Review: Scenes From A Song by Susan Sloate

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Description:

“On Halloween Eve, 1961, in his dingy Bronx walkup apartment, 17-year-old Jimmy Welton hears the opening notes of a song in his head. Jimmy’s still mourning his firefighter father, who taught him to play the guitar but recently died in a house fire, leaving his family destitute. Jimmy takes this song, about all he misses from his life now, to his after-school job at a New York amusement park, where he meets Mark Morgan, a rebellious teen with his own band, who eventually invites Jimmy to join them. And the rest is rock'n roll history...

The GooseBumps become a worldwide phenomenon, and the songs they write and sing together become the backbone of rock musical history. And the song Jimmy first heard on Halloween, Wrapped in Gauze, becomes the song that not only comforts him but also comforts others in life-changing moments: Victoria, recently divorced and dealing with an unthinkable family tragedy; Carolyn, whose final flippant words to someone in pain can't be taken back; and Jack, battling back from unimaginable loss with the help of his cheeky therapist and a song he thinks he hates.”

Author:

Award-winning author Susan Sloate is the author of 26 published books in multiple genres, both fiction and non-fiction. Her hometown is near Charleston, SC where in addition to writing her own books she is involved in politics and helping other aspiring writers.

Appraisal:

The main story thread of this book is of a band who through hard work, musical skills, and probably a bit of luck as well hit it big on the music scene. You can imagine if The Beatles had formed in the US, but otherwise their story was the same as in real life and you’ll have a good idea of the timing and trajectory of The GooseBumps, the band at the heart of this book. This part in itself makes for an engrossing story. But note the title of this book. It isn’t about a band, it is about a song.

One of the original songs the GooseBumps write, sing, and have a hit with is the real star of this book. It not only is the big hit that everyone knows has to be played at every GooseBumps concert if you don’t want the fans to go home extremely disappointed, it is a song that inspires, comforts, and helps people in different ways. One of those songs that has a lot of meaning for people. Scattered through the book are stories of some of the fans of the song and how the song helped them. If you’re a music fan, especially one who pays attention to more than just whether it ”has a good beat” and you also notice the lyrics and what they mean to you, this book will strike home.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A small amount of adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 65-70,000 words

Reprise Review: Pocketful of Bones by Julie Frayn

 

Genre: Psychological Suspense

Description:

“Finnegan MacGillivray, red-haired, freckle-faced social pariah, finds solace in his mother's garden while she entertains ‘dates’ in his home. When an accident takes the life of a friend, Finnegan buries the evidence amid the purple dead nettle and bougainvillea, and unearths a treasure trove of human remains. Did his house rest atop an ancient burial ground? Or was there a killer tucking him into bed at night?

His fascination with bones grows as fast as his obsession with his mother. She rejects his advances, and he escapes to the other side of the country. Years later, he returns to his childhood home, to the secrets and the guilt and the bones -- and to fulfill his destiny.”

Author:

“Julie Frayn is a multi-award-winning Canadian author of novels and short stories that pack a punch. And a few stabs. She is fluent in three languages — English, sarcasm, and profanity. Although she didn't invent swearing, Julie wields it like the visionary vulgarian who threw the first f#(k out into a crowd. She writes psychological suspense filled with a lot of death, a bit of sex, and sprinkled with the F-word (sometimes… not so sprinkled). Her favourite pastime is murder night (translation: watching crime drama and drinking beer with her daughter). Her least favourite pastime is writing author bios (translation: author bios — yuck).”

Appraisal:

They say there are only so many stories and, at a high level, I understand they’re right (whoever they are). But it’s the added detail that makes or breaks a story and gives it its unique flavor. In the case of Pocketful of Bones, I’m sure it fits one of those high-level templates, but it has so much in the details that isn’t like anything I can remember reading before that I can’t imagine what pattern it might fit. It’s a strange story that has me liking and pulling for characters that I could easily find repulsive, yet don’t, even when they do things that are … we’ll call them “not good.” Bad is going too far. (Okay, maybe I’m trying to cover for them here.) But I understand why they do what they do. I’m sure you would too.

In case it isn’t apparent, I liked this book, both the characters and the strange, out-of-left-field life that they lead. If you like slightly offbeat stories and psychological suspense, you should too.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Did you read the author’s bio? Obviously if a swear word or 50 are going to be an issue for you, this isn’t your kind of book.

Canadian spelling. You can deal with an extra ‘u’ heure aund there, riught?

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Review: Murder At The Summer Cheese Festival by Jodie Morgan

 

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Description:

“Laura Evans thought trading her high-stress Boston restaurant career for small-town Vermont charm would bring peace.

Instead, she finds herself knee-deep in cheddar and conspiracy when a body turns up at the General Store after a pre-festival cheese tasting ahead of the Summer Cheese Festival. And her boss Maggie is made the prime suspect.

The festival is less than two weeks away and with the store's reputation threatened, Laura can't stand by and watch her new life crumble like aged parmesan.

With the help of her observant landlady, Evelyn Chan, she discovers beneath the town's picture-perfect surface lies a complex web of rivalries, family secrets, and scandals.

And when there's an entire festival's worth of suspects, she must separate friend from foe before it's too late...”

Author:

Jodie Morgan writes cozy mysteries. She has two novels available in this series (this is the first) plus a couple short stories that take place in the same small Vermont town.

For more, check out Ms Morgan’s website.

Appraisal:

Although I don’t have much experience living in small towns like the one where this took place, I have enough experience to recognize the accuracy of the town depicted here with the small-town vibe, both positive and negative qualities being involved. These qualities add color and in some ways expands the viable theories in getting to the solution of the mystery. A likeable protagonist who is learning about the town along with the reader also helps the reader relate well to the story. If you like cozy mysteries, this should definitely do the trick.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 60-55,000 words

Review: In the Company of Knaves by Anthony R Wildman

 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Description:

The story takes place during the reign of the English Tudor Queen Elizabeth I, in 1589 (the year after the defeat of the Armada: QEI has been on the throne for about 30 years). The story is a fictional take on a conventional Will Shakespeare (husband of Anne Hathaway, three children, they are all living in Stratford-upon-Avon, he writing plays in London). It is not, actually, the Shakespeare I subscribe to – but the story works fine, whoever you believe Shakespeare actually was. The author wisely leaves vague the parts of the Stratfordian Shakespeare that have never been adequately explained; although he has engaged with the possibility of a lengthy trip to the continent in general and Italy in particular. This is the third in Wildman’s trilogy of books based on Shakespeare’s ‘lost years’.

Author:

Wildman’s website tells us “I have always been fascinated by … lives in the near and distant past. There are so many wonderful stories to tell, and many intriguing gaps in the historical record into which a writer can insert their own version of events. I’ve had a lot of fun trying to create entertaining stories based on real historical events and people, and I hope you will enjoy reading the fruits of my labour.” He read The Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary Sutcliffe (a classic of the genre, of course) as a lad, and all through his career in Australia – in the oil industry, banking, and management consulting – continued to be fascinated by history and historical fiction. Now, retired from business and seeking new challenges, he has returned to his first love: the past. He obviously relishes the research which he turns into books – so far five novels and a travelogue – and his joy in his new career shines through. He obviously reads widely in his chosen periods.

Appraisal:

The story has much to tell the reader about late Tudor England: the sights, sounds, and smells are all here. The competitive nature of the London theatre scene, the growing popularity of plays, the in-fighting at Court are all here too. Onto this beautifully set scene is superimposed a crime directly affecting Shakespeare which, if he cannot solve it, will mean the end of his career as a playwright before it has properly begun, not to mention financial ruin. As this plot takes over, the pace of the book picks up satisfyingly.

A lot of research has gone into the making of this novel. Occasionally the author has thrown slightly overlarge wodges of it into the mix. Do not let that deter you. Nobody is going to check you have read every word. But if you are at all interested in what Shakespeare wrote and when; who his friends, colleagues and enemies were; and what it was like to be a playwright in those days, you will find this book a goodly – and informative – romp through the stews, politics and personalities of London.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Five Stars

Reviewed by: Judi Moore

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Review: Author Walk by Melissa Bowersock

 

Genre: Mystery/Native American/Paranormal

Description:

“Sam and Lacey are called to the Malibu home of a famous bestselling author to investigate strange poltergeist manifestations. When Sam walks the house, he quickly discovers two things. The ghost is the spirit of another writer—the man’s own dead wife.

And she is pissed.”

Author:

“Melissa Bowersock is an eclectic, award-winning author who writes in a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres: paranormal, biography, western, action, romance, fantasy, spiritual, and satire. She has been both traditionally and independently published and writes the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series. She has a tattoo on the inside of her left wrist that says IMAGINE. In her next life, she plans to be an astronaut. She also writes under the pen name Amber Flame.”

For more, visit Ms Bowersock’s website.

Appraisal:

For those not familiar with this series, Sam Firecloud is able to communicate with the spirit of a person who has died and for some reason hasn’t moved on from this life to the next, essentially hanging around and, for lack of a better term, haunting people in this world. Typically there is a reason for this which needs to be resolved. With his partner, Lacey Fitzpatrick, Sam is called on to help understand and resolve these issues so the spirit can move on.

In some ways, this book is like the others in the series, at least at the high level above. But there is also a second major story thread which, while related to the main story thread, is presented in a different way. I won’t go into more detail to avoid spoilers, but will say that I was eager to figure out how both threads were going to resolve and was kept guessing and engaged in both parts of the story to the end.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 25-30,000 words

Reprise Review: Ryan to the Rescue by K. S. Brooks and Mr. Pish

 Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Description:

“Ryan the Corgi was a happy dog -- until his family moved. The dogs at his new school aren't as nice as his old friends were. Some of them are even downright mean to him. Can Ryan learn how to turn the tables on the bullies?”

Author:

“K.S. Brooks has been writing for over thirty years. An award-winning author and photographer, she has written more than 30 titles, is currently the administrator for the superblog IndiesUnlimited.com, and is founder of 'Authors for Hurricane Sandy Library Recovery' and the 'Liberty Library' for soldiers and veterans.

Mr. Pish is a curly-haired Jack Russell terrier who has traveled the USA and Canada to spread the word about outdoor learning and literacy. He loves exploring and introducing people to new places they didn't know existed! Mr. Pish has written 10 books, 10 years of calendars, and one app available at iTunes and the Google Play store.”

Appraisal:

Ryan is a young Corgi who will always be small compared to other dogs. He is adorable with his Orphan Annie eyes you can’t help but love him. However he is being picked on because of his size and the new kid at his school. Ryan’s father reminds Ryan of his strengths because he will always be small.

This a cute and smart story that kids will be able to understand and identify with. This book promotes self-worth which needs to be reinforced with all children as they are growing up. Ryan to the Rescue would be an excellent addition to any home or school library. 

This is a Mr. Pish approved book and he gives his endorsement and more helpful tips at the end of the story. There are also several resource links you may find helpful.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

I read Ryan to the Rescue on my Paperwhite Kindle which is black and shades of gray and white. I imagine young readers would enjoy the story more with a color tablet. There is also a Ryan to the Rescue coloring book for more enjoyment. This is a creative way to help visual learners.

Format/Typo Issues:

I read an ARC version, However, I didn’t notice any issues with proofing or formatting.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 27 pages

Review: All or None by Clive Fleury

 Genre: Hard-Boiled Mystery

Description:

“Returning to Sydney, Detective Ramesh Ryan is promoted to the Homicide Squad. Zoe Yang joins him there. Now a detective herself, she is assigned as his junior partner. Straight up, the cops are off and running-investigating the discovery of a murdered company director. Following the clues, Detective Ryan finds that this and a second murder may be linked to past events.

As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the detective finds that he too, is in the killer's crosshairs. But Ryan is distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to her recent medical tests? And there's another pressing problem-the plague of rats in his apartment block.

Detective Ryan's hands are well and truly full!”

Author:

“Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and screenplays and has worked all over the world as a Film/TV director, writer and producer. He has written six books, most recently All Or None, the second novel in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series.”

Appraisal:

This mystery has multiple story threads which keep things interesting and keep the reader guessing how things are going to turn out. First, we have the protagonist, Detective Ramesh Ryan, who has just been promoted to a new position as a homicide detective. The challenges of being in a new position and figuring out how to work with and interact with others in the department is a challenge. That his partner was just transferred from another city and is learning her job as well as the both of them figuring out how to make their team work complicates things still further. Throw in some happenings in Ryan’s personal life and things get more complicated. All of this just makes figuring out the mystery and where the story is going to go that much less clear for the reader which is a positive for a mystery. The results are an engaging and entertaining read that draws the reader in as you try to figure things out along with Detective Ryan.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

The author lives part of the time in Australia and some words that I’d describe as Australian (not commonly used in American English) are used a time or two, but it is no big deal.

Format/Typo Issues:

Review is based on an ARC (advance reviewer copy) so I can’t gauge the final product in this area.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Review: The Witness by Jordan Standridge

 Genre: Crime/Suspense/Romance

Description:

“Cops and deer. Her mama always told people Raina could sense them before she saw them. So the day she left home for a quick trip into town and sensed a cop ahead, she wasn't surprised to see one working a traffic stop. But never in her wildest dreams could she sense that traffic stop would turn into her own personal nightmare.

Attempting to save the life of a defenseless deputy, Raina nearly lost her own in a short but brutal attack. As she recuperates, the life she knew and loved is systematically being taken away from her by those she thwarted. Now she must dig deep inside herself for the courage to not only survive but to forge a new life in case she did.

Assigned to her case, Detective Channion Scott had a solid reputation for solving crimes. When he soon turned into her personal bodyguard, he wondered how was he to solve his attraction to the courageous woman who'd risked her life to save another's?”

Author:

An avid traveler, Jordan Standridge has worked in a variety of jobs, from sales, to being a police and fire dispatcher, and a manager. This is her second book, the other book being the first in this series.

Appraisal:

I think it is fair to say that I’m having a lot of conflicting feelings about how to review this book. The story at a high level is a good one. I love the characters. As the name of the series indicates, the protagonist is a strong and courageous woman who you can’t help but like and pull for her to get through these challenges. I enjoyed the different story threads and how they all fit together.

However, there are aspects of the author’s approach to writing that I found problematic. The book is a lot longer than it probably needs or should be because the story had a tendency to go down a rabbit hole. As a reader we would get a brain dump of what was going through one of the main character’s minds at a certain point, not unreasonable except the tendency to go into way too much detail was there. Then we’d get the same for what a more obscure character was thinking, which isn’t normal. The way it was done often had me thinking about the old writer’s adage to “show, don’t tell.” It felt like the reader was getting both shown and then told and told and told. At times the story took turns that stretched credibility, but I managed to get past those instances, and the reader was sometimes told things that I didn’t think were needed to understand the story and didn’t add anything to it, just bogging it down. I imagine some readers wouldn’t notice or take issue with the things that bothered me. If you think you’re one of those readers, the book has a lot of good points, so give it a try.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 145-150,000 words

Review: 10 Little Rules for Understanding America by Danny Zimny-Schmitt

 Genre: Travel/Politics

Description:

“What if the road to understanding American politics runs through every one of its 3,000+ counties?

In this compelling mix of travel memoir and geopolitical insight, the author crisscrosses the country, visiting every county in the US, with one goal: to listen. From diner counters to train stations, coffee shops to rural gas stations, the journey reveals how where we live shapes what we believe—and how we vote.

Inspired by books like The Last American Road Trip and Our Towns, this exploration uncovers the patterns, tensions, and quiet truths that define the American experience today.”

Author:

“Danny Zimny-Schmitt holds degrees in environmental science and geography from the University of Denver and works in the renewable energy industry. Growing up in inner city Chicago, visiting family in Wisconsin, and then moving to Denver for school, he was inspired to learn about the differences between places at an early age. When he's not traveling, he enjoys reading, running, and advocacy work for local nonprofits. He lives in Denver.”

Appraisal:

This series appears to be a set of short reads, each of them with “10 little rules” to help a person in some way, whether that help is what might be classified as “self-help” or to help you understand something that is good to know in a better way. In the process you’ll potentially learn about some other subject that you might be interested in.

This specific volume involves travel and the ways it can expand a person’s view and understanding of the world. Mark Twain has been quoted as saying that “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,” (a quote included in this book at an appropriate spot), and that concept is one that runs through this book. The author had a goal of visiting every county or county equivalent in the US. He accomplished that goal and in this book delves a bit into the travel experience, but also what he observed and learned from the experience. A lot of this is political, but makes the point that we aren’t as far apart as it sometimes seems. While a short quick read it also references other articles and studies as well as having links to websites where more information about some places and subjects mentioned can be found. A fun, quick, and thought-provoking read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 15-20,000 words

Review: Beneath the Gavel by Stephen M. Murphy

 

Genre: Legal Thriller

Description:

“A judge. A murder. A family divided.

Judge Ferdinand Pitt never expected to see his estranged father in his courtroom—especially not in handcuffs, accused of murder. But when the victim turns out to be his son’s volatile boss, the case takes a devastating turn. As evidence shifts suspicion from father to son, Ferd is forced to investigate the crime himself, risking his career and violating every ethical boundary he’s sworn to uphold.

With his rival attorney circling, his marriage unraveling, and his mother’s health failing, Ferd must navigate a maze of lies, secrets, and buried resentments to uncover the truth. But in a family fractured by abandonment and silence, justice may come at the cost of everything he has left.

Beneath the Gavel is a gripping mystery about loyalty, legacy, and the impossible choices we make when the law hits home.”

Author:

A native of Boston, Stephen M. Murphy is the author of some legal thrillers as well as being a judge in the San Francisco Superior Court.

For more, check out his website.

Appraisal:

Judge Ferdinand Pitt, or Ferd, the nickname we get to know him as, is the protagonist of the book. He’s obviously had some success in life, in spite of a history that required him to beat the odds to get to where he has in life. Then things spiral a bit out of control when his dad who he hasn’t seen since he abandoned the family when Ferd was a kid is charged with murder and as he tries to find out if his dad is guilty things start hitting even closer to home. Trying to juggle his judicial ethics, while also protecting his family, turns into a juggling act. In the meantime, as a reader, trying to figure out who did what along with the judge kept me very engaged. A good read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

Very few issues except for a handful of times using the word waive instead of wave.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words