Riddle by Elizabeth Newton

Genre: Romance Thriller

Overall Rating: 4 stars

Editing and Proofreading: 3/5

Linguistics and Stylistics: 4/5

Plot Development: 4/5

Plot Pacing: 4/5

Character Development: 6/5

Rating: 18+ for profanity, violence, and sexual situations

If you interview every inmate in any given prison, I would estimate that nine out of ten would tell you they were innocent, they were framed, that evidence was planted, that the defense lawyer was incompetent, and on and on. While no one believes that this many people are wrongfully convicted, it does occasionally happen. In Riddle by Elizabeth N. Newton, Kort, a twenty-ish man of Native American origin, is returning to his home town of Riddle (in an unnamed state but hinted to be Nebraska) after serving eight years for manslaughter. He had been wrongfully convicted of killing his girlfriend Desiree when they were teenagers. Having accepted his life circumstances and determined to move on, Kort immediately sets out to put the past behind him by getting a job and trying to stay out of trouble, knowing that any attempts to clear his name would be useless. When a beautiful drifter named Grace’s car breaks down in Riddle, leaving her stranded, the two immediately strike up a friendship, which quickly leads to a romance, and she encourages him to do all he can to prove his innocence. Unfortunately, neither of them can enjoy any peace due to the constant harassment and stalking by folks in town who, well, I’ll just say have their own reasons to stalk and harass. It’s only when a gruesome death occurs that Kort snaps out of his denial and realizes just how far some people in Riddle will go to get their revenge and satisfy their own agendas.

None of these reasons have to do with Kort’s heritage. In the opening scene, Kort experiences a juvenile racist taunt, and the first couple of chapters will have you believe that Kort was set up because he was the only native American in town. Indeed, Kort believes that this was one of the reasons he was accused of the murder: a close-minded, racist town wanted rid of its only Native American inhabitant (and for the record, I am Cherokee and have never experienced any anti-Native sentiments. I’m not saying or implying that prejudices don’t exist, and in her introduction, Mrs. Newton informs the reader that before Congress passed legislation outlawing it, Native American children were routinely forcibly removed from their families in an attempt to “civilize” them. I was not aware of this before. In this novel, it’s not clear why the inhabitants of Riddle are specifically prejudiced against Native Americans but no other race). However, Kort’s ethnicity is barely mentioned after this scene. He was the last person seen with Desiree before her death, he had had brushes with the law in the past, he had a very strong potential motive (which I won’t give away here), there was DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene and the struggle, and Kort himself confessed that he and Desiree had an argument right before her death. It seems pretty reasonable to me that he would be convicted of her murder and that people would be uncomfortable in his presence. However, I can understand Kort’s frustration at the injustice. For the town pariah, Kort has a lot of supporters: his new boss, Frank; his friend Jack, who runs the diner; his parole officer, Jeri; even the detective who investigated the murder who had his doubts from the beginning. He never appears to have any shortage of company.The other characters are superbly developed and you feel for them (even the bad guys). Kort’s relationship with his adoptive mother changes profoundly over the course of the novel, and these changes make a great subplot.

The best part of the book is the blooming romance between Kort and Grace, the ultimate “us against the world” couple who are determined to beat the odds, overcome their past (Grace has more baggage than an airport carousel but still manages to remain strong, independent, and self-confident. I wish I could pull her out the novel just so I can have a conversation with her), and make a new life for themselves. I would love to see a sequel to this book just to know how things for them turned out.

Riddle is not a “whodunit” murder mystery. It becomes clear fairly quickly who really should have been in prison for the murder. The real suspense comes from the inter-character drama. The novel uses a sequence of shocking scenes rather than plot twists to create its suspense. The ending, while thoroughly satisfying and has its own shocking scene, contains no major surprises. It’s like being in a movie theater, watching a slasher film, and watching someone walk into a room where you (the viewer) know a killer is hiding, It’s a little tough not to shout “don’t go in there!” Riddle is more of a drop tower than a roller coaster; you will float merrily along and then suddenly a bombshell is dropped.

Riddle does get repetitive at times. It seems that in every chapters, someone is apologizing, making sure someone is ok, or “has a bad feeling” about something. In the grand scheme of the novel, though, this is not that big of a deal. Nor is this an error per se; excessive repetition just happens to be a personal pet peeve of mine, and that’s not the author’s fault. Riddle can also benefit from a quick re-edit to fix some punctuation errors and typos, and from a reformatting. But please don’t let this discourage you from buying this treat of a book. These are things that are easily fixable and probably will be in a short time, and even if they’re not, Riddle is still an amazing read.

To check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Riddle-Elizabeth-Horton-Newton-ebook/dp/B0100NPW1S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1441501796&sr=1-1&keywords=riddle

Transitory by Ian Williams

Genre: Science Fiction and Thriller

Overall Rating: 5 stars

Editing and Proofing: 5/5

Linguistics and Stylistics: 4.5/5

Plot Development: 5/5

Plot Pacing: 4.5/5

Character Development: 5/5

If I asked some people where they would like to go for their next vacation, people may name places like Hawaii, Italy, Florida, Tahiti, or any number of places. No one would say ‘to a faraway planet where I can visit my past memories.’ The concept of easy travel between Earth and other planets is strange to us, but in Transitory, Ian Williams makes it seem like an everyday occurrence, as simple as a commute to and from work.

Transitory tells the story of Nathan Maddox, CEO of a mining company that searches space for new mines. He and his coworker Helen attend a festival on another planet where people can travel back and revisit old memories. While Nate partakes in the festivities, with a bodyguard named Cameron and a guide named L’Armin in tow, Helen stays behind. When Nate’s view of his most precious memories are marred by a mysterious intruder, Nate realizes that he has become a target for an intergalactic assassination attempt. Even worse, he suspects that someone he has trusted his whole life is behind the plan to take his life. Nate realizes that he must stop the mysterious would-be assassin before he dies in his past memories on another planet (where would THAT funeral be held?).

Ian’s ability to effectively use language to describe, characterize, and narrate is superb. Although the esoteric descriptions can slow down reading at times, they in no way distract from the enjoyment of the story. Ian is highly skilled at narrating a scene to make the reader as if he or she is actually experiencing the events him- or herself. The characters are far from flat. They are very well-characterized to the point where you feel you know them personally; Nate can be your coworker or your drinking buddy. My personal favorite character is L’Armin, whose duties as host and tour guide do not stop him from challenging Nate’s long-held beliefs, drilled into him since childhood by his relentlessly ambitious, workaholic father.

L’Armin gives Nate several points to consider. The first is exploiting others for personal gain and profit. When Nate mentions to L’Armin that his company mines space rocks and actively seeks out new sources, L’Armin, whose race had once been enslaved, L’Armin clearly expresses his disapproval. Another is respect for other cultures and races, even if they are from another planet. In one unforgettable scene, L’Armin takes Nate and Helen to visit what was once the home land of L’Armin’s race. Nate is shocked at the sight of the deserted wasteland that was once his friend’s home.

Another theme that recurs throughout the story is trust versus betrayal. By the end of his journey through his past memories, Nate is so confused that doesn’t know whom to trust, and even briefly believes Helen is behind the plot. The interaction (apparently peaceful) between humans and aliens sends a strong social message of peace and tolerance.

I first read Transitory almost a year ago (this post has been transferred from another blog site) and it is still one of my science fiction favorites. Check it out today.

To check out Transitory at the Amazon store: http://www.amazon.com/Transitory-Ian-Williams-ebook/dp/B00LACOVU2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413420078&sr=8-1&keywords=transitory

No Motive for Murder by Doug Hantke

Genre: Suspense/Thriller

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars

Editing/Proofreading: 3/5

Stylistics/Linguistics: 3/5

Plot Development: 4/5

Plot Pacing: 5/5

Character Development: 3/5

Rating: 18+ for violence, profanity, and sexual scenes

Please allow me to start by saying that No Motive for Murder is so thrilling and addictive that I devoured the whole thing in one day. Although in terms of writing it has some serious flaws (which I’ll address momentarily), the story line is so engrossing that I have to recommend it anyways. Having previously read Fitness Guru, I am familiar enough with Hantke’s methods that i just knew there would be plenty of plot twists and a shock-you-to-your-core ending. I think this book is like one of those overplayed, earworm-inducing songs that you blast at full volume when you’re driving alone: it’s awesomely bad.

The story follows Dr. Gary Schaade, a psychologist famous for his books on serial killers. He is interested in how a serial killer’s mind work, but repeated interviews with death row inmates have as of yet failed to lead him to the holy-grail solution. While reading, one thinks that he doesn’t really want to find a solution so much as he wants fresh material for his research and his bestselling books. Gary continuously receives recorded “confessions” from people claiming to be serial killers, but most he is able to dismiss as fakes from wannabes seeking fifteen minutes of fame. When he gets a recording from someone calling himself Michael, he has his doubts, but when the confessions become more personal, Gary faces a moral dilemma: is he willing to be an accessory to murder and jeopardize the safety of those around him for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish a connection with a real serial killer (who is clearly obsessed with Gary and desires nothing more than to be one of his research subjects)?

The subplot of Gary’s hanging-by-a-thread marriage to his wife, Sharon, was somewhat of a distraction. Although it does later become important to the plot, I feel Hantke could have achieved the same ending without having every slight provocation turn into an all-out screaming match. After a while, it’s like “We get it. They can barely stand each other. How many times do they have to call each other horrible names?” However, in their inner dialogue it is clear that the two still have feelings for each other and aren’t quite ready to give up. Things turn complicated when both are tempted by attractive acquaintances.The main plot contains rollercoaster-thrilling twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat, which is capped off by a superb ending. I do wish Hantke hadn’t relied so much on wild coincidences (identical vehicles, another person wearing the same clothing, a car accident involving the same person at the same intersection, etc.); I know he can do better than that.

Some of the characters rubbed me the wrong way and were developed inconsistently. Gary comes across as being as soulless and callous as the serial killers he studies. He seems to have little concern for his clients, and although he claims to adore his wife, he makes almost no attempt to save their marriage or try to see things from her perspective. The reader can see he gets a thrill from Michael’s confessions (including one where Michael described killing a homeless burn victim that he was falling in love with, and another where he spiked a classmate’s drink with sedatives for no other reason than the amusement of another classmate. The reader soon gets the distinct impression that Michael’s sole purpose is to screw with Gary’s mind), but is sickened and traumatized after witnessing a fatal car accident. And the story hints that part of the reason for the tension between him and Sharon was their childlessness. Gary doesn’t seem to being overly eager to be a father, but fantasizes a happy marriage with a promiscuous client who wants a husband solely for the purpose of having a child and seems to have no problem being a homewrecker. Sharon, for her part, is not much better.She comes across as immature and temperamental, making the reader glad she IS childless. It’s just hard to feel any sympathy for any of the characters.

There are editorial errors sprinkled throughout, as well as lots of awkward wording. They aren’t blatant, but there are enough of them that I would suggest that Hantke do another round of copy-editing.With some editorial corrections, plot and characterizations adjustments, No Motive for Murder could be a masterpiece. My suggestion to the author is to do another round of editing, and my suggestion to the reader is to ignore aforementioned flaws and just dig into the story. Even if he doesn’t, I for one will still continue to read anything he writes. Just like I will continue to crank up the Macarena when it comes on the radio.

To check it out: http://www.amazon.com/No-Motive-Murder-Doug-Hantke-ebook/dp/B00V3YYJ4K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1441158282&sr=1-1&keywords=no+motive+for+murdhttp://www.amazon.com/No-Motive-Murder-Doug-Ha

To check out Fitness Guru: http://www.amazon.com/Fitness-Guru-Doug-Hantke-ebook/dp/B00QJA8IHC/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Bloodmarked by Lu J. Whitley

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal, Supernatural Thriller, and Dark Comedy

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars

Editing/Proofreading: 5/5

Linguistics/Stylistics: 6/5

Plot Development: 4/5

Plot Pacing: 4/5

Character Development: 5/5

Rating: 18+ for profanity, graphic violence, and sexual language and situations.

You saw your mother die an unspeakable death. You then get kidnapped by a fearsome (but mysteriously sexy) stranger who insists he trying to carry you to safety. You spend the next few days on the run with said fearsome and mysteriously sexy stranger and find your lust for him growing exponentially. You are then separated from your fearsome and mysteriously sexy friend and find yourself in a gigantic castle equipped with all sorts of Medieval torture devices. When you demand to speak to the person in charge, you find yourself sitting across a huge desk from…your dad? it would be enough for you to say “F this!”

Meet Greta Brandt, the kick-ass heroine in Lu J. Whitley’s Bloodmarked. She goes on the run with Jaromir after the Takers murder her mother in a hideous fashion. Along the way, Greta learns that her entire life has been a lie, that she is not the person she always thought she was, and that she is powerfully attracted to Jaromir, who reciprocates her feelings but knows that indulging in their mutual attraction could be dangerous for both of them.

I loved the snarky, sassy tone the characters used with each other, and the dialogue is awesome (think “How to Train Your Dragon” but with a lot more profanity and sexual innuendo). This adds a strong element of dark humor to the book. Greta and Jaromir spend most of the novel bickering like an old married couple, and later Greta gives Stein (Jaromir’s troll friend whom he has assigned to deliver Greta to safety) a dose of attitude and an enormous headache. The book even hints at Greta’s attraction to Stein, but her loyalty to Jaromir wins out. The characters are superbly developed. I think Greta is my new role model. Both Jaromir and Stein work for the Fraktion, an organization devoted to eliminating the Takers and other unsavory creatures, and protect those who have become targets for Takers and other unsavory creatures.

Another thing I liked about this book was its dash of Deutschland. The author sprinkles bits of German culture and language in the plot and characters.

Although the plot flows well and is in general well-developed, the abrupt shifts in point of view became a distraction. In many parts of the book, the point of view would suddenly change with no clear transition. I had to re-read many of the sentences over again just to be sure whose point of view I was following. And I was excitedly following the intense action of the book all the way to a somewhat anti-climatic ending. I am a lot more forgiving of loose ends and cliffhangers when there is a sequel in the works (there is), but this ending just wasn’t 100% satisfying. But I guess Ms. Whitley’s going to make me read the sequel ;). As Greta would say, “Get over yourself and focus.”

I highly recommend this book for its entertaining plot and lovable characters

To check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Lu-J-Whitley/e/B00U7RR2PW/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1441060425&sr=1-1

The Knights of Dixie Wild by K. Meador

Blurb:

No period in the history of the United States of America forms a field so rich with chivalry, romance and drama as the years between 1865 and 1870, the so-called days of the reconstruction of the South, during which period the Nation was born again and started on its climb to the top rung of power among the nations of the world. 

The Tyler family relocates from Mississippi to Texas for a new start after having to give up their plantation and over one hundred slaves as a result of the War Between the States. 

Buck Tyler, also known as The Knight of the Dixie Wilds, is tested in courage, strength, loyalty, endurance and love. Facing hardships, deception, enemies, prison, and death, the years of reconstruction takes a toll on his energy, body and faith. 

Buck finds himself in love with two different women. Maggie, the dark skinned woman of his childhood and Kate, the delicate girl-child he found lost in the woods. 

Would he stand firm through the scenes of bloodshed, disappointment, and sorrow? Would he stand the acid test and, in the end, find victory, peace, and happiness? Or would he weaken in the strenuous struggle ahead and fall ingloriously? 

A harrowing adventure, based on true events, that is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat and thinking upon days past…


What reviewers are saying: 

"Knight of the Dixie Wilds was a surprising romp through history. K. Meador takes the reader down a historic path, through brush and bramble of the Civil War era where we meet Buck Tyler, an extraordinary young man whose well-to-do family has fell on hard times. They move to Texas and Buck's adventures ensue. Through passages of careful symmetry of text and with the historic verbiage of the age(1861-1865), page by page, I was taken to a world of florid, genteel times entwined with the absolute horrors of the Civil War and the dealings of the KKK of the times. I was at once captivated with Buck's heroic nature and the fact that the story is based on true events made this book a true must read! By the end, I was chiming the sentiment, "There was never but one Buck Tyler, Knight of the Dixie Wilds!"-Kindle Customer


"A fascinating story about the reconstruction years following the end of the Civil War. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first began reading this story. In school, we learned about the Civil War but never went much beyond the years of reconstruction that took place after it ended, but this work of American fiction with its engrossing characters and a well-crafted storyline about a young man, Buck, and the losses, struggles and trials he and his family had to endure to start their lives over again cast light on what life must have been like trying to set roots in a wild frontier. These people who'd once had servants and didn't have to do manual labor had lost it all in the war and were now challenged to start over in recovering their losses while trying to survive in an untamed country running amok with bandits and criminals. Told in the genteel language and manner of the time period, is a great example of how well-written fiction stands the test of time.

Throughout Buck's adventures and mis-adventures, he garners the faith and loyalty from those surrounding him, from a freed Negro slave to a small tribe of Indians. Much like Civil War/reconstruction classic, Gone With the Wind, there's language and references in this story that reflects the beliefs (and prejudices) of the time period that, to me, shows how far we've come, and how far we've yet to go. 5 Stars to The Knight of the Dixie Wilds."-BookBelle

To check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Knight-Dixie-Wilds-K-Meador-ebook/dp/B00CR73EHK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Gravitas: Valkyrie in the Forbidden Zone by Lynne Murray

Blurb:

Planet Valkyrie carries a risky amount of Gravitas, a top secret aphrodisiac embedded in the Ritual Jewelry around her neck. Before she can trade it, she is attacked by an angry warrior from slave-holding Planet Roggr. Sybil lands on Earth—in the Forbidden Zone. Rescue is impossible, all portals are sealed. Can Sybil protect herself, shield her hazardous cargo and find a way home before the Gravitas destroys her?


What Reviewers are Saying:

Plot/Story:
I loved the plot of this amazing novella. It has a really, really unique concept of having a planet where women dominate men and they undertake several husbands to look after the estate and home affairs. Lynne Murray successfully created a unique world that is both believable and marvellous. It’s uniqueness really stood out and I was longing to be able to visit this wondrous place (but only if they’ll allow a human from earth to visit their planet!)
I loved the attention she paid to all the small details. Everything sounded so beautiful and real. The concept of humans worshiping the alien visitors was hilarious and interesting, I mean what if the world in the book is really ‘real’! God, that will be amazing!
The over all structure of the book is great and it keeps you glued to the book from staring to end.

Characters:
I absolutely loved Val-Sybilla (a Valkyrian.) She is the strongest and the most independent female leads I’ve ever read. She is beautiful in her own way and I love this about her. The second character I loved in this book is Gelbrave. Initially I hated him but the author worked up her magic in showing his growth in the story. By the end I found him to be extremely humble and adorable.
Rest of the characters were also amazing and I was able to feel a connection with each one of them.

Romance:
There was a lot of romance, or should I say, Gravitas propelled lust. Sybil carried around huge amount of Gravitas with her in a ritual jewellery and it made people get attracted to her sexually. So everyone kind of wanted to take her. But, the relationship between Josu and Sybil was beautiful. It was a true-love relationship and I loved the fact that he always supported her.

Writing:
Lynne Murray’s writing is beautiful. It’s subtle and had an easy flow to it. I was lost in the story as soon as I started reading it. No complicated sentence-structures and no unnecessary tongue twisting words – just perfect.
At some points her subtle sense of humour made me laugh. It was a great experiences and for a novella, this book is amazing. Not too long, not too short, just the right length.

Beginning:
I loved the beginning, the first chapter started right in between a complex situation (as you can guess from the first line, see below) and then the author explaines how they got there and then later picks up from there and tells what happens after that first scene. The structure of this books is so amazing that it’ll grip you right from the first page.

Ending:
The ending is perfect. It had the right amount of drama, action, emotions and logic. I enjoyed it and it made me smile broadly after finishing the book.

Cover Art:
I love the cover art. It’s stylish and beautiful. And the red hair girl goes well with the description on Sybil. The colors on the cover really stand out. It’s one of the two reasons I read this book.

Blurb:
The blurb is intriguing and is the second reason for me to accept this book for review-The Reading Bud



"This book is too much fun to miss. I've read all of this wonderful author's earlier books and was happy to find a new one. Lynne Murray is skilled at creating gripping stories in multiple genres -- science fiction, fantasy, mystery/detective, romance, etc. As is true in all of her work, Gravitas is filled jokes that do literally make me laugh out loud and call people so I can read them the jokes so we can laugh together. As funny as Murray is, she is also brilliant and I am delighted by the evidence of her wide ranging intellect. In Gravitas Murray takes on the human tendency to create religions and deify weirdness when they don't destroy it. She creates in just a few strokes a variety of planetary societies that place in perspective various human habits and peculiarities. She creates a profession -- the xenopsychologists -- whose practitioners figure out the human species' deification preoccupation and understand why it is such a problem for the human inhabitants of our planet. In explaining this all, Murray takes us on a tour of historically and geographically based religious ideas and establishments. What a delightful take on religions. I am moved, amazed, and inspired by the number of social justice issues Murray includes in this short novel and the interconnectedness of those issues -- slavery, sexism, sexual expression, body image bigotry, peace, income distribution, and others. Not the positions she takes (I agree with her on all those issues) but the clarity and ease with which she interweaves them makes the reader (me, the reader) realize once again the redemptive power of the best science fiction/fantasy whether utopian or dystopian. I hope lots of people read this book and enjoy it as much as I did."-Susan Koppelman

To check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Gravitas-Valkyrie-Forbidden-Valkyries-Volume/dp/1514256320/ref=cm_rdp_product

JET: Oblivion by Kim Cresswell.

Blurb:

After a catastrophic terrorist attack at a nuclear plant in California, JET, Mossad’s former deadliest operative, is leading a quiet life off the grid two-hundred-and-seventy miles away with her young daughter. But peace is short-lived when former FBI agent, Hal Decker, and ex-intelligence officer, Angela Donahue, track Jet down and blackmail her into helping them stop a new threat. 

In a race against the clock the team must hunt down an al Qaeda terrorist cell working with the Sur del Calle cartel before a dirty bomb is smuggled out of Colombia and into the United States unleashing a deadlier attack at a second nuclear facility.

What reviewers are saying:

"Ready for heart-pounding action? Ever wonder what would happen if Russell Blake’s Jet teamed up with Kim Cresswell’s Hal Decker and Angela Donahue? For sure the world must be on the brink of disaster, with little to no hope, why else call in the big guns? JET: Oblivion, by Kim Cresswell is a rapid-fire race for survival, filled with action, danger, suspense and even the story of how far a mother will go to protect her child.

Hang on for a white-knuckle race against time to find a deadly al Qaeda cell working with a Colombian cartel to attack and destroy a nuclear facility in the U.S. The results will be deadly, the death toll, catastrophic and only one team of agents have any hope of preventing the disaster, if time and luck play on their team. One former FBI agent, one former Intelligence officer and one of Mossad’s most efficient agents run the gauntlet, with only each other to depend on, will they learn to trust in each other? Respect each other?

Underhanded tricks, blackmail and desperation make for strange allies, and Kim Cresswell has brought it all together in a quick, yet powerful tale sure to satisfy every adventure-loving reader out there, especially those with little time to sit back and escape into another world."-Dii



"This book is exceptionally written. Very easy to stay with the plot, fast moving and very smooth.

This leaves you with some scary thoughts!

Very real to the point of wanting to check out every one who works in an important position.

As for the plot... Like I said its very real, especially in this time of our lives, makes you think and wonder.

I loved the character Jet!

This was the first time reading her series and it won't be the last..

Jet is a formative female with a super ability to preserver in many ways.

If you like strong women, fast moving action and a great read this is the book for you!- Joann Brown

"I Loved it!! It was a Great read!! It felt like going home... Seeing familiar faces, and meeting new ones! Lots of action, and just a great story!! Kim makes the characters real, and you feel like you know them!-Mary Daniels

To check it out: http://www.amazon.com/JET-Oblivion-Kindle-Worlds-Novella-ebook/dp/B012UMA8F2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8