Sins of the Assassin
Robert Ferrigno
Scribner, Feb 2008, $24.95
ISBN 9781416537656
Following the nuclear suitcase bombs in 2015 that devastated Mecca, New York City and Washington D.C., Americans lost their fortitude; most assume Israel caused the pandemic destruction leading to many people converting to Islam in most of the states except the Deep South that remained fundamentalist Christian. The forty-eight states split into two nations, the Islamic Republic and the Bible Belt; both are led by fanatics.
By 2043, the two theocracies remain hostile towards each other. In that environs, Bible belt leader the rabid Colonel wants to gain control of a weapon of mass destruction that he will probably use to bring hell to the Islamic Republic. Assassin Rakkim Epps is to prevent him from obtaining the weapon using whatever means he must including killing the Colonel.
The second Assassin tale (see PRAYERS OF THE ASSASSIN) is an action-packed exciting adrenalin post apocalypse thriller as H. Raps Brown’s muse “violence is as American as cherry pie” is the theme of SINS OF THE ASSASSIN. Those fans who appreciate mano vs. mano exponential blood counts will enjoy Robert Ferrigno’s explosive futuristic saga. Those readers who prefer more exploration into two extreme theocracies whose loathing for one another make the Middle East look like a friendly book club choir will need to turn elsewhere.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Winter’s Daughter-J.C. Wilder
Winter’s Daughter
J.C. Wilder
Samhain, 2007
ISBN: 9781601860392
Twenty years ago the tragedy that broke up the Angelov family occurred. The Salem, Ohio police chief McNutt coldly informed fourteen Synnamon Angelov that her mom Victoria was walking when she died in a hit and run car accident just up the road from their home. He also orders her to tell her three younger sisters even as he directs his officers to search for evidence starting with breaking down a locked door. Being underage, the four siblings were violently separated as Syn sees evil emanate from McNutt while she telepathically claims her three younger sisters reminding them what they must do.
Now Synnamon has returned home to Salem as their house has called her and she assumes her sisters. She plans to learn what happened to her mom, why McNutt took “evidence”, forcibly split the family apart, and to determine as she suspects whether he and his police force covered up the murder of her mother accused of witchcraft. The locals are unhappy to find an Angelov witch living amidst them in the house that fascinates many bit also terrorizes more; some threaten her life; others try to take her life. Only the present police chief Matthew Whitefeather is there for her, but Syn learned from McNutt not to trust cops.
The first Coven tale is an exciting paranormal thriller with whodunit and romantic elements to enhance the tense drama. Syn is a terrific protagonist as her return to Salem frightens much of the townsfolk especially since she looks just like her late mom did in her mid thirties; her amateur sleuth inquires add to the tension of those who fear her and those who are more frightened she will uncover the truth. Matt is heroic and as he falls in love with the oldest Angelov sister knowing she bewitched him with love. However, what makes this strong witchcraft novel so much fun is the townsfolk’s reaction to the return of the next generation witch.
Harriet Klausner
J.C. Wilder
Samhain, 2007
ISBN: 9781601860392
Twenty years ago the tragedy that broke up the Angelov family occurred. The Salem, Ohio police chief McNutt coldly informed fourteen Synnamon Angelov that her mom Victoria was walking when she died in a hit and run car accident just up the road from their home. He also orders her to tell her three younger sisters even as he directs his officers to search for evidence starting with breaking down a locked door. Being underage, the four siblings were violently separated as Syn sees evil emanate from McNutt while she telepathically claims her three younger sisters reminding them what they must do.
Now Synnamon has returned home to Salem as their house has called her and she assumes her sisters. She plans to learn what happened to her mom, why McNutt took “evidence”, forcibly split the family apart, and to determine as she suspects whether he and his police force covered up the murder of her mother accused of witchcraft. The locals are unhappy to find an Angelov witch living amidst them in the house that fascinates many bit also terrorizes more; some threaten her life; others try to take her life. Only the present police chief Matthew Whitefeather is there for her, but Syn learned from McNutt not to trust cops.
The first Coven tale is an exciting paranormal thriller with whodunit and romantic elements to enhance the tense drama. Syn is a terrific protagonist as her return to Salem frightens much of the townsfolk especially since she looks just like her late mom did in her mid thirties; her amateur sleuth inquires add to the tension of those who fear her and those who are more frightened she will uncover the truth. Matt is heroic and as he falls in love with the oldest Angelov sister knowing she bewitched him with love. However, what makes this strong witchcraft novel so much fun is the townsfolk’s reaction to the return of the next generation witch.
Harriet Klausner
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Trick My Truck but Don’t Mess with My Heart-LuAnn McLane
Trick My Truck but Don’t Mess with My Heart
LuAnn McLane
Signet, Jan 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780451222862
Candie Montgomery enjoyed her life in Chicago, but after two years there, she has come home to Pinewood, Kentucky to help save her family owned business, Dapper Dan Used Car Emporium. However, instead of a warm welcoming, she is treated like a pariah. People she has known since she was a child spurn her greetings; 876 accusers including family members. Candie is stunned to learn that everyone, even her twin sister blames her for her sibling’s broken heart although she cannot understand how she can be held culpable for hot shot auto repair shop owner Nick ending it with Sarah.
She learns that everyone believes she is the other woman, who left town because her feelings for Nick drove her to Chicago. Candie informs her sister that when Sarah started to date her best friend Nick, she knew her twin and her buddy were meant for one another. Fearing for her family’s business as sales has plummeted, she decides she must find a way to get Sarah’s engagement unbroken, but not sure how as she is the athletic book worm not the glamour queen like her sibling is. Gorgeous Tommy Tucker offers her a perfect solution as he says he will pretend to be her boyfriend so that no one can accept her as Nick’s woman. Reluctantly she agrees. As she falls in love, she waits for Tommy to mess up her heart when he says no more pretending.
TRICK MY TRUCK BUT DON’T MESS WITH MY HEART is an amusing lighthearted small town romance in which the relationship between the twins is the star attraction over the two romances. The story line is fast-paced as the siblings land in one mess after another while Tommy tries to convince Candie that he is sweet on her and Sarah shows genius for the first time with her “Tricked out truck” ploy to re-nab Nick. Fans will enjoy the Montgomery sisters’ antics in their old Kentucky home.
Harriet Klausner
LuAnn McLane
Signet, Jan 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780451222862
Candie Montgomery enjoyed her life in Chicago, but after two years there, she has come home to Pinewood, Kentucky to help save her family owned business, Dapper Dan Used Car Emporium. However, instead of a warm welcoming, she is treated like a pariah. People she has known since she was a child spurn her greetings; 876 accusers including family members. Candie is stunned to learn that everyone, even her twin sister blames her for her sibling’s broken heart although she cannot understand how she can be held culpable for hot shot auto repair shop owner Nick ending it with Sarah.
She learns that everyone believes she is the other woman, who left town because her feelings for Nick drove her to Chicago. Candie informs her sister that when Sarah started to date her best friend Nick, she knew her twin and her buddy were meant for one another. Fearing for her family’s business as sales has plummeted, she decides she must find a way to get Sarah’s engagement unbroken, but not sure how as she is the athletic book worm not the glamour queen like her sibling is. Gorgeous Tommy Tucker offers her a perfect solution as he says he will pretend to be her boyfriend so that no one can accept her as Nick’s woman. Reluctantly she agrees. As she falls in love, she waits for Tommy to mess up her heart when he says no more pretending.
TRICK MY TRUCK BUT DON’T MESS WITH MY HEART is an amusing lighthearted small town romance in which the relationship between the twins is the star attraction over the two romances. The story line is fast-paced as the siblings land in one mess after another while Tommy tries to convince Candie that he is sweet on her and Sarah shows genius for the first time with her “Tricked out truck” ploy to re-nab Nick. Fans will enjoy the Montgomery sisters’ antics in their old Kentucky home.
Harriet Klausner
My Beautiful Disaster-Michelle Buckman
My Beautiful Disaster
Michelle Buckman
NAVPRESS Think, Oct 2007, $12.99
ISBN: 9781600060830
Having been outside enviously looking at the in crowd, Dixie Chambers feels she has made it when she gets to join the popular kids and attend the best parties. Life has never been better for Dixie until she meets rock and roll singer Vince Evans. She vows to do whatever it takes to make him her boyfriend even if it does not feel right.
However, once he gets what he wants from her, he ignores her. When Dixie learns she is pregnant, Vince could not care at all as that is her foolish problem. Feeling all alone and afraid to tell her parents, Dixie blames God for her current mess. Although she realizes that Vince and her new pals will not be there for her; her former best friend who she dumped would stand by her as a BFF does and so will the Lord if she embraces him.
The Pathway teen tale (see Maggie Come Lately; not reviewed) is a fascinating character study starring a young girl who just wanted to be in, but faces the complex issue of pregnancy. Michelle Buckman makes her case that even in the darkest moment faith in God helps an individual confront their demons. This is a well written inspirational young adult tale that will have readings think about their choices while giving hope even if the selection turns out wrong.
Harriet Klausner
Michelle Buckman
NAVPRESS Think, Oct 2007, $12.99
ISBN: 9781600060830
Having been outside enviously looking at the in crowd, Dixie Chambers feels she has made it when she gets to join the popular kids and attend the best parties. Life has never been better for Dixie until she meets rock and roll singer Vince Evans. She vows to do whatever it takes to make him her boyfriend even if it does not feel right.
However, once he gets what he wants from her, he ignores her. When Dixie learns she is pregnant, Vince could not care at all as that is her foolish problem. Feeling all alone and afraid to tell her parents, Dixie blames God for her current mess. Although she realizes that Vince and her new pals will not be there for her; her former best friend who she dumped would stand by her as a BFF does and so will the Lord if she embraces him.
The Pathway teen tale (see Maggie Come Lately; not reviewed) is a fascinating character study starring a young girl who just wanted to be in, but faces the complex issue of pregnancy. Michelle Buckman makes her case that even in the darkest moment faith in God helps an individual confront their demons. This is a well written inspirational young adult tale that will have readings think about their choices while giving hope even if the selection turns out wrong.
Harriet Klausner
Elvis Takes a Back Seat-Leanna Ellis
Elvis Takes a Back Seat
Leanna Ellis
Broadman & Holman, Jan 2008, $14.99
ISBN 9780805446968
In Texas fortyish widow Claudia feels all alone as her parents and child previously died and now she organizes some of her recently deceased husband’s items for a garage sale she is holding. However, amongst her spouse’s belongings she finds a note he must have wrote just before dying. His last request was to have Claudia return a weird bust of Elvis that she had planned to sell to Memphis.
Claudia would prefer not to drive to Tennessee, but foolishly told her sexagenarian Aunt Rae, who knew the King and pushes her niece to do her late husband’s final bidding as a way they can come together. Thus, Claudia, Aunt Rae and acerbic fifteen years old pregnant Ivy, daughter of a family friend, drive from Texas to Tennessee while ELVIS TAKES A BACK SEAT to these three traveling females who bond on the road and in Memphis especially after Graceland.
Once Leanna Ellis decides between homage to Elvis and emote end of the world sister angst the story line turns into a deep character study of the three females. Ironically when ELVIS TAKES A BACK SEAT to the threesome while on the road; the trio overwhelm the readers with their melodramatic torment that apparently is hyperbolic humor that reads awkward. In Memphis Elvis moves to the front and so do the women who come across as genuine with issues in which they bond. Overall an entertaining tale of three generations of women finding their way through Elvis (each chapter reflectively is titled with an Elvis song).
Harriet Klausner
Leanna Ellis
Broadman & Holman, Jan 2008, $14.99
ISBN 9780805446968
In Texas fortyish widow Claudia feels all alone as her parents and child previously died and now she organizes some of her recently deceased husband’s items for a garage sale she is holding. However, amongst her spouse’s belongings she finds a note he must have wrote just before dying. His last request was to have Claudia return a weird bust of Elvis that she had planned to sell to Memphis.
Claudia would prefer not to drive to Tennessee, but foolishly told her sexagenarian Aunt Rae, who knew the King and pushes her niece to do her late husband’s final bidding as a way they can come together. Thus, Claudia, Aunt Rae and acerbic fifteen years old pregnant Ivy, daughter of a family friend, drive from Texas to Tennessee while ELVIS TAKES A BACK SEAT to these three traveling females who bond on the road and in Memphis especially after Graceland.
Once Leanna Ellis decides between homage to Elvis and emote end of the world sister angst the story line turns into a deep character study of the three females. Ironically when ELVIS TAKES A BACK SEAT to the threesome while on the road; the trio overwhelm the readers with their melodramatic torment that apparently is hyperbolic humor that reads awkward. In Memphis Elvis moves to the front and so do the women who come across as genuine with issues in which they bond. Overall an entertaining tale of three generations of women finding their way through Elvis (each chapter reflectively is titled with an Elvis song).
Harriet Klausner
Moonlight Downs- Adrian Hyland
Moonlight Downs
Adrian Hyland
Soho, Feb 2008, $24.00
ISBN 9781569474839
After several years of seeing the world, half-aboriginal Emily Tempest returns home to the Moonlight Downs camp in Australia’s Outback. Emily struggles to readapt to living in the “Blackfeller” camp, but is getting there thanks in part due to a warm welcome home from her friend Lincoln Flinders although his daughter, her former best friend Hazel, makes her feel like an outsider.
She is stunned when Lincoln is found dead, a strangulation victim. Even more shocking is the killer carved out his kidney. The locals assume sorcerer Blakie Japanangka murdered and then mutilated the body of the camp’s leader. Emily assists police sergeant Tom McGillivray in trying to find Blakie, who has vanished. When information surfaces that makes the prime suspect look innocent, Emily looks into a land dispute as the motive for killing Lincoln with the organ removal used to throw blame on the aborigine sorcerer.
This is an interesting look at the aborigine culture from the perspective of a person who had one foot in that and one in the white Australian society before she became a globetrotter. Emily is the strength of the story line as her relationship with Hazel seems to be a microcosm of the two groups. Although the whodunit especially when it detours into an avarice land deal seems a stretch and lacks suspense, readers will enjoy this insightful visit to the Outback.
Harriet Klausner
Adrian Hyland
Soho, Feb 2008, $24.00
ISBN 9781569474839
After several years of seeing the world, half-aboriginal Emily Tempest returns home to the Moonlight Downs camp in Australia’s Outback. Emily struggles to readapt to living in the “Blackfeller” camp, but is getting there thanks in part due to a warm welcome home from her friend Lincoln Flinders although his daughter, her former best friend Hazel, makes her feel like an outsider.
She is stunned when Lincoln is found dead, a strangulation victim. Even more shocking is the killer carved out his kidney. The locals assume sorcerer Blakie Japanangka murdered and then mutilated the body of the camp’s leader. Emily assists police sergeant Tom McGillivray in trying to find Blakie, who has vanished. When information surfaces that makes the prime suspect look innocent, Emily looks into a land dispute as the motive for killing Lincoln with the organ removal used to throw blame on the aborigine sorcerer.
This is an interesting look at the aborigine culture from the perspective of a person who had one foot in that and one in the white Australian society before she became a globetrotter. Emily is the strength of the story line as her relationship with Hazel seems to be a microcosm of the two groups. Although the whodunit especially when it detours into an avarice land deal seems a stretch and lacks suspense, readers will enjoy this insightful visit to the Outback.
Harriet Klausner
Moonlight Downs- Adrian Hyland
Moonlight Downs
Adrian Hyland
Soho, Feb 2008, $24.00
ISBN 9781569474839
After several years of seeing the world, half-aboriginal Emily Tempest returns home to the Moonlight Downs camp in Australia’s Outback. Emily struggles to readapt to living in the “Blackfeller” camp, but is getting there thanks in part due to a warm welcome home from her friend Lincoln Flinders although his daughter, her former best friend Hazel, makes her feel like an outsider.
She is stunned when Lincoln is found dead, a strangulation victim. Even more shocking is the killer carved out his kidney. The locals assume sorcerer Blakie Japanangka murdered and then mutilated the body of the camp’s leader. Emily assists police sergeant Tom McGillivray in trying to find Blakie, who has vanished. When information surfaces that makes the prime suspect look innocent, Emily looks into a land dispute as the motive for killing Lincoln with the organ removal used to throw blame on the aborigine sorcerer.
This is an interesting look at the aborigine culture from the perspective of a person who had one foot in that and one in the white Australian society before she became a globetrotter. Emily is the strength of the story line as her relationship with Hazel seems to be a microcosm of the two groups. Although the whodunit especially when it detours into an avarice land deal seems a stretch and lacks suspense, readers will enjoy this insightful visit to the Outback.
Harriet Klausner
Adrian Hyland
Soho, Feb 2008, $24.00
ISBN 9781569474839
After several years of seeing the world, half-aboriginal Emily Tempest returns home to the Moonlight Downs camp in Australia’s Outback. Emily struggles to readapt to living in the “Blackfeller” camp, but is getting there thanks in part due to a warm welcome home from her friend Lincoln Flinders although his daughter, her former best friend Hazel, makes her feel like an outsider.
She is stunned when Lincoln is found dead, a strangulation victim. Even more shocking is the killer carved out his kidney. The locals assume sorcerer Blakie Japanangka murdered and then mutilated the body of the camp’s leader. Emily assists police sergeant Tom McGillivray in trying to find Blakie, who has vanished. When information surfaces that makes the prime suspect look innocent, Emily looks into a land dispute as the motive for killing Lincoln with the organ removal used to throw blame on the aborigine sorcerer.
This is an interesting look at the aborigine culture from the perspective of a person who had one foot in that and one in the white Australian society before she became a globetrotter. Emily is the strength of the story line as her relationship with Hazel seems to be a microcosm of the two groups. Although the whodunit especially when it detours into an avarice land deal seems a stretch and lacks suspense, readers will enjoy this insightful visit to the Outback.
Harriet Klausner
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