to learn to fight; i.e. know your limitations, have a plan, maintain a reality check.

What else might you learn? How to better secure your life. “Whether at home, online, or out in public, you’ll have the strategies you need to keep your property, possessions, and information safe.” Who doesn’t want to know how to do that?

I particularly liked Part Two, with chapters on how to read people, via diagrams as well as descriptions, and how to determine what people are truly saying, via verbal red flags.

As well as being enlightening and engaging, Becoming Bulletproof is a good, solid, straightforward read. Need I say more?

Review: THE BLACK FLEET – The Crimson Deathbringer Book Three (Sean Robins)

The third book in the series, The Black Fleet, continues to satisfy. It’s not quite as complex perhaps as the previous two (The Crimson Deathbringer and The Golden Viper), but it still delivers—with brisk action, campy humor, and the crazy cast we’ve grown so fond of. They abound with zealousness (or is that insanity?). The threat this time deals with the fate of the future. Scary!

There’s protagonist Major Jim Harrison—with new wife, Ella, a career military woman—and his nemesis/alter-ego, Venom. Jim’s still an ace fighter pilot but is also the author of well-selling autobiographies; not only have they granted him a certain level of fame but have bolstered an ego that was rather big to begin with. Comrade Kurt returns, as does prankster Tarq, but the “insect” seems a little less dynamic than previously. General Maada takes a pivotal role and gives Jim a run for his money, er, space fighter, er . . . .

Sean’s characters are well crafted and alternative planets and lifeforms—like the Akakies, Volts, and Talgonians—are thoroughly detailed. It’s easy to visualize the action in all its explosive fervor. Energy and danger overflow as heroes/heroines and enemies engage in thrilling skirmishes.

I looked at Earth, visible from the front window, and admired its magnificent beauty for the thousandth time. No matter how often I saw Earth from orbit, this view always made my breath catch and my spirit lift. My planet, where all my loved ones lived, including my unborn child. In this wide universe, this was the only place I called home, which incidentally I’d helped save a couple of times, along with the rest of the galaxy.

If pride really were a deadly sin, then I was going straight to hell.

And now new baddies were coming for her. Well, guess who was standing in their way. But first, there was a minor issue I had to deal with.

“You know what, Tarq?” I said conversationally. “It’s just occurred to me you never answered for the seven hundred million humans you got killed.”

Another thrilling ride to be sure, one that leaves you longing for another. Lucky us—there’s a fourth one to come.

A definite 4 out of 5!

What about Sean Robins? As may be evident from the Crimson Deathbringer books, he’s a huge fan of Marvel, Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Star Trek. He’s a university/college-level English teacher and has lived and worked in six different countries, including Canada. Sean has met people from all around the world, which is “probably why my characters look like the bridge crew from Star Trek”.

His favorite author is Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files), which is why he ended up writing in first-person POV with the same light-hearted, funny tone. The fact that his MC’s name is Jim is purely coincidental, and has nothing to do with Captain James Kirk either.

Please check Sean out on Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter (@seanrobins300) and/or Facebook (facebook.com/seanrobins300).

Review: Fishnets and Fire-Eating: A True Story (A Dancer’s Diary in Japan)

My reading frenzy has calmed, but I did have the pleasure of reading Michele E. Northwood’s most entertaining sequel to Fishnets in the Far East: A Dancer’s Diary in Korea. Like the first [personal account] book, the narrative in Fishnets and Fire-Eating: A True Story (A Dancer’s Diary in Japan) is humorous, exciting, and even edifying.

Fire-Eating is an absorbing story, another can’t-put-down read. This time, we follow the “antics” of Michele and three other young women—performers—who travel to Hokkaido to entertain Japanese audiences with their dancing, acrobatics and, yes, fire-eating.

The quartet—Michele, Rachael, Anna, and Claire—encounter a plethora of interesting (if not off-putting) people, sex-crazed men, Yakuza henchmen and chiefs, Nutty Nora, and a crowbar-wielding fellow who has undergone shock therapy.

The appealing storyline also provides wonderful descriptions of culture and customs, locales and history. Japanese words and phrases, interspersed throughout, make us yearn to learn a few more while photos supply we-are-there visuals.

As is human nature when people live together for an extended period, tension and friction (jealousy and envy) rear their unpleasant heads, adding to the women’s various dilemmas. They do manage to work their way through the assorted conflicts, however, though not always well or easily.

One night, not long after they arrive, the women “consult” a Ouija board; spirits appear and impart ominous premonitions/messages. Bizarrely, if not frighteningly, they start to come true.

As in Far East, Michele and her colleagues are not paid well; someone appears to be skimming their wages. Still, despite many challenges, they persevere and life (eating/working) doesn’t seem quite as desperate as it did when Michele was in Korea.

I so enjoyed Fire-Eating, maybe even a little more than Far East; I have to give it 5 out of 5.

For those not familiar with Michele, she’s quite amazing/accomplished. Not only was she a dancer, she was a magician and fire-eater who toured the world for 20+ years in theater, musicals and the circus. She has also been featured in the Guinness Book of Records; during her years in entertainment she was part of the world’s largest Human Mobile while working for the Circus of Horrors as their first “girl inside a bottle”. Other fascinating jobs included working as a knife thrower’s assistant, assisting a midget in his balancing act, and taking part in a Scorpions’ concert grand finale.

Upon retiring from the exciting world of entertainment, she returned to school and acquired a First-Class Honors degree in Modern Languages (English and Spanish).

Michele currently lives in Spain with her Spanish husband, Randy, two dogs and two cats, and serves as an English teacher. She loves living in the countryside with views of the sea and enjoys sitting on the terrace at the end of a long day, looking at the stars and contemplating (sounds divine).

Please check her and her books out at: https://www.amazon.com/Michele-E.-Northwood.

Alo—Ha—Waiiii Once More

The posting assignment from Boss Lady, also known as my BFF Rey, was pushed to the wayside a wee while back, but she was quick to remind me yesterday that we—she and I—hadn’t yet posted about our favorite Hawaiian author or Hawaiian-themed story. In case you’re not familiar with us (the P.I.s from the Triple Threat Investigation Agency), I’m Linda. Unlike Rey, I do read—huh? Oh, sorry Sunshine.

I decided to go with Matthew Kaopio’s Written in the Sky, penned about a decade ago. It’s a gritty, intense tale—YA, interestingly enough—that revolves around young Ikauikalani, or ‘Ikau, a fourteen-year-old who resides among the Ala Moana Park homeless. He does have a “family”, one created over time, but he’s basically on his own. And life far from safe—he encounters unsavory sorts, like a creepy fellow who offers him drugs and propositions and ghastly gang members who taunt and threaten.

The homeless hold a place in my heart and soul, and this book struck a chord with me. The story is a solid, if not eye-opening read. And it’s not for the weak-hearted; living on the streets can be dangerous, and violent.

“How would you like to be branded like cattle?” the leader whispered. “It only hurts for a short time, then you don’t fell a thing.” The boy trembled as the bright-orange cherry came close to his eyelashes. “What, fag, you scared?” With a burst of energy, the boy let out a long, high-pitched scream. He stepped down hard on someone’s foot and managed to break free. Swinging his bag again, he smacked the gang leader in the eye, knocking the cigarette out of his hand. “Assholes!” the boy yelled. He ran toward the snack bar, loud jeer sounding behind him. “We’re not pau with you, faggot!” the leader called after him. “We’ll be back, you’ll see!” The gang hooted and howled as the boy, exhausted, slumped behind a sea-grape tree, wishing with all of his heavy heart for his grandmother to come back and make this nightmare go away.

We learn how this young teen lives—survives—but also [happily] discover there are kind-hearted people to be found. It’s not hard to envision him people-watching, interacting (with wariness), swimming in the brilliant-blue Pacific, pawing through garbage for food and castoffs, searching for money, and standing his ground, regardless of fear.

What makes him different from countless other ill-starred kids? ‘Ikau can view the future via clouds. Upon hearing from his dead grandmother in a dream to locate Mariah Wong (a name he’s not familiar with), ‘Ikau begins a journey to find himself, as well as use his gifts. As he undertakes this odyssey with an owl spirit guide, he learns about Hawaiian culture and traditions, as well as his family’s history.

For those of you unfamiliar with Matthew Kaopio, he became a mouth-brush artist and writer while undergoing rehabilitation for a severe spinal injury that occurred while swimming; it left him a quadriplegic. His first book was Hawaiian Family Legends. I’ve not yet checked it out, but I understand it “combines ancient Hawaiian oral storytelling with modern-day painting”. Written in the Sky, interestingly enough, incorporates Kaopio’s own experiences in Ala Moana Park during the rehabilitation process and is also based on a 2004 Master’s thesis in Pacific Island Studies.

One last fascinating fact: he was also a skilled chanter.

“Chanting and poetry are ways of harnessing the spiritual and magical power of the spoken word.”

Sadly, this talented man is no longer among us, but his wonderful works carry on.

The Stand-Alone Sequel—A Review of Hiding Cracked Glass

I’ve never been one to read a sequel without having read the prequel. Not my preferred reading tactic. So, when I volunteered to read/review Hiding Cracked Glass by fellow blogger and writer (and wearer of numerous hats) James J. Cudney IV, I’d decided to read both—decided, but then didn’t. I was curious to see if a sequel could stand on its own. You know what? It can.

Something I should share—I loathe tales/books that:

stay within a tight timeframe (an afternoon, a day)
provide an overabundance of different characters’ stories or perspectives.

Oddly enough, while Hiding Cracked Glass does both, I didn’t mind either, not one bit. In fact, the way the accounts intertwine and the events flow, it worked very well. There are a also few flashbacks that provide insight into what makes who tick: relationships (affairs, divorces, marriages), vices and illegalities.

A brief summary per our esteemed author:

An ominous blackmail letter appears at an inopportune moment. The recipient’s name is accidentally blurred out upon arrival. Which member of the Glass family is the ruthless missive meant for? In the powerful sequel to Watching Glass Shatter, Olivia is the first to read the nasty threat and assumes it’s meant for her. When the mysterious letter falls into the wrong hands and is read aloud, it throws the entire Glass family into an inescapable trajectory of self-question. Across the span of eight hours, Olivia and her sons contemplate whether to confess their hidden secrets or find a way to bury them forever. Some failed to learn an important lesson last time. Will they determine how to save themselves before it’s too late?

Will they indeed? I won’t provide clues as to the outcome <he, he> but I’m sure, like me, you’ll find yourself riveted as the plot twists and turns through and around the intriguing characters. Olivia Glass is the matriarch, a strong woman, who knows that one son, now deceased, was switched at birth. Now, on the day of her birthday celebration, it appears someone has sent a menacing letter that speaks to revenge . . . a devastating letter that soon becomes known to all.

I rather enjoyed following Olivia’s attempt to unravel the mystery. Who sent the letter? Who might have shared the information re the son’s true lineage? What will transpire as a result? How will the family be impacted? I also liked the afternoon soap opera feel: every character has a story, history, a setback or dilemma. Life is not always designer champagne and long-stemmed roses, no matter how wealthy you are. There are cracks—imperfections—in these “Glasses”.

Jay’s come a long way. He’s always been dedicated and diligent—this is his ninth book in three years!—but he’s also someone who absorbs and applies what he’s learned. He’s always been a good writer, but with Cracked, he’s become a great one.

What can I say but a 5/5. Well done, my friend!

Rating:

Please check out Jay at:

♦ Website: https://jamesjcudney.com/ ♦ Blog: https://thisismytruthnow.com ♦ Amazon: http://bit.ly/JJCIVBooks ♦ Next Chapter: https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/james-j-cudney ♦ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/james-j-cudney

. . . And a quick thank you to Shalini of digitalreadsblogtours.wordpress.com for organizing the blog-book tour. She’s done an amazing job.

Please enter the raffle to obtain a copy of this suspenseful sequel (that can . . . stand alone):

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e5ee1a9220/?

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