The Liar Charms by Lorain O’Neil

12 Feb 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Book Bingo, General Tags: , , , , ,

Published: 12th December 2013 Goodreads badge
Publisher: Self-published
Pages: 226
Format: ebook
Genre: New Adult Suspense
★   ★   ★  ★  – 4 Stars

Remy’s been kidnapped. Sent to auction! And she doesn’t have the vaguest idea why.

But intractable businessman Isaiah Grommet knows, knows what he’s purchased, knows what Remy was bred for, knows what she is: a Liar Charm. Some training from Pakken, Inc., and Remy will be invaluable to his billionaire’s empire. Voluntary or not.

But hipster Remy has her own snarkily colorful ideas about enslaved servitude and she’s NOT seeking corporate approval. So as long as Pakken doesn’t find out what Remy REALLY is, what Isaiah accidentally did that regrettably requires her immediate execution, Remy might just land it all smack in the Hudson! Either way, get ready for Charmocalypse, Isaiah!

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I started reading but by the end I was fascinated and wanted more.  The story is humorous and there is a wonderful level of sarcasm and defiance that makes it an entertaining read.

 The concept is intriguing and well thought out, and the characters are unique. O’Neil uses the dialogue and narrative well to establish who characters are and what kinds of people they are, and while not every character is explored as much as others it doesn’t really matter because an understanding of who they are is evident without needing more detail.

The narrative is written with three points of view and while it can be briefly confusing working out who is narrating when it switches, it doesn’t take long to work out. This is a great approach as various perspectives of the same issue can be expressed and there is not just a “victim” or a “villain” point of view.

The writing is clever and O’Neil is very good at making sure the reader’s sympathies are in the right place. The goal is always to root for the underdog but the writing is so well constructed that there are a lot of times when you almost have sympathy for Isaiah and find yourself coming around to his way of thinking. But what I loved is that every time I found myself almost understanding Isaiah, Remy would say or do something that sling shotted my support back to her.

Remy is a wonderful character, she is smart and resourceful, but she is also clever, calculating, and extremely patient. She is determined to do what she has to do in order to improve her current situation no matter what the cost. Remy’s intellect is evident throughout as well and she is aware of how Isaiah and others try to manipulate her and her emotions in order to gain sympathy or lull her into compliance. This is where Isaiah’s words become quite convincing and you realise how easy it would be for Remy to accept her fate.

In terms of the Charms and their abilities, their purpose and capabilities are explored seamlessly through the narrative. Any explanation that is required is worked into the dialogue and narrative eliminating any awkward paragraphs in order to explain things to the reader. From the start it is hinted at that Remy is more special than most, and when this reason is finally revealed we are given insight into what this means but I would have loved to have seen this explored further. There is enough to make it interesting and it is quite clearly explained but the story is so intriguing that there is always a desire to have more information and see more of Remy’s abilities demonstrated and see her wreak some havoc.

This was the case towards the end as well; while the conclusion was done well, I would have loved to have had the story drawn out further and expanded on. Having said that, the way O’Neil concludes the story is wonderful and I finished it wanting to never finish it which is never a bad thing.

You can purchase Liar Charms via the following

Amazon

Book Bingo BookSuspense

Mad Dog Justice by Mark Rubinstein

06 Feb 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Mystery, Thriller Tags: , , , ,

Published: 1st September 2014
Goodreads badgePublisher: Thunder Lake Press
Pages: 328
Format: ebook
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
★   ★   ★  ★  – 4 Stars

Roddy Dolan, a surgeon, and Danny Burns, an accountant, are being hunted as prey. Someone is after them with lethal intentions but they don’t know who or why. Whoever it is, and for whatever reason, they and their families are in the crosshairs of killers. Everything they know is unravelling. They must hide, send their families away, abandon their homes, and leave their lives behind.

The second book in the Mad Dog series, Mad Dog Justice is a harrowing tale of friendship, morality, betrayal, and dire consequences.

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review

This is the second book in the series but Rubinstein writes it in such a way that you don’t need to have read the first in order to understand what is happening or who these guys are. Through conversations, flashbacks, thoughts, and memories the events in the first book are explained fairly well so that nothing is left unanswered or confusing for the reader. If you haven’t read the first book (like I hadn’t), then a great air of mystery is present having not known the past and you seek to find out something that the main characters already know about, but this does not take anything away from the book it simply adds curiosity on our part and a desire to find out.

Roddy as a character is curious, he is rough around the edges at times, and comes off as a little bit needy. Whilst on the run he laments often about his wife, every woman he meets reminds him of her in some arbitrary way, and it gets a bit much at times. Donny, on the other hand, tries to suppress his moral dilemma and the fear of being hunted by persons unknown and prays a lot in order to justify to himself their past actions.

The way Rubinstein has constructed the narrative is clever and with realism. Hiding from questioning police, running away from friends and family, while also trying to track down potential killers is a lot harder that it seems, especially in the modern world and Rubinstein explores that.

For a surgeon and an accountant they are quite skilled at being on the run and in hiding. They may not be professionals but there is certainly some skill. Roddy tells us numerous times he has had ranger training so he understands how to hide and leave no trace. Roddy is the main narrator so we find out more about his past and youth than Donny’s. At times Roddy seemed a bit arrogant and a bit too proud of his youth and his reputation. It was easy to see past Roddy and present Roddy as different people, Mad Dog versus the skilled surgeon, but as the story progresses it is clear there is still part of Roddy who remains Mad Dog.

With Roddy and Donny unsure exactly why it is they are being targeted, it adds a great element to the story. As readers we do not know, and as characters they have theories but are not certain, leading to assumptions being made and stress and panic over past behaviour. Even when their theories are eventually revealed, there is still a great suspense just in the fact that they are uncertain and it shows that the explanation and the story itself may not be as simple as it first looked.

I enjoyed how Rubinstein chose to end this story, after the events in the book and the actions of Roddy and Donny it was unexpected but not displeasing and it suited the story wonderfully. The story is clever and real but is also filled with danger and mystique that makes real life a little bit more interesting and certainly not as simple as it appears.

You can purchase Mad Dog Justice via the following

Amazon (Paperback)

Amazon (Kindle)

Two for the Heart (#1) by Ekta R. Garg

02 Feb 2015 1 Comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Romance, Short Stories, Stories in Pairs Tags: , , , ,

Published: 3rd February 2015
Goodreads badgePublisher: Prairie Sky Publishing
Pages: 77
Format: ebook
Genre: Short stories/Romance
★   ★   ★  ★  – 4 Stars

A man and a woman get their divorce papers right after the wedding. A woman learns she’s suffering from amnesia. Two stories about relationships and the power of love. Two stories with characters to remember. Two stories for the heart.
“The Proposal”: Pooja and Akshay don’t want to bother with relationships, but they get cornered into marriage. The two devise a fool-proof plan: get married, then get their divorce papers ready. But will they have the guts to go through with the break up?
“Remembrance”: Helen wakes up in the hospital, but she has no idea how she got there. Everyone dodges the question…and then the sister she hasn’t spoken to in 11 years arrives. Why is she here? And will Helen ever remember what happened?

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

Garg’s collection of stories is a wonderful read that explores relationships and the power love has in those relationships. The two stories, “The Proposal” and “Remembrance”, follow very different narratives but each demonstrate that love can be a very powerful tool and motivator.

I think I enjoyed the first story, “The Proposal”, more than the second, and while I enjoyed the mystery of the second story, the story itself in the first was quite heart warming and sweet.

Both of these stories are quite short, but you really are able to get a sense of character quite well. Garg expresses and explores her characters through their personalities and in part through their actions which adds a great layer of complexities to them. There is also less focus on unnecessary scenes or intense description or detail, meaning the human aspects are the main focus and the relationships they have with others is a driving force to the narrative.

There are some surprises in the stories, not greatly shocking or twist worthy per se, but Garg holds back and keeps secrets, and she also leads the reader and tells them one thing while leaving possibilities open for other things, offering doubt and intrigue.

It is also a nice idea connecting the stories and Garg does this with style and simplicity without losing any of the quality. The overlap suits both narratives while not interrupting the flow of each individual story and adds another layer in doing so. Having the cross over so simple is a great example of how people connect with one another in the real world. Both these stories show that the main character of one story can be a background character in another and even be unrelated to the main character at all.

But I think what makes them work is that being connected makes you realise everyone has a story to tell; and being a background character in someone’s story does not mean you are not the main character of your own story. Which sounds very philosophical I’ll admit, but I did find myself thing about that when I had finished reading, very clever, intentional or otherwise, on Garg’s behalf.

You can easily see how each of these stories could be extended in to a longer one, even a novel if you tried hard enough, but why it works so well keeping it this length is that is keeps the main parts of the story in focus while not losing out on the content or quality.

 

You can purchase Two for the Heart via the following

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Unrelenting Nightmare by Stan Yocum

28 Jan 2015 1 Comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Thriller Tags: , , ,

Published: 31st December 2013
Goodreads badgePublisher: iUniverse.com
Pages: 330
Format: Paperback
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
★   ★   ★  ★  – 4 Stars

Stuart Garrison, a brilliant virtual reality software developer, has his company poised on the threshold of industry dominance with the release of his newest virtual reality system–Next World. Among his competitors is Preston McBraid, the cutthroat CEO of a rival company. McBraid realizes that if he does not own Next World, his company is bound to lose its premier position atop the computer industry.

Driven by desperation and greed, McBraid hires the notorious Nomed, a highly sought-after assassin who commands millions to kill a target. The FBI learns of the assassination plot and intervenes to protect Stuart. He in turn quickly augments the FBI team, hiring two security specialists as additional defense: a monster of a man, nicknamed Superman–and Alex Nichols, an expert in the field of security. Stuart clings desperately to the hope that he can make it though the onslaught of Nomed’s assassination attempts. If he does, his next ingenious virtual reality product–Mind Games–will blow the world away with its originality and staggering mass appeal, and catapult Stuart to the top of the computer industry as its reigning czar, and make him a billionaire many times over.

In this gripping suspense thriller, the wannabe czar of the computer industry is unwittingly catapulted into a deadly cat-and-mouse game against the infamous Nomed, and only time will tell who is clever enough to survive

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review

Unrelenting Nightmare is a story that grabs your attention from the very first page but then surprises you and shatters your expectations before you have even finished the first chapter. This level of unexpectedness continues through the story but not in so much that it is the main focus and takes away from the story itself. The thrilling nature is there as well as the suspense, but Yocum balances both these elements well, placing the right amount in all the right places and always with a purpose.

The story focuses on numerous perspectives around the same unfolding event but essentially follows Nomed, an assassin for hire who has been hired to kill a prominent software developer. What I found really interesting was that I often found myself unsure of who to root for. Typically when there is a story about an assassin hunting down and trying to kill an innocent person you’re supposed to hope he fails and the would-be victim gets spared, but I was surprised this was not always the case.

Nomed is a character who you can’t help but admire in terms of his creativity and his methods in his jobs. He works hard to make sure he is not caught but he also has a tendency to add some drama or flair to his work. This need for flair can be his downfall sometimes, his desire to be creative often distract from the task at hand and prolong his jobs when things do not go according to plan. Nomed is ruthless and smart, and what I loved about him was how Yocum sets up his character so that anything really could happen, and does, and even when everything seems clear there is another level of surprise in store.

Intended target Stuart, on the other hand, wavered in my eyes in terms of my sympathy. While I initially felt bad that he was being hunted by Nomed, you soon realise how annoying he can be and I found myself wishing Nomed would just take him out. This is where my conflictions came about, sometimes Stuart was so difficult and frustrating that I wanted him gone; it almost felt justified in a way, then of course something else happens and you wish Nomed would get caught before he can complete his job.

The clash of character personalities adds a great realism to the story though; people are all different, situations can be difficult, and when no one knows how or when Nomed is going to strike there is tension and a lot of waiting. All of Yocum’s characters are wonderfully real and they all bring something to the story to give it a bit more depth, reality, or intrigue. What was good about having a character like Stuart was that it highlights the difficulties Alex and the FBI have in trying to keep him safe and it makes the story quite captivating. He is determined to do what he wants and they must work around him and deal with him being stubborn meaning there are more risks involved than him happily complying to stay locked indoors all day.

The determination and unpredictability of Nomed also makes for an intriguing story because danger is never where you expect it and Yocum’s writing is filled with the unexpected and numerous surprises to keep you on your toes. There really is no way you can ignore how creative and ingenious Yocum has been in developing this story, not just with his depiction of Nomed, but also how everything that happens has a purpose whether you realise it at the time or not. Every element and action fits together wonderfully, making a seemingly simple story more intricate and the skill in which Yocum executes these makes the narrative a lot more compelling and a highly enjoyable read.

You can purchase Unrelenting Nightmare via the following

iUniverse

Amazon

Obstacles by Christopher Reardon

23 Dec 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, General Tags: , ,

Published: 1st October 2013
Goodreads badgePublisher: Solstice Publishing
Pages: 265
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy
★   ★   ★  ★  – 4 Stars

A child will die. You’re afraid to live. Would you go to all lengths to save him? Darkness knows no bounds, as Alcott, an African American doctor sees all too well. The man is petrified by death. His fragile existence rests at the mercy of the universe. This fact is far too much for him to handle. From unyielding nightmares to elevator terrors, he’s lost in paranoia.

Assigned to look after an ill child, Alcott’s horrors only heighten. Gari is a nine-year-old boy with a fatal disease. He will surely pass on within the year. Alcott bonds with him more and more each day. Part of him knows this grim fate just isn’t right.

Alcott befriends a hospital patient. This lunatic forces him to lug home an ancient text on bringing back the dead. Despite the man’s obvious dementia, Alcott attempts the scheme. Charging up a cliff, he recites the chant over ocean gusts. 

A god woman glides in from the horizon. She instructs Alcott on the trials to save Gari’s life. These fearsome Obstacles require true strength. From battling sharks to wielding a flail, he must prove fortitude against genuine danger. Alcott decides his fate at this moment. 

Death’s claws shall not grasp Gari’s soul. 

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review

Obstacles is the kind of book that brings you the unexpected in an engaging and unique story. The complex magical realm of the obstacles and the rules and logics behind it are creative and unique and add a new element to the fantasy genre. The story follows Alcott, a live in doctor for the terminally ill Gari, who wishes he could save the young boy’s life. When he is given a mysterious spell book with a promise that is will save Gari’s life, Alcott pushes past his paranoia and his fear of death in order to try and save him.

There is a great realm of believability and realism through this story, and it is matched by a wonderful fantastical element. The premise of Reardon’s story is not to create heroes out of ordinary people, but instead is shows ordinary people trying to achieve the impossible in order to save someone in a truly selfless act. Alcott and the others participating in the obstacles all have their own reasons for partaking and we slowly see these reasons emerge as the story progresses.

There is a great amount of action and Reardon uses it well and balances the excitement and the fantastical well. The obstacles they all face show great imagination on Reardon’s behalf; they are clever and entertaining and filled with uncertainties that keep you guessing. The anticipation the contestants feel also translates across the page meaning you also feel nervous for the outcome and are unsure what will happen.

Reardon’s strengths are in his creativity and expression of these ideas and the design of the world as well as his ability to surprise without losing sense of the story. In saying this, there are a lot of things unexplored. There are a few mysteries that are easy to leave unanswered such as the origin and nature of the mysterious book, as well as some of the elements in the magical realm, but other areas were less mysterious and more flat.

Connection with the characters, even Alcott, was only on the surface I felt. The emotions and fears and hopes of characters were known, as these are the reasons for their decision to partake in the Obstacles, but you could not really connect with them as people. But this doesn’t make you not enjoy the book, it was more a realisation after the fact that you do not really know these characters, instead the story and the events pull you along and you experience the characters in how they experience the obstacles and interact with the people around them.

An argument can be made that more detail could be given about the mysterious world but the story was never really trying to be about the world, the focus was on Alcott and his mission, any information and details provided relate to his goals so any need for further detail is in part just curiosity and a desire to know the world completely.

One thing I did keep noticing was that while Reardon uses words well to capture scenes and create scenarios, the use of adjectives regarding dialogue is not very broad. Conversations are often described as being yelled or shouted, which do not always suit the actions they are describing, and even then it is noticeably repetitive and you realise how common it is. But once you get used to the language it is easy to move past it and refocus on the story itself.

The ending I found interesting as it could have gone in so many different directions. What makes it work I think is that the characters accept it, therefore the reader accepts it, despite its unexpected nature from what you thought would happen. It also leaves a few things hanging to allow readers to draw their own conclusions about what could happen next.

There are multiple twists and surprises through this story so you are never quite sure what is going to happen but you are intrigued to find out. Reardon’s writing is captivating and unique and Obstacles is a compelling story that shows how people are willing to go to extreme lengths to save the people they care about.

 

You can purchase Obstacles via the following

Amazon

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