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.

 

Ralph gives 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.

 

 

Ralph gives this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: Legacy of the Light by Todd A. Gipstein

"Legacy of the Light" is a historical thriller about two generations of lighthouse keepers at Race Rock Lighthouse off the shore of New London, Connecticut. "Legacy" is a story of how the past influences the present, of fathers and sons, failure, guilt, love, and redemption. The story begins in 1907 and continues in 1938, when the hurricane of the century bears down on this man-made island in the middle of the sea. Those trapped at Race Rock - the keeper, his fiancée, and a mysterious stranger - must fight the forces of nature and the demons within that threaten to destroy them. "Legacy of the Light" draws readers into a fast paced story full of twists and turns.

I would like to thank Smith Publicity and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

As I looked through other reviews for this book, I wondered if we all read the same story.  There were lots of raves for Legacy of the Light, but I really can't join them.  The book was very slow reading for me.  It was hard for me to get into at the beginning.  I actually think the book could have been a little tighter, the story told more concise over fewer pages.

There were moments of brilliance for me.  The first storm and its aftermath was spell-binding.  I think this is where the book first truly started for me.  I almost cried, and I am no easy crier!  

The son felt more real to me than the father, though this may be because I spent more time with him in the story.  He had determination and drive, yet a vulnerability shone from within.  

This book is a solid historical fiction made a little more enjoyable by the lighthouse theme.  It's a dark, somber tale, great to read during a stormy night.

 

I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Paperback:  336 pages

Publisher:  Dog Ear Publishing, LLC (May 6, 2011)

ISBN-10: 1457503573

ISBN-13:  978-1457503573

Ebook ASIN:  B00558UC5A

Book Review: Unfinished Business by W. Soliman

Charlie Hunter retired from the force at 40 to relax, work on his boat and go fishing with his son on weekends, not become an amateur sleuth. But he can't say no to Kara Webb when she seeks his help in tracking down her sister, missing for 15 years.
The disappearance of teenaged Jasmine Webb was one of the first cases Charlie worked on after being made a detective. He's never forgotten it or his suspicions, even after the girl's parents told police they'd heard from her and the file on Jasmine was closed.
When Charlie's son is threatened, finding Jasmine becomes even more important—it's no longer just about closure, it's about protecting his family. Which makes the constant dead ends all the more frustrating. Until Charlie realizes that the question they should be asking isn't where Jasmine is, but who Jasmine has become...

I'd like to thank the publisher, Carina Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfinished Business is not the most original story I have ever read.  I've actually read a few stories and watched many tv shows with this particular plot (I won't give details on it to keep this review from being a spoiler).  However, it doesn't bother me if the story is well told, and this one was.

The author, W. Soliman, manages to keep the pace of the book lively as new clues keep showing up.  Charlie is a character that's easy to like, which is a good thing, as this is the first of a series starring him.  He's a tough, retired cop with a weakness for troubled females, dogs, and kids.  That should keep him in trouble for several books!

This is a good, solid book that should catch the interest of any mystery buff.  The ending has a few surprises that even an experienced mystery reader might not be able to guess ahead of time.  Go ahead, get the book and see for yourself!

 

I give this book 3 Bookworms. 

Ebook:  237 pages, 430 KB
Publisher:  Carina Press (October 17, 2011)
ASIN:B005JSK274

Book Review: Wired by Douglas Richards

Kira Miller is a brilliant genetic engineer who discovers how to temporarily achieve savant-like capabilities in all areas of thought and creativity. But what if this transcendent level of intelligence brings with it a ruthless megalomania?

David Desh left the special forces after his team was brutally butchered in Iran. Now he has been reactivated for one last mission: find Kira Miller, the enigmatic genius behind a bioterror plot that threatens millions. But when Desh learns that the bioterror plot is just the tip of the iceberg, he is thrust into a byzantine maze of deception and intrigue, and he becomes a key player in a deadly game he can't begin to understand. A game that is certain to have a dramatic impact on the future course of human history. . .

Wired is a fast paced thriller from start to finish.  It's got a bit of science fiction thrown in with the genetic manipulation creating super intelligence.  Sure wish it wasn't fiction, I could use something like that!

The characters were ok.  Desh and Kira were likeable, though maybe not 100% believable as real people.  Kira seemed a little too good at the action stuff for a scientist.  Desh did have a soft side to counteract his tough soldier qualities.

The story was written well and paced just right.  It kept my attention throughout, and I think it will keep yours.

*Disclaimer:  I received this book for review from the author through LibraryThing.  I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Ebook:  506 kb, 302 pages

Publisher:  Paragon Press (July 12, 2011)

ASIN:  B005C4XVYG

Book Review: Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

'As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me ...' Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.

I sit here having a hard time writing this review.  Not because the book was bad, because it was really good.  But I just don't know how to describe it's goodness.  It's a very intense book.  The protagonist, Christine, suffers from anteretrograde amnesia where she loses her memory every night as she sleeps.  She wakes up in bed with a man she doesn't know.  He tells her that he's her husband and she was in an accident years ago.  I can't imagine being on either side of this situation.

S.J. Watson did an excellent job showing us how someone would feel waking up every morning with no memory.  I got tense with Christine as she found and read her diary over and over again every day; finding out new things about her past every day, yet forgetting them as she slept.  The author kept the tension building day after day as Christine would remember a little bit more.  S.J. Watson did a great job with the characters, letting us see clearly into Christine and her angst over her life and memory problems, but keeping the other characters just a little bit shady so you couldn't guess what the truth really was.

This was a great read, with twists and turns everywhere.  Just enough to keep you guessing and very entertained!

 *Disclaimer:  I received this book from the publisher, HarperCollins, through NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 4 Bookworms

Hardcover:  368 pages

Ebook:  578 kb

Publisher:  Harper; First Edition (June 14, 2011)

ISBN-10:  0062060554

ISBN-13:  978-0062060556

ASIN:  B004GUSG4M