Book Review: Captive in Paradise by RJ Futh

Young backpackers have been traveling through Southeast Asia for decades, blissfully unaware of the political and social turmoil that surrounds them. That ignorance abruptly ends when eight travelers are kidnapped by a revolutionary organization and held captive in the rainforest of southern Thailand. Maimed, beaten and facing death, each much decide: stay and hope for rescue or attempt an escape that stands little chance of succeeding.

Basically, this book is about a group of rich, multi-national kids frolicking around southeast Asia who become involved in a Jihad movement and suffer the consequences.  It's a very interesting book, well-written, and easy to read.

The characters are very real.  The author, RJ Furth, did an excellent job of portraying four young people with too much money who try to escape their normal environment for pleasures of the world.  Captivity in the hands of the southeast Asian Muslims caused each of the kids to reassess their outlook on life and rapidly mature.  Actually, the main character is almost unbelievable, based on his background and experience and what he's able to accomplish after their capture.

 

I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Book Review: Vengeance by A.J. Scudiere

How would you react if the mafia took out your entire family? Cynthia Beller came up fighting. Years of training have made her the mafia's worst nightmare, but there is another who is out for Vengeance too and an FBI agent close on her heals.

Find out what is "right" and what is "justified" in AJ Scudiere's VENGEANCE.

Two characters, a man and a woman of differing ages, have each had experiences that justify hating the mafia.  They set out separately (they didn't know each other) to wipe out as many members of the mafia as possible.

The book is hard to get into at the start.  It took me until after page 100 to really get hooked.  There was just too much background at the beginning, it bogged the pacing down.  Also, the story wouldn't have been harmed any if the number of kills had been reduced, making a shorter and tighter book.

Vengeance was very well-written and well-edited.  It was refreshing in that it reflects the government security agencies as dedicated people that are hard working and honest.  For the squeamish, I have to add a warning.  This book is quite vivid in its descriptions of the actions taken in each kill.  It's very bloody and violent.  The ending was very unexpected and enjoyable.

 

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: Brainrush by Richard Bard

When terminally ill combat pilot Jake Bronson emerges from an MRI with extraordinary cognitive powers, everyone wants a piece of his talent--including Battista, one of the world's most dangerous terrorists. Thrust into a deadly chase across Europe and Afghanistan to save his love and her autistic-savant daughter, Jake discovers that his newfound talents carry a hidden price that threatens the entire human race.

An original weave of current events bound by colorful locations and cutting-edge technology, Bard's novel is a must-read for fans of Michael Crichton, James Rollins, Clive Cussler, and Brad Thor. A dynamic mix of fast-paced action and thought provoking soul, this book challenges the reader to keep pace with every sharp turn and shocking twist. Acclaimed by fans of action, sci-fi, and political thrillers alike, Brainrush is one of the most innovative and entertaining books of the year.

Brainrush intertwines reality, medical mythology, and science fiction into a very exciting tale of a man whose brain is too efficient.  There is no "getting into" this book, from the very first it grabs you and keeps going.  You're caught up until the very end.

The characters are believable with interesting personalities.  It's the exploits that are questionable, even considering its science fiction tag.  Still, it was enjoyable to read.

The ending was not satisfying at all.  It was obviously written to provide a basis for the author to launch a second novel, which I believe has already been published.

 

 

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: The Rosary Murders by William X. Kienzle

IT BEGINS ON ASH WEDNESDAY ...

Priests and nuns are his targets. A plain black rosary entwined between the fingers of each victim is his calling card.

The police don't have a clue, but Father Koesler sees a pattern --- a consuming religious obsession that can drive one man to serial murder. And to an unexpected and terrifying encounter inside Koesler's own confessional ...

This is the first book in the Father Koesler mysteries.  It was originally published in 1978 and there are 23 books in the series.  For those of you who like reading books that were turned into movies, this book was made into a film starring Donald Sutherland in 1987.

I had some trouble occasionally while reading, as I'm not Catholic.  The author would use terms I'm not familiar with and he didn't explain them.  But it didn't take away from the story a great deal.

The book was slow to read.  There were whole scenes in it that I feel could have been cut and not hurt the story.  I found myself doing some "speed reading" to get through some of this.

Aside from that, the main story was good.  The descriptions of the murders and murder scenes were chilling, but not overly graphic.  Father Koesler is a solid main character, though I would have liked to spend more time with him and learn more about him.  I assume that happens in the other 22 books.

All in all, The Rosary Murders was just an okay book for me.  I didn't like it enough to want to read more books in the series.  I can see where it might be something other readers would appreciate more, so if you find the premise interesting, give it a try!

I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Book Review: Oh God, Please Help me With my Doubt by Leighann McCoy

Help Me With My Doubt: Welcome to Oh God, Please Help Me with My Doubt. The book you’re holding in your hands will help you capture and subdue the voice of doubt, whose goal is to eat away at your faith until nothing is left but bitterness and disillusionment. In the first section of this book, you will learn to recognize God’s voice. You will develop the ability to hear Him when He responds to your prayers. Then you will learn what to do when God doesn’t respond, when you are faced with His silence. While wrestling with the silence of God, you will discover five keys you can use to delete doubt from your prayer life. Then you will visit with the Israelites as they camped on the out- skirts of the Promised Land and see what occurred when God’s people applied or did not apply these keys to their lives. Then before this book comes to an end you will examine several doubts one at a time. Together we will define, dissect, and then defeat each one. My prayer is that by the time you complete this book you will have experienced God’s removal of most, if not all, of the doubts that infect your prayers.

Unfortunately, this book was not helpful to me.  Every Christian wrestles with doubt at one time or another... or possibly all the time.  So, I was looking forward to this book giving me good insight into the problem.  It didn't happen.

The book's synopsis claims you will learn to recognize God's voice, to be able to hear Him when He responds to your prayers.  The author's theories and explanations did nothing to help in these areas.  She also seemed to lean a lot on quotes and ideas from other authors.

If you're looking for a book to help with your prayer life and your doubts, I'd have to recommend you try a different book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Worthy Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

I give this book 2 Bookworms.

Book Review: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2) by Kady Cross

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

This is the second in the Steampunk Chronicle series by Kady Cross.   This series is some of the best steampunk that I have ever read.  It's got the clever machinery, some magic, great heroes, very evil villains - and a little romance!

Finley, the heroine, is more secure in herself than she was in the first novel, The Girl in the Steel Corset.  She seems less afraid to get out there and kick some evil-doer's butt, yet she is still learning how to work her "talent."  She is a character that is very easy to like and root for throughout the story. And of course, the book would be nothing without her gang, who are right there to help out... or make fun of her, whichever is more appropriate at the time.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is a fun romp through New York City at the turn of the 19th century.  If you like steampunk, you'll definitely want to read this, but start with the first book.  If you've never read any steampunk, start out with this series!

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: Ashen Winter (Ashfall #2) by Mike Mullin

It’s been over six months since the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano. Alex and Darla have been staying with Alex’s relatives, trying to cope with the new reality of the primitive world so vividly portrayed in Ashfall, the first book in this series. It’s also been six months of waiting for Alex’s parents to return from Iowa. Alex and Darla decide they can wait no longer and must retrace their journey into Iowa to find and bring back Alex’s parents to the tenuous safety of Illinois. But the landscape they cross is even more perilous than before, with life-and-death battles for food and power between the remaining communities. When the unthinkable happens, Alex must find new reserves of strength and determination to survive.

Ashen Winter is the second book in the series;  I reviewed the first book, Ashfall, last year.  The Ashfall series us a powerful view of a post-apocalyptic world.  It's chilling to read how humans can react when world order is destroyed.

With the start of Ashen Winter, we see a more mature Alex.  All the softness of his youth was chiseled off in Ashfall. The author, Mike Mullin, does an excellent job with the characters.  They each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and grow as the story unfolds.

The book is full of action and is a very entertaining read.  Ashen Winter can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading Ashfall first.  You have time to grab it now, Ashen Winter will be available October 16.   There is a good bit of violence in the series, so it may not be appropriate for younger kids, but young adults and adults who enjoy post-apocalyptic settings should definitely read this series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tanglewood Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

I give this book 4 Bookworms.