Review # 97: Middle Time by Priya Vasudevan

Description:

     Maya is a present day Chennai-based lawyer who is investigating the mysterious death of her client, Tulsi - but everyone is a suspect; including Tulsi's mother, husband, and daughter, who act strangely about her demise. So, in order to find the truth, Maya goes into sleuth-mode and finds a metal box under a mattress that contains an old paperback diary. Little does she know, that the book will transport her to sixteenth century India where a temple dancer, Achale, is investigating a similar murder, the strange death of Thulasi - a case that parallels Tulsi's more than Maya would like to admit. Can Maya figure out how the murders are linked and catch the "killers" before they strike again? Or will she run out of time like her client did?

Review:

   

     I am always up for reading something different, so when I spotted Middle Time, I knew that I had to give it a try. Priya Vasudevan has a beautiful writing style and the ability to create realistic characters, but there were a few sections where I felt that the level of detail was lacking. Some of the sections didn't flow as well as they should have, primarily because of the language differences, but it didn't take much away from the overall experience. Most of the character dialogue was easy-to-read and entertaining, although, there was a "translated" feel where certain words came together, which in-turn slowed down the pace. I still finished this book in a couple days, and was satisfied with the story-line and its mid-level suspense. For Priya Vasudevan's first book, I see a lot of potential for books in the future, especially with her creativity and attention to detail/research. I recommend this book to adults who want to experience a double suspense spanning India during two time periods.

Rating: Bounty's Out (3/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 96: What About the Boy? - A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son by Stephen Gallup

Description:

     What About the Boy? is the true story of Joseph Gallup, born on March 5th, 1985, to parents Stephen and Judy after a long and stressful delivery. He had all ten fingers and toes, and looked like a normal, healthy baby boy, but something seemed odd about the newborn, and it was quickly discovered that Joseph was born with an underdeveloped brain and, according to doctors, would be disabled for the rest of his life. Even after being told countless times that nothing could be done for Joseph's condition, Stephen and Judy refused to accept the advice of the medical community and pledged to find anyone/anything who could help their son have the best life that he possibly could- pediatricians, medical professionals, therapists, alternative treatment centers, counseling, etc; all in pursuit of a "normal" life for their son and their family.

Review:

     When the author contacted me about this book, I knew that I had to read it. I have personal experience with special needs/ disabled children and I was very interested in his experiences with his son, as well as with all of the people involved in Joseph's life. I expected that what his family went through would be heartbreaking, and that it would change their lives forever, but I did not expect to read about the attitudes of the medical community. I am part of a medical community now, and I am ashamed to see how Joseph's care was handled back then. The doctors and their medical opinions about Joseph annoyed me to no end, and I can definitely understand how Stephen and Judy felt about the entire situation. Stephen Gallup's memoir is an amazing and inspiring story of one family's struggle for an answer, for help, and for a normal life. His writing style is easy-to-read, flows at a good pace, maintains a good level of detail, and makes the reader feel like they are part of his story; I laughed, cried, and sympathized with the family's constant ups and downs as I read, and was completely taken in. What I got from this book: love does conquer all, and What About the Boy is proof. I recommend this book to everyone - teens, adults, families, and reading groups.

Rating: Clean Getaway (5/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 95: Silverbirch; A Tear in the Fabric of the Night Sky by Rob Kaay

Description:

     Twenty years ago, five childhood friends stumbled upon a mysterious box with a red lightning bolt on it - and its contents, (a letter and a bag of strange mushrooms), dictated the course of their lives. Now, the estranged friends have reunited, and the past has come back to haunt them. Can they figure out what the "Silverbirch" pages mean?, what the lightning-bolt mushrooms do?, and who, or what has been controlling them their whole lives? Or, will each of them be forced to surrender their souls to the tear in the fabric of the night sky?

Review:

      When I started to read Silverbirch, I had no idea the kind of fantastical action I was in for. The fast-paced read immediately sucked me in, and before I knew it, I had been reading for three hours and was on the last chapter, eagerly awaiting the finale. The characters are interesting, the story-line is well-developed and entertaining, and the dialogue, although crude and repetitive at times, is anything but flat. I did find a few spots that needed tweaking, as well as a couple cumbersome areas, but they didn't inhibit my enjoyment of the overall story. I really hope that Rob Kaay plans on a continuation, because the ending was quite a cliff-hanger and I would like to get to know the characters better. I can't wait to read more about Nudge's adventures involving Silverbirch - such a strange, yet intriguing concept! I recommend this book for older teens and adults who are into action-packed fantasies filled with blood, guts, magic mushrooms, and mysterious portals.

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 94: The Vase with the Many Coloured Marbles by Jacob Singer

Description:

     The Vase with the Many Coloured Marbles details the lives of Emma and Marla, a mother and daughter living in South Africa from the 1920's until the 1960's, and their struggles to remain safe and unnoticed for their heritage during Apartheid.

Review:

     Originally I wasn't sure how this book would work since it seemed like two books in one, but after reading, I am glad that the author set it up that way because it made the book and its storyline stronger. Both sections were very interesting and full of rich detail about the characters and the beauty/history of South Africa. I have never read anything about that area and it was quite an eye-opener, both geographically and sociologically. Jacob Singer has a way of depicting South Africa that makes the reader feel like they are there, and his characters, especially Emma and Marla, are well-developed and realistic, often gaining sympathy from the reader. Also, the dialogue was very well-written and strong, adding to the characters' presence. I enjoyed seeing how both the people and the times changed throughout the book, particularly peoples attitudes towards the characters and towards Apartheid. Overall, I learned a wealth of information from this book and met many interesting characters; I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the life and history of South Africa, especially Apartheid and its effects on the country.

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Bostick Communications) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 93: The Breath of Allah by Steven W. Ritcheson

Description:

      Charles Rayson runs a branch of the Central Intelligence Agency - TAG - Technology Applications Group, and their current mission is to help rescue the daughter of an oil tycoon from a group of terrorist kidnappers known as the "Spear of Muhammad". But during the mission, they discover another of the terrorists' plots, referred to as the "Breath of Allah". Spear of Muhammad members will be releasing anthrax at a crowded bazaar in Turkey, and it is up to TAG team to stop them. So, they track the phone conversations of the terrorists and come up with a plan to eliminate the threats, but what happens when Charlie and the his team find out that one of their own could be in on the plot? Can they still stop the attack and save thousands of lives, including their own?

Review:

   

      Breath of Allah is a fast-paced, action-packed, intense spy thriller that will have readers riveted. I was impressed by the dynamic characters, the tight-knit plot, and the amount of geographical/technological detail that filled each of its 331 pages. The chapters were short, the characters were believable, and the dialogue was anything but boring and "scripted". I love books that I can get lost in, and this book definitely applies; I sympathized with the characters, experienced the Parisian and Turkish scenery, and felt like I was part of TAG for every twist and turn. I even enjoyed the ending, which is rare since I usually don't want books like this one to end! The only drawback was the amount of technical jargon involved, but it was easy enough to look up and get the gist. I cannot believe that this is Steven W. Ritcheson's first book! I will definitely be looking for more in years to come! This book is recommended for both men and women who like intense and realistic espionage thrillers.

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Bostick Communications) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 92: Bring Back Summertime by Jeanne Starr Gater

Description:

     Bring Back Summertime is the true story of Jeanne Starr Gater's life before, during, and after her husband Julius' near fatal car accident, and the extreme faith-driven rehabilitation that followed.

Review:

     This memoir is a remarkable and inspiring page-turner that will leave you believing in the unimaginable powers of love and faith. Jeanne Starr Gater's detailed writing style pulled me in from the first few pages, and her amazing story kept my attention throughout. What she and her family went through was devastating, and the amount of emotion presented in this book had me feeling like I was going through it with them - the good and the bad. The people and places were very real to me and I enjoyed looking at the mini-album in the back of the book to see what everyone really looked like versus my mental representations. I am glad that I read this book, and I felt that it was a very worthwhile read. Jeanne Starr Gater is an incredible woman and writer. I recommend this book to those who want to have their faith restored and inspired.

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 91: Harvitz, As to War- A Novel by Ben Nadler

Description:

     A modern day coming-of-age story detailing the life and decisions of Sammy Harvitz; a dissatisfied teen on a voyage of self discovery, who doesn't really know what he's looking for, or what he wants in life. His attempts at finding himself lead to many strange places, including the punk-rock scene, the army, prison, and the streets; and the decisions he's faced with - good or bad - ultimately lead him to unexpected conclusions about himself and his generation.

Review:

     At first glance, I wondered what the title, Harvitz, As to War, alluded  to, as well as why the cover had a "home-made" permanent marker and duct-tape theme going on., but I liked the overall cover presentation. After reading, I realized that the "war" was inside Sammy and that the cover was the perfect representation of his mentality: imperfect, young, and unsettled - a modern wanderer. It took me about 75 pages to actually get into the book and get a hint as to what was going on. This was partially because Sammy's logic was so strange, and because there were a few sections that felt "clunky" and had to be reread, but after the lull, I really started to enjoy reading about Sammy's trials and tribulations, no matter how ridiculous, painful, or depressing. Sammy was really easy to sympathize with, but I felt that his overall character was a bit lacking, I never got a clear picture of him or his personality because he seemed to make random decisions and was a complete follower throughout the book; always making changes based on the opinions/styles of others. I think that it would have been easier to understand him if I had known "when" certain events were happening; there was no real way to plot out a timeline for his character, so I had no idea if months or years had passed throughout the story. The plot-line was confusing at times, but still entertaining, although the ending was very abrupt and left me wanting for some sort of conclusion never written. The author page photo kind of reminded me of Sammy, which was a really cool idea - intended or not, but I think a readers discussion or guide would have been useful too. Overall, Ben Nadler's first novel is definitely worth the read, and I am interested in reading other books he pens, especially if there is some sort of continuance. Recommended for teens and adults looking for an interesting coming-of-age story where change doesn't always come easy.

Rating: Bounty's Out (3.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author, (LibraryThing Early Reviewers) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.