Book Review: The Duke needs a Wife: The Belles of Bath by Katy Walters

This steamy regency romance has a decent plot and reads easily.

The Duke needs a Wife: The Belles of Bath
by Katy Walters

File Size: 4292 KB
Print Length: 188 pages
Publisher: Rucrofts Publishing.; 2 edition (April 22, 2017)
ASIN: B0713NVHR2
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

On the untimely demise of her parents, Miss Cassandra Whitney endures abject poverty raising her siblings. She faces further torment as her landlord, the odious Baron Scudder, threatens her with eviction, if she refuses to assent to his offer of marriage to her younger sister Belle. As Cassandra fights to save her family, she inherits a titled estate and a ruin of a castle.
News of Casandra’s inheritance travels fast, reaching the highest circles in the ton. The Dowager Duchess of Taunton immediately sees her as a worthy match for her son Maximillian the 6th Duke of Taunton a renowned rakehell. The dowager also plans to take control over the castle which would be a prestigious venue for her many balls and hunting weekends. However, neither Cassandra nor Maximillian has any desire to wed. The Duke is more than inclined to enjoy his various mistresses without the entanglement of matrimony; besides his time is mainly caught up with horses, gaming and his club. What with her siblings, the estate and a ruin of a castle to renovate Cassandra could not possibly entertain the idea of courtship.
Both did not anticipate the manipulative powers of the dowager who slyly arranges a meeting between them.
On seeing Cassandra, Max is suitably impressed with her wit and ironic humour. Already tiring of one of his mistresses, she would be a welcome replacement. Although charmed with his handsome looks and seductive overtures, Cassandra puts him firmly in his place.
Can Cassandra resist the devilish overtures of the Duke and the devious ploys of the dowager?

Review:
This regency is a bit racier than I like. Cassandra is a lovely character but Max is a gritty rake.
Cassandra and her siblings are barely making ends meet after their parents have both died. The greedy, loathsome nobleman who owns their humble home is insistent on marrying Cassandra’s beautiful sister, Belle. Belle has no interest in Baron Scudder as she is affianced to her childhood sweetheart, Jack, one of the farmers. Cassie inherits a castle and determines that many of the ill-treated famer tenants and villages should move to the castle to help her set up house and estate, leaving a furious Baron behind.

Maximillian, the 6th Duke of Taunton, is a renowned rakehell with multiple mistresses and no interest in finding a wife. His mother, The Dowager Duchess of Taunton, thinks it’s time for Max to take a wife and she thinks a humble young lady who has inherited a historic castle would make a perfect bride. Particularly since the Dowager wants to get control of the castle so she can invite and impress her ton friends. The Dowager connives to have Max travel with her to the castle where she invites herself, and entourage, to stay.

Max and Cassie can see the machinations of the Dowager but they are hard pressed to stay out of her way. Although Cassie hadn’t planned to marry as she describes herself as a “butterball”. Max finds her voluptuous curves enticing. Although he is crude and aggressive, he has promised not to take Cassie’s virginity until she asks him.

Max and Cassie grow in friendship as they work together to renovate the castle. But Baron Scudder is still chasing Belle and objecting to the removal of the farmers and villagers. This creates danger and tension that puts Max in the position to protect Cassie and her sister.

Although Cassie is immediately likeable, I can’t say the same for Max. Max is introduced as a crass, almost vulgar, womanizer. I’ve read many historical romances with rakehells and I prefer those who still show a sense of gentlemanliness, especially around innocents. Other than the crass attitude and steamy interludes, the plot, with interfering mother and revengeful suitor, is reasonable and engaging. Although this is more gritty than I like for this genre, those who like steamy regencies might want to try this.

I received this from Pump Up Your Book Campaign for review.

Book Review: FIFO 50 STATES by Hayley Rose

This is a charming way to share state information with children.
FIFO 50 STATES
by Hayley Rose
Illustrator: Jessie B. Orlet

Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: Flowered Press (March 15, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0998248347
Genre: Children's Picture Book, Educational
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

In this delightful rhyming story, Fifo, a warm and loveable brown bear, is bitten by the travel bug. Fifo dreams of diging up diamonds in Arkansas, looking for fossils in Kansas, enjoying a delicious bowl of gumbo in Louisiana, and even seeing a Broadway show in New York. Yes, America is an exciting place! Fifo's second book is full of adventure. A colorful reference-like geography book, Fifo discovers the wonders each state has to offer. He learns along the way each state's capital, shape, flag, motto, and much, much more. The possibilities are endless! So, come along with Fifo and you'll soon discover the beauty of America one state to another. A positive experience for both Fifo and the reader. Learning should always be this much fun!

Review:
This is fun and educational for young readers. Each state gets a descriptive page and an illustration that depicts more features of the state. The states are presented alphabetically and each descriptive page provides the number order that the state joined the United States, the capital of the state, the state flower and the state bird. Below the description is the state motto. These elements are pulled into the illustration but additional features are included such as the shape of the state with the capital marked by a star, the state flag and a prominent sight such as surfing for Hawaii and alligator wrestling in Florida. The illustrations are lovely, providing additional tidbits for an adult to learn and to share with a child.

My granddaughter and I began reading together and made it to Illinois where their family now lives. She was especially interested to see Hawaii and Mississippi where they used to live and Florida where P-pop and Grandmom live.

The only thing that made this drag a bit is that each page repeats several phrases for the rhyme. This actually got tiring after about 10 states. I felt those extra three lines could be used to suggest other prime features of each state. Still it is a wonderful learning tool for parents and children to share time together. I have not read any other Fifo books and it was fun to meet this charming bear in his travels.

I received this from the author for Amazon Review Campaign through Pump Up Your Book.

Additional Information:
 Author's Website
Follow at: www.facebook.com/booksbyhayleyrose 

AMAZON * GOODREADS

Book Review: The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen

This is a thought provoking dystopian story with engaging plot twists.
The Ark
by Laura Liddell Nolen

• File Size: 1020 KB
• Print Length: 239 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager (March 26, 2015)
• Publication Date: March 26, 2015
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• ASIN: B00O0FY6B0

Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

There’s a meteor headed for Earth, and there is only one way to survive.
It’s the final days of earth, and sixteen-year-old Char is right where she belongs: in prison. With her criminal record, she doesn’t qualify for a place on an Ark, one of the five massive bioships designed to protect earth’s survivors during the meteor strike that looks set to destroy the planet. Only a select few will be saved – like her mom, dad, and brother – all of whom have long since turned their backs on Char.
If she ever wants to redeem herself, Char must use all the tricks of the trade to swindle her way into outer space, where she hopes to reunite with her family, regardless of whether they actually ever want to see her again, or not . . .

Review:
Char felt abandoned at home and, as a rebellious pre-teen, she took up with a bad group of kids. She pushed her beloved younger brother away so he wouldn’t follow in her thieving footsteps. She tried to break away but her cohorts trapped her in the last robbery. Of course, noone would believe her and, at the age of sixteen, she is on her third time in Juvenile prison. The bigger problem is that no prisoners will be allowed a starpass to enter the Ark.

A meteor is headed toward Earth. Five Arks have been built to take selective groups from five nations into space to recolonize. Important people in leadership and specialized fields, like medicine, are guaranteed a spot. Others from age appropriate (under 40), healthy citizens have been selected by lottery.

Char unexpectedly finds herself in possession of a starpass. She seeks help from a special prisoner, Isaiah, who is called ‘the mole’ due to his blindness. She persuades him to help her escape. They become separated but she finally makes it to the Ark and a young security officer helps her enter at the last minute. Char desperately wants to see her family but she fears they will not welcome her.

Once on board Char is exposed as a stowaway and goes on the run and into hiding. She discovers surprising allies and experiences (yet again) painful betrayals. The disturbing secrets she discovers could change life, not only for her but, for everyone onboard the Ark.

Char is a complex character, whose spirit of rebellion was difficult for me to embrace. I had to remind myself more than once that she is just a young, confused and emotionally hurt girl. I would have appreciated Char’s stealthy skills if they were used for good and they do come in handy in helping her reach the Ark and survive once there. I also liked Isaiah’s intensely brilliant leadership skills although he too is a difficult character to fully like.

The author makes a good point about how we view rules: some believe rules are made to “protect us”, while others recognize some rules often “only protect a small group”. I initially had trouble getting into the story/characters. However, once I hit 30% I couldn’t put it down. There is a distinct blurriness to lines of good and evil. There is certainly bleakness in the story – especially to the extent that corruption is going with those destined to build a new world– but there is a message of hope too. I recommend this story as a good dystopian experience.

I received this ebook from Pump Up Your Book tour for an honest review.

• The Ark is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
• Read Chapter One here.

About the Author

Laura Liddell Nolen grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she spent lots of time playing make-believe with her two younger brothers. They supplemented their own stories with a steady diet of space- and superhero-themed movies, books, and television. The daughter of a comic book collector, she learned how to handle old comics at an early age, a skill she’s inordinately proud of to this day.

Laura began work on her first novel, The Ark, in 2012, following the birth of her daughter Ava, a tiny rebel and a sweetheart on whom the novel’s main character is loosely based. Completion of The Ark was made possible in part due to an SCBWI Work-in-Progress Award. 

Laura loves coffee, dogs, and making lists. She has a degree in French and a license to practice law, but both are frozen in carbonite at present. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two young children, and their dog Miley, who is a very good girl.

For More Information:

Visit Laura Liddell Nolen’s website.

Connect with Laura on Facebook and Twitter.

Find out more about Laura at Goodreads.

Visit Laura’s blog.

Book Review: Grey (The Romany Outcasts Series, Book 1) by Christi J. Whitney

This has unique elements and is an engaging story.
Grey (The Romany Outcasts Series, Book 1)
by Christi J. Whitney

• File Size: 1302 KB
• Print Length: 400 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager (April 30, 2015)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• ASIN: B00MT9E66E
• Genre: Paranormal, YA
• My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: April 30, 2015
Sebastian Grey dreams of a girl. But when she turns up at school, Sebastian realizes that this isn’t your average teenage fantasy.
Sebastian Grey always thought he was a fairly normal teenager – good friends, decent grades, and a pretty sweet job in his foster brother’s tattoo shop.
But when strangers arrive in town, Sebastian soon realizes that his world is nothing at all what it seemed. Secretive gypsies surround him, shadowy figures stalk him, and the girl he’s been dreaming about turns up at school.
Now Sebastian must protect this girl at all costs, even if it means he will never be normal again.

Review:
Sebastian has always been a quiet young man who has tried to lead a normal life. He enjoys his friends at school and looks forward to apprenticing at his foster brother’s tattoo shop. It doesn’t bother him that he doesn’t remember his life before he was adopted by a couple who left him with the elder ‘brother’, Hugo. But he is bothered by some strange dreams of a gypsy girl whom he struggles to protect.

Sebastian is startled when the girl of his dreams, Josephine, shows up at school and his compulsion to protect her intensifies. He is also troubled because his body is changing as though he is sick and his emotions have become strangely volatile. Hugo and his tattoo partners are keeping a close eye on him and finally explain to Sebastian that they are gypsies and that Sebastian has an important role in the family. They tell him to stay away from Josephine who is from a different clan, but they won’t give him more details.

The story has a bit of Romeo and Juliet family animosity, plus some other Shakespearean similarities that are well used. At first I found the teenage angst a bit trying but fortunately there are surprising elements in the story that kept my attention. I was frustrated that no one would talk straight with Sebastian even as they all wanted to manipulate him for their own uses. This works to keep Sebastian at odds, not knowing who he can trust when he most needs friends. Ms. Whitney manages to pull the reader into an emotional commitment with Sebastian. The romance with Josephine is a bit one sided considering she has a pre-arranged mate/boyfriend who, or course, takes an immediate dislike to Sebastian. But Josephine does seem to sense a special connection with Sebastian.

The writing flows well and I really enjoyed the unique issues of Sebastian’s character and circumstances. The author has presented a creative story and I will be interested to follow how Sebastian copes with his future challenges. I recommend this to readers who like a creative paranormal and are comfortable with some YA issues.

I received this title through NetGalley from the author for an honest review as part of Pump Up Your Book Tour. This is part of my NetGalley Challenge.

For More Information

• Grey is available at Amazon US and Amazon UK.
• Get it for your Nook at Barnes & Noble.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
• Watch the book trailer here.
• Read Chapter One here.

AUTHOR:

Christi J. Whitney is a former high school theatre director with a love for the arts. She lives just outside Atlanta with her husband and two sons. When not spending time with them or taking a ridiculous number of trips to Disney World, she can be found directing plays, making costumes for sci-fi/fantasy conventions, obsessing over Doctor Who, watching superhero movies, or pretending she’s just a tad bit British.

Her latest book is the young adult urban fantasy novel, Grey(The Romany Outcasts Series, Book 1).

For More Information

• Visit Christi J. Whitney’s website.
• Connect with Christi on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about Christi at Goodreads.
• Visit Christi’s blog.
• Contact Christi.

Blog Tour Book Review Plus Giveaway: The Brass Giant: A Chroniker City Story by Brooke Johnson

This story has wonderful steampunk elements.

The Brass Giant: A Chroniker City Story
by Brooke Johnson

• File Size: 1155 KB
• Print Length: 236 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse (May 5, 2015)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• ASIN: B00M719Z06

Genre: Steampunk, YA
My Rating:  3.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Sometimes, even the most unlikely person can change the world

Seventeen-year-old Petra Wade, self-taught clockwork engineer, wants nothing more than to become a certified member of the Guild, an impossible dream for a lowly shop girl. Still, she refuses to give up, tinkering with any machine she can get her hands on, in between working and babysitting her foster siblings.

When Emmerich Goss--handsome, privileged, and newly recruited into the Guild--needs help designing a new clockwork system for a top-secret automaton, it seems Petra has finally found the opportunity she's been waiting for. But if her involvement on the project is discovered, Emmerich will be marked for treason, and a far more dire fate would await Petra.

Working together in secret, they build the clockwork giant, but as the deadline for its completion nears, Petra discovers a sinister conspiracy from within the Guild council ... and their automaton is just the beginning.

Review:
Petra is an orphan who works as a shop girl in a poorer section of Chroniker City. The good thing about her work is that she gets to help fix clock mechanisms under the guidance of a kind expert. Petra has always dreamed of entering the Guild University to study and become a certified engineer. She tries to sneak in disguised as a boy but is rejected because she has no background school and no money for tuition.

Some of the young students are passing the shop and one of the young men has an automaton following him. Petra is fascinated but challenges the mechanism. Emmerich, who created the remote controls, recognizes the look of awe and intensity in Petra’s eyes. He pursues her and asks her to help him build a special project for the Guild. Not only is the project highly secret but if it is discovered that Emmerich allowed Petra to work on it they would both be in danger of charges of treason leading to execution. Although reluctant and fearful, Petra cannot resist the opportunity to truly work in the Guild.

Their first prototype is well received by the council leaders who move up the deadline for the final project. Petra and Emmerich grow closer as they work late at night to build the clockwork giant until Petra tries to walk away when she realizes the danger her involvement poses to Emmerich.

An attack by Luddites, who hate the machines, brings a fire to the University causing Petra to rush to Emmerich. The incident brings back memories of the night her parents died in a similar fire. Now Petra has even more reason to fight to be a part of the Guild. She returns to help Emmerich finish the project only to discover that the purpose of the machine has been twisted by a conspiracy of leaders seeking their own agenda. Petra is caught and accused of treason and she feels completely betrayed by Emmerich.

The story is set in 1881 and the steampunk world is wonderfully developed. I really enjoyed the rich descriptions of sights, smells and sounds. The steampunk world had much in common with other steampunk stories I have read. Still, I found the focus on the mechanics engaging and the development of the young friendship enjoyable for about two thirds of the book. Then the young adult angst and the gushing romance became too much. Plus Petra repeatedly made stupid, childish decisions that put her in danger. I suppose the effusive romance and the impetuous, rash behaviors are consistent for young adult but these issues broke my engagement with the otherwise good story.  The scenes to wrap up this book seemed a bit forced and the story ends intentionally with problems remaining to be addressed in the next book.

I liked the steampunk aspects of the book enough to still give this a pretty positive rating. I do think this book would be enjoyed by young adults and those who like steampunk as long as they are prepared for YA romance too.

I received this through Edelweiss for Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour.

To Purchase The Brass Giant
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brooke is a stay-at-home mom, amateur seamstress, RPG enthusiast, and art hobbyist, in addition to all that book writing. As the jack-of-all-trades bard of the family, she adventures through life with her fiercely-bearded paladin of a husband, their daughter the sticky-fingered rogue, and their cowardly wizard of a dog, with only a sleep spell in his spellbook.
They currently reside in Northwest Arkansas, but once they earn enough loot and experience, they’ll build a proper castle somewhere and defend against all manner of dragons and goblins, and whatever else dares take them on.
Visit Brooke at her website

Visit her at the following locations
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

GIVEAWAY

Brooke and Harper Voyage Impulse are giving away a $25 Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins April 27 and ends on May 15.
• Winners will be contacted via email on May 17.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Admit to Mayhem: Lillian Dove Mystery by D. J. Adamson

This is an engaging mystery with a dysfunction heroine.

Admit to Mayhem: Lillian Dove Mystery

by D. J. Adamson

• File Size: 403 KB
• Print Length: 212 pages
• Publisher: Horatio Press (August 25, 2014)
• ASIN: B00N1L0RVC
• Genre: Mystery, Amateur Sleuth, Small Town
• My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0
• 
  

Book Description
Publication Date: August 25, 2014
With a contrary attitude and an addiction for independence, Lillian Dove admits she has not been a success in life. In fact, she considers failing as one of her addictions. Yet, when she comes across a suspicious house fire with a history of arson and murder, she instinctively attempts to help someone trapped. Lillian becomes the only possible eyewitness to criminal arson, and her life begins to spiral out of control.
Lillian Dove is an endearing “everywoman” struggling with life issues, emotional complexities and a habit of doing just the opposite of what she’s told to do. These qualities in a heroine give the reader an ability to vicariously struggle along with the protagonist in this intriguing Midwest Noir mystery.

Review:
Lillian Dove has not had a very happy life. Lillian resents her mother for keeping the family in its situation with an alcoholic and abusive father and burdening young Lillian with the care of two younger brothers. As soon as she could, Lillian escaped home but her life spiraled into alcohol until she pulled herself out fifteen years later.

Lillian moved to a new town to start a life away from her past. Now, as a reconveying alcoholic, she struggles to make ends meet with two jobs: a dispatcher for the police and a clerk in a local liquor store. She wishes for a “normal” life with a boyfriend to love.

Lillian drives by and sees a house on fire. After calling it in she tries to rescue someone she spotted in an upstairs window. She tumbles into the bedroom and has to be rescued herself. The rescuing fireman claims there was no evidence of anyone else in the house.

A few days later Lillian calls in a break-in at her condominium but, again, the arriving police say there is no evidence of anyone there. She spots a mean man threatening her mother at the nearby living facility and begins to believe that man is responsible. Lillian continues to try to solve the arson case even while being mocked by the police department.

I found the beginning of this book a bit difficult as Lillian is not a happy character and it was unusual to have an unlucky, codependent, dysfunctional heroine. However I appreciated her determination and eventually was engaged by the mystery and the mayhem. I felt there were some character involvements that were not completely explained and the ending, after the mystery was solved, was a bit abrupt. Yet, I was engaged enough by the town characters that I read on into the excerpt of the next book, wanting to know more of what happens and hoping for better things for Lillian.

The writing flowed well and read fairly quickly. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and especially to readers who like small town settings with different character personalities.

I received this ebook for an honest review as part of Pump Up Your Book Tour.

• Admit to Mayhem is available at Amazon.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

About the Author

D. J. Adamson is an award-winning author. Her family roots grow deep in the Midwest and it is here she sets much of her work. She juggles her time between her own desk and teaching writing to others at two Los Angeles area colleges. Along with her husband and two Welsh Terriers, she makes her home in Southern California.

Her latest book is the mystery, amateur sleuth, Admit to Mayhem.

For More Information

• Visit D.J.’s website.
• Connect with D.J. on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about D.J. at Goodreads.
• Visit D.J.’s blog.
• Contact D.J..

Book Excerpt:

My name is Lillian Dove. I am a recovering alcoholic, five years sober.

      Five long years, yet the clink of ice in a glass still sets me on edge.

      There is no graduation from alcoholism. Or life, for that matter. I am also addicted to Pepsi, chocolate, men, being afraid, being afraid of not being afraid, men—again--and my independence, co-dependence and unsettling ability to fail no matter my attempt. There are other compulsions and bad habits, but I can’t think of them right now. Memory loss, see? And I obsess on how much I forget, if I remember. Giving up alcohol turned out to be easier than changing some of my other behaviors.

      Especially my bad judgment when it comes to men. The type of man I’m most attracted to is like a tall, Tom Collins on a sweltering, summer day:  gin, a little lemon--but not too sour—with sweet syrup and bubbly soda.  It’s hard to resist, even if I know it’s not good for me.

       I’ve pledged a Tom-Collins-abstinence.

      Yet, Chief Charles Kaefring began offering me his attention. I thought my sobriety realigned my sexual magnetism. I was attracting a different type.

       He started coming to my desk to tell me he was leaving and instructed me to send all his calls to his assistant. At first I couldn’t figure out why he thought I needed this instruction. I already transferred his calls as a manner of routine. Then a week after making sure I was aware of his whereabouts, I bumped into him lakeside at Louise’s Italian Kitchen.

       Louise’s is my Friday night routine. I celebrate making it through another week.  One spaghetti dinner at a time.

      After that Friday night, I saw him at Louise’s every week. If he got there before me, I’d see him glancing toward the entry as if waiting for me to arrive. If I got there first, I’d pretend I never expected him to show up--which was the truth. Each and every time he arrived, I was flabbergasted.

      I wasn’t sure what was starting up between the two of us or who started it. I mean, how could a man like him seriously be interested in me?

       And even after weeks came and went, I still didn’t trust him. At each dinner he’d ask if I’d like wine with my meal. “Of course,” I’d say, letting my glass set without drinking it. If he worried the wine wasn’t good, I’d bring the glass to my lips, without sipping. I figured if he knew I had a drinking problem, he’d beat the hell out of there. Eventually though, he stopped asking if I wanted wine and only ordered one glass instead of two.

       Still, he kept showing up.

      I knew I was starting to slip into a situation that could toss my sobriety into the toilet, but meeting for dinner didn’t seem like backsliding into emotional drunkenness. Although, it never feels like slipping until you find yourself in a ragged heap of discontent.

      Our routine altered when on a Sunday afternoon he telephoned giving me a weather report. He said the day was hot and getting hotter. He said he was putting a steak on the barbecue, and he just happened to have two.  Are you hungry?

White Rogue Author Feature and Character Interview!

My review and giveaway post follows but below you can meet the authors and read a fun Character Interview!

About the Book:

Cold War era biological experiments are resurrected and after Boston experiences a seemingly inexplicable bio-terrorist attack, the Center for Disease Control’s Dr. Davie Richards and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Paula Mushari once again join forces to uncover who is behind it. An obscure reference to a Dresden project found amid crash site evidence marks them both for execution. Paula and Dave are forced to leave Boston in the middle of the night and head to Washington, D.C.,where they soon find that anyone they contact also becomes the target of assassins. When the daughter of the CDC’s director is taken hostage, Dave and Paula come face to face with an evil that forces them to question the very nature of duty and service to country. With the help of one man, they learn the true meaning of dark operatives while they desperately try to stop another bio-attack from happening.

Purchase your copy at AMAZON

Discuss this book in our PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE.

About the Authors:

DR. DAVID FETT, a board certified ophthalmologist, received his BS and Masters from MIT before earning his MD from Dartmouth Medical School. He now runs a private practice in Los Angeles and serves as an assistant clinical professor at UCLA School of Medicine. He lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Randi, and their four children.

STEPHEN LANGFORD is a veteran writer/producer of over 150 hours of primetime television. He has also ventured into screenwriting and fiction. He lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Sandy, and their two daughters.

CONNIE MALCOLM is a recovering journalist who worked on The Globe and Mail in Toronto. She has worked previously on ten books of nonfiction authored by her husband, Andrew. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and the youngest of their three sons.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The image below is NOT contractor Geneva Scott from White Rogue but I could picture a female 'spy' like this.  [The image is Piper Perabo in Covert Affairs who has played Annie Walker since 2010.]

Character Interview

White Rogue Interview with Geneva Scott

Steve Langford, one of the authors of White Rogue, has agreed to help us interview one of the more unusual characters from the novel, Geneva Scott.

SL: Geneva, why don’t you give us a little background on how you got into the business of working under contract for the CIA?

Geneva: Are you %#$*%* kidding me? I told you there are some questions I can’t answer. Ask me another one like this and you’ll have trouble leaving here.

SL: Okay. Okay. How long have you been a contractor?

Geneva: I’ve been doing this for about 7 years on and off. It’s pretty fulfilling work.

SL: Are you telling me that you get satisfaction from killing people.

Geneva: Are you stupid? Do you think I’m going to tell you that I have killed people? Let’s just say that I like variety in the assignments that I take. I like the power, the rush I get from manipulating my targets and bringing my best assets into play in acquiring the desired result.

SL: Are you telling me that you use sex to trap guys?

Geneva: You figure it out.

SL: How has your work for the government impacted your life?

Geneva: Since there’s no shortage of bad boys in the world, I manage to make a decent living and that’s important to me because I’m married and have two great kids.

SL: Really? How does your husband handle what you do? I mean …

Geneva: Listen, Steve, you may be a good writer but don’t think you can figure out everything there is to know about me. My family, my husband are my business. I think we’re done here. Now you tell everyone to get White Rogue and read about me; after all, I am one of the most intriguing characters.

Blog Tour Spotlight: The Funny Adventures of Little Nani by Cinta Garcia de la Rosa

THE FUNNY ADVENTURES OF LITTLE NANI

Little Nani is a little girl who likes helping people. However, when she helps people the results can be a bit unexpected. Why is that? Little Nani is a witch! Or at least she wants to be a witch. With her magic wand, she will try to cast different spells to help her friends, but she won’t be successful all the time. Follow Little Nani in her funny adventures and meet her extraordinary friends. Funny ostriches, horses that love reading, super-fast turtles, grumpy zombies… Little Nani has lots of friends! You can also draw your own characters! Little Nani is willing to become a good witch. Will she manage to do it? Who knows? Read the stories and discover what happens next!

Buy Link

Add to Goodreads 

ABOUT CINTA GARCIA DE LA ROSA

Cinta Garcia de la Rosa is a Spanish writer who has loved the written word since she discovered she was able to read books at age 5. Since then, she has become a bookworm and reads around 100 books every year. She also writes, every day, compulsively, even in the middle of the night. You cannot control when inspiration hits you, can you? She writes in English because she is convinced that in a previous life she was British, so writing in English feels more natural to her than writing in her native language. Yes, she is crazy like that. Cinta Garcia is the author of “The Funny Adventures of Little Nani”, a collection of short stories for children, and “A Foreigner in London”, a short story published on Smashwords.

Book Review: Scorned Justice: The Men of the Texas Rangers by Margaret Daley

This is a wonderful, Christian, romantic suspense with strong characters and great tension.
Scorned Justice: The Men of the Texas Rangers
by Margaret Daley

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (April 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142671436X
• ISBN-13: 978-1426714368

Genre: Christian Fiction, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: April 1, 2013 | Series: Men of the Texas Rangers (Book 3)
Texas Ranger Brody Calhoun is with his parents in west Texas when an unexpected attack injures the brother of Rebecca Morgan, Brody's high school sweetheart. The local sheriff, a good friend, asks for Brody’s help. At first, it seems like an open-and-shut case.

As Brody digs deeper, he realizes the attack may be related to an organized crime trial Rebecca will be overseeing. With Rebecca's help, he compiles evidence involving cattle rustling, bribery, and dirty payoffs that shatter the entire community and put Rebecca directly in the line of fire.

Brody expects to protect her. What he never expects is to fall for Rebecca all over again, or for a murder to throw the case wide open. Is Brody's faith strong enough to withstand not only deep-rooted corruption and cattle rustling, but also love?

Review:
Rebecca Morgan is a Judge overseeing a high profile trial of an organized crime leader.  Soon after the trial begins, Rebecca’s brother is injured while riding out on their joint ranch.  Although it appears to be an accident more security is  assigned to protect Rebecca, her sister-in-law and nieces against any threat of retaliation.

Brody, a steady, strong Texas Ranger is directed to protect Rebecca. They were best friends in school and he finds himself glad to be around the woman he lost after high school when they went separate ways and she married someone else. He has remained single all these years and even though she claims she will never marry another cop he knows there is a strong connection and attraction between them.

Continuing attacks, near misses and dead bodies in Rebecca's house have the authorities scrambling to determine which of the rival crime gangs has targeted Rebecca. The author includes thoughts from the villain’s view so the reader knows there is more going on before the characters do. This helped keep the tension and suspense running high and the heart pounding.

I was quickly pulled into the lives of the likeable hero and heroine. Within the first chapters I wanted a second chance for Brody and Rebecca. I was rooting for Brody and just waiting for Rebecca to realize that she couldn’t control all circumstances of her life but she shouldn’t miss out living to the fullest due to fear.

I really like Ms. Daley’s honorable characters and the underlying faith that gives them inner strength. The faith messages are natural to the characters and their circumstances and not preachy. There are good secondary characters including Brody’s feisty father who is recovering from a heart attack but still wants to share his skills as a detective.

The writing is full, easy and moves at a good pace. The descriptions are vibrant and the suspense is non-stop. The romance is a sweet backdrop to the danger. There are Discussion Questions at the end which are good for groups or for your own brain pondering. If you like good romantic suspense I highly recommend Scorned Justice. Although it is apparently a third book in a series it works fine as a stand alone. I will be looking for more of Ms. Daley’s books to read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rebecca struggles with control issues and Brody challenges her on it:

   "I'm used to being in control. As a judge. As a prosecutor. But with this situation I have no control....
    When she looked at him again, he glimpsed fear in her expression. "How much time do you spend worrying about that control--planning your life down to the smallest detail?"  Page 156.

I received this book for an honest review as part of Pump Up Your Book Tour. 

This story is set in and near San Antonio, Texas for my 2013 Where Are You Reading Challenge. This is also a New Author for me.

To find out more about Margaret visit her website or say hello at:

TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Visit the other blog tour sites for more review input. 

Book Review: The Miracle Inspector by Helen Smith

This story is well written and thought provoking, but dark.

The Miracle Inspector
by Helen Smith

• File Size: 340 KB
• Print Length: 254 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Tyger Books (May 17, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003MGK8V0

Genre: Dystopia
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 17, 2010
A dystopian thriller set in the near future. England has been partitioned and London is an oppressive place where poetry has been forced underground, theatres and schools are shut, and women are not allowed to work outside the home. A young couple, Lucas and Angela, try to escape from London - with disastrous consequences.

Helen Smith was the recipient of an Arts Council Award for The Miracle Inspector.

"The Miracle Inspector is one of the few novels that everyone should read, it's a powerful novel that's masterfully written and subtly complex." 5* SciFi and Fantasy Books

"Helen Smith crafts a story like she's the British lovechild of Kurt Vonnegut and Philip K. Dick, only with a feminist slant." Journal of Always Reviews

'Smith is at the very least a minor phenomenon.' The Times

Review:
Lucas and his wife, Angela, live in a future, closed-off London where women are completely restricted to their homes. Groceries and household items are delivered as the women do not go out to those places or any other.  It seems that children are rare and I wasn’t quite clear where the children were in the story.  Lucas seems interested in having a child but either Angela can’t or won’t consider the idea.

The men do all the jobs, and a lot of the work seems to be stifled and a drudgery.  Lucas is privileged to have a prestigious government position as The Miracle Inspector.  His job is to investigate and report on claimed Miracles. Of course no one really expects that he will ever find or approve any of the miracles that are called in.

Artists, whether painters, poets, writers or others of creative nature, are deemed to be subversive rebels of the new order. Most people of such nature, including Lucas’ parents, have been killed. But a close friend of the family, Jesmond, a Bohemian poet, still recites his poetry at forbidden gatherings, dodging capture. This character adds dreams and hope to the story. He has delivered a packet of poems and materials to Lucas who doesn’t want to have anything to do with them. Instead Angela begins to read the poems and she is lured to the freedom expressed by the creative spirit.

The first half of the book there is quite a bit of male fantasizing by Lucas thinking about his own wife and another colleague’s wife.  I found this unpleasant particularly since Lucas seems to love his wife but their relationship is stilted and stagnant because they don’t communicate and she has nothing to share.

I was glad that the pacing picked up in the second half of the book. Lucas had been toying with the idea of escaping London to take Angela to Cornwall. Finally he begins to form a plan and the story moves forward. I would say this was purposeful as the first half really sets the reader in the mode of the lifestyle - the same routine day after day with little outside contact or relationships.

I don’t wish to give any spoiler so I will only say that there is a journey through different, strange and sometimes dark communities.  It is difficult and there exists only a fine thread of hope to keep going.  The entire book is a dark view of societal controls and repressions. It is not a happy or cozy escape, but rather a thought provoking experience. Some readers would find this fascinating - as other reviews note. The writing is superb, at points lyrical which is surprising and a relief with the dark content. My final thoughts: this is interesting but not my cup of tea.

These are some words I jotted down as I read through this book:
                              Cerebral, artistic, thought provoking, complex, dark, depressing.

Sharp description of the silences between Lucas and Angela:

There were whole worlds contained in those silences; millions of gossamer strands of understanding going back and forth between them, like an invisible version of that fibreglass loft insulation that was illegal now. Location 40.

This is a phrase that made me think "ouch":

Lucas didn't like living in a dictatorship, as he did now, but he could see how democracy could be a bit of a burden when you were expected to obey the will of the people and the people turned out to be such a bunch of fools. Location 160.

I received this book for reviewing through Pump Up Your Book Tour.

  About the Author:
Helen Smith is a member of the Writers Guild of Great Britain and English PEN. She traveled the world when her daughter was small, doing all sorts of strange jobs to support them both – from cleaning motels to working as a magician’s assistant – before returning to live in London where she wrote her first novel which was published by Gollancz (part of the Hachette Group).

She is the author of bestselling cult novel Alison Wonderland. She writes novels, poetry, plays and screenplays and is the recipient of an Arts Council of England Award. She’s a long-term supporter of the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture and mentors members of an exiled writers group to help them tell their stories.

Visit her website at http://www.emperorsclothes.co.uk.
Friend her on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/emperorsclothes
Become a fan at Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/authorhelensmith
Friend her at Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2833648.Helen_Smith

Pick up a copy of The Miracle Inspector at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Inspector-Helen-Smith/dp/0956517056

Book Review: A Man of Honor by Loree Lough

This is a wonderful read of strong, warm characters.
A Man of Honor: First Responders Book #3
by Loree Lough

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (August 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426714629
• ISBN-13: 978-1426714627

Genre: Christian Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: August 2012 | Series: First Responders (Book 3)
On a steamy spring morning, Dusty Parker—part-time pastor, part-time search-and-rescue team member, and full-time administrator of a school for troubled boys—joins the search for a missing teenage girl. He partners with volunteer and inner-city school teacher Grace Sinclair, and what they find bonds them in ways neither could have expected.

As they begin to build their lives together, a visitor from the past causes Dusty and Grace to further open their hearts and home. But a threat is looming on their seemingly perfect lives and in one terrifying night, everything changes.

Review:
Oh, wow -- I had to finish the final 70 pages last night and there was much joy and sorrow packed into those last pages.

Dusty Parker is a strong, wonderful character. His looks may be deceiving as one might not be prepared for a pastor, teen guardian when they look at a pony-tailed, tattooed, Harley riding ex-marine. Dusty had hard losses and hard times in his past but he turned his life around when he turned control over to God. He still faces demons of self doubt and blame when he thinks that he has failed any of the young boys he houses. But after he meets Grace she tries to make him see that he is honorable because he gives all and does all he can for these young lives.

Grace is a beautiful and rather fearless school teacher. She and Dusty meet on a search and rescue (SAR) when one of Grace’s young students goes missing after prom night. Neither is looking for a mate but God has other plans when he brings them together.

Dusty runs 'Last Chance,' a home for troubled boys. With the help of assistant Pastor, Mitch, they are raising eleven young boys between twelve and sixteen. The Last Chance is facing a threat from a nearby gang who wants to incorporate the young boys into it’s ranks.

Grace manages her 10 acre family ‘ranch’, Angel’s Acres by herself. Perhaps she can house the boys for the summer which will teach the boys new skills while keeping them away from the gang lures and threats. Quickly a family develops and soon surprises are added.

The two primary characters are wonderfully strong and giving. Grace has a heart of pure gold and she is able to see through Dusty’s rough edges to the honorable man beneath. The additional characters of boys and friends add conflict as well as a lot of humor and joy. The story is character driven with warmth and strength. Although this is the third book in a series it works fine as a stand alone.

The writing in the story flows very smoothly. I was pulled in with the first pages and never lost interest. The final fifth of the book has anticipated conflict and totally unexpected consequences.  Not everything ends as you might expect or desire.  The story was never preachy yet I enjoyed the strong faith that flowed through the characters. I recommend this for a fine reading experience and I look forward to reading more stories by Ms. Lough.
Caution: Have tissues handy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grace's view of Dusty:  

He’d taught her the meaning of real kindness and compassion–rare and beautiful gifts possessed by only a handful of humans. She was fortunate to have them, and blessed to have learned them through Dusty’s unwavering example. Page 225.

Thank you to the author for providing this fine book through Pump up Your Book Blog Tour.

This story is set in Baltimore, MD for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my New Author list.

Learn more about the book and the author, including stops with Giveaways by visiting the Blog Tour Page.
You can visit Loree online at www.LoreeLough.com.

Book Excerpt:

Dusty stifled a  yawn and deployed the Harley’s kickstand. Grumbling under his breath, he stowed his helmet, and, after squeezing rain from his ponytail, pulled up the rain-soaked hood of his sweatshirt.
A fat raindrop oozed from a leaf and landed on the tip of his nose, then slid to the blacktopped footpath, where it gleamed like a new dime.  Up ahead, the red and blue strobes of emergency vehicles sliced through the gray mist, and the whoop of sirens silenced the usual chirp of tree frogs and crickets. If that didn’t lend gritty balance to the postcard-pretty scene, Dusty didn’t know what did.
Melissa Logan, age sixteen, hadn’t been home since the night of her prom. Last seen a few miles west of the her high school, her disappearance had sparked an intensive dusk-to-dawn manhunt that left everyone scratching their heads. And this morning, when a jogger’s German shepherd started acting spooky, the dominos began to fall…starting with its owner’s 9-1-1 call and ending with another search, here at Gunpowder State Park.
“It’s been nearly a week since she went missing,” Jones warned, “so prepare yourselves.”
Meaning, dead or alive, Melissa Logan wouldn’t look very pretty, even in her fancy prom gown.

* * * * *