Srepska by Lucas Sterling

Srepska is an international political and financial thriller written by Lucas Sterling.

After a cyber-attack that paralyzes the payment system in Kenya, Fredric Ulrich of Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), the German intelligence agency, is sent to Budapest to investigate. Besides getting nearly killed, Fredric discovers a plot of Srepska, a criminal cabal, to launch a massive cyber-attack to destabilize the economy of the United States.

Not knowing whom to trust, Ulrich acts warily but chooses to stay in the US to watch everything unfold.

Meanwhile, Lars Christopherson receives an offer too lucrative to refuse. As he works on the job, he comes across with Ulrich and they, themselves, become targets of a powerful cabal wreaking havoc in the mightiest country in the world.   

Told in the third person perspective, this is an exciting political and financial thriller with a great and timely plot. Subjects include cybercrime, blackmail, kidnapping and unexpected partnership and friendship. The book is, all in all, an easy read and given the realistic description of the panic caused by payment system failure a very interesting reading material.

What I like most about the book is the likelihood that something like this would happen anytime in any country. It displays how dependent we have become to online transactions and the paralyzing effect it would have on our daily lives. It sends various messages for readers to contemplate on.

However, though it is for the most part fast-paced and thrilling, some parts are somehow dragging. Moreover, I find the characters less developed than I hoped. It seems like the author focused more on the protagonists’ professional skills and abilities, military training and law degree but less on personal life. That makes it somehow difficult to connect with the characters. Finally, given the action-filled and suspenseful chapters, I find the ending less climactic than I expected.

Still, I enjoyed this book immensely. I find it a little scary which I think is part of the author’s objective in writing the novel. I recommend it to fans of political thrillers and cybercrime novels.

Congratulations to Lucas Sterling on such an exciting book!   

Srepska was an OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day on January 2^nd . You may check it out at Online Book Club.  

The Bellringer by William Timothy Murray

The Bellringer:Volume 1 of The Year of the Red Door is an exciting adventure and epic fantasy novel written by William Timothy Murray.

Robby Ribbon is a nice and fine lad in Passdale and the pride of his equally fine parents. When his cousin, Kingsman Ullin Saheed Tallin, asks him to perform a most unusual errand, Robby is eager to oblige. However, a few wrong turns along the road and an unfortunate encounter places him in an old fortress where he finds the Great Bell of Tulith Attis. Completely unaware of the significance of his actions and even of his mere presence at the old fortress, Robby inadvertently rings the bell and starts a series of events that will change not only his life but the fate of the entire Seven Realms.

Told in the third person perspective and with a consistently steady pacing, this book is an epitome of a great epic novel with no dull part or scene right from the first page down to the last. It features multiple themes including love, friendship, honor and courage among others. Settings and scenes are vividly described in minute details giving the book a movielike feeling.

Moreover, the author creates endearing, admirable and unforgettable characters first of which, of course, is Robby Ribbon, the kind albeit naïve bell ringer, a responsible son, a loyal friend, a faithful lover, and someone who always tries to do the right thing, a quality he got from his honorable parents.

What I enjoyed most about the book, besides the interesting plot and the delightful characters, is the concept of living with honor, credibility and high morals, as is the case of the entire Ribbon family. Mr. and Mrs. Ribbon are probably the best parents a child could have, the perfect neighbors and natural leaders. From these two characters alone a reader will learn a lot about how life is supposed to live.

It is, indeed, one great book. It is interesting, intense, exciting, unpredictable and undoubtedly well written. I recommend it to fans of fantasy novels especially those of The Lord of the Rings.

Enjoyable as the book is, however, it is not an easy read. It requires full attention to details, vast vocabulary and a healthy imagination to enjoy it to the fullest. Furthermore, reference to abuse and some violent scenes may not be suitable for very young readers.

Congratulations to William Timothy Murray (@WilliamInfodesk) on such a great book! For the next book in this wonderful series, check out TheNature of a Curse.

The Bellringer was an OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day on December 29^th, 2017. You may check it out at Online Book Club.

The Yoke by Darrell Dunham

The Yoke is a touching and inspiring book written by Darrell Dunham.

Since his mother’s accident, Barnabas Mitchell’s life has become a constant struggle and a series of hardships and difficulties. Just when it seems like it wouldn’t get any worse, his father left and never came back. Barnabas buried himself in his studies and did very well in school. Unlike other kids his age, Barnabas had only a few preoccupations that gave meaning to his life: taking care of his mother, writing on his journal and playing basketball.  When his mother died, Barnabas lost faith in God and in people. He fell into depression. However, out of love and respect for his mother’s memory, he soldiered on.

Bill Cushman is the good looking and charming son of a rich and influential man. He is lazy and arrogant, thinks highly of himself and less of other people. He never works for what he wanted. He cheats his way through it, uses other people to get it or simply asks his father to do something about it. Wherever Barnabas goes, Bill unexpectedly shows up and makes life harder for Barnabas than it already is.

This is a wonderful and beautifully written book about one man’s struggles and unwavering determination to live a respectable and honorable life despite the seemingly endless difficulties. It is an inspiring tale of love, courage, perseverance, integrity and faith. It shows how a man with nothing to show for himself but his work ethics and credibility can make it through and be among the best in what he does. Moreover, it depicts how God works in mysterious ways by sending someone the worst person to bring out the best in him, and using the most unlikely person to bring about the change that the best and finest people could not.

The author creates admirable and endearing characters including Sam Schultz and Kyle and Sarah Williams. In the end, however, I find Stephanie Schultz my favorite. She is patient, smart and kind and she lives by her faith through and through.

The part I like the most in the book is when Barnabas was presented a choice between ending his financial difficulties for good and doing what is right without any indication of getting anything in return. For me, it was the greatest manifestation of honorability.

However, I find some parts of the narration a little bit unnatural for fiction. Moreover, as especially mentioned in the book, a part of the court case was somehow too technical and might cause some readers’ interest to falter.

Despite those issues, I enjoyed the book immensely and I recommend it to those who are looking for inspiration and to those who simply want to feel good.

Congratulations to Darrell Dunham (@DunhamAuthor) on such a marvelous book!            

The Yoke was an OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day on November 28^th. You may check it out at Online Book Club.

SERIAL K by Brian Gallagher

SERIAL K is an exciting thriller written by Brian Gallagher.

As soon as Craig Breedlove gets hold of his vast inheritance after the unusual death of his father and suicide of his mother the day after his father’s death, he puts his nefarious plans to action that is to pay tribute to the greatest serial killers in history. Diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, Breedlove had spent three years in juvenile detention prior to his diagnosis giving him ample time to come up with the most diabolical plan that will make him the greatest serial killer of all time.

After emulating Robert Hansen in Anchorage, Breedlove moves to Spokane to pay tribute to Robert Lee Yates, Jr, then on to Salem, Oregon for a modified reproduction of Randy Woodfield killing. By the time the crimes are discovered to be interconnected, Breedlove is on to his fourth victim.

FBI Special Agent and part time fiction writer Ryan O’Callahan is assigned to the case and teams up with his ex-wife FBI profiler Lea Pucci. As they hunt down the serial killer, the couple gets to spend time together and begins to consider possibilities regarding their unusual relationship. Meanwhile, bodies are piling up and they are nowhere near the identity of the perpetrator.

The book is told in the third person perspective and is a real deal thriller fiction complete with graphically depicted scenes. Never once deviating from the plot, the author builds up the premise by introducing a depraved character performing terrible crimes that ultimately escalate to egregious atrocity. With a relatively fast pacing, the book is a real page turner with sporadic love and romantic scenes to break the intensity of the action.

The characters, both main and minor, are developed with just sufficient back stories to substantiate their roles. The conclusion, though not the usual kind of ending I go for, offers a temporary closure that leaves a slight feeling of discontent that may make some readers want for more.

What I like most about the book is the unpredictability. Halfway through the story, the author introduces a new twist and throws in additional characters making the flow of the book more difficult to guess.

Despite the few typo errors that I noticed, I enjoyed this book a lot and I recommend it to crime and thriller fans. Some violent and gruesome scenes, however, may not be suitable for young readers.

Congratulations to Brian Gallagher (@GallagherAuthor) on such a great book! For more books by the author, click HERE.

SERIAL K was an OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day on November 16^th. You may check it out at Online Book Club.    

We Won't Forget You Mr. McGillicuddy by Ira L. White

We Won’t ForgetYou Mr. McGillicuddy is a touching and relatable book about love and family written by Ira L. White.

Gilbert McGillicuddy is an eighty-nine year old World War II veteran suffering from dementia. He lives in Ancient Adult Singles Apartments a few blocks from where his son, Robert, lives. Robert, a widower just like his father, is a radical and passionate blogger who writes about politics, racism and poverty among other topics.

When Robert’s daughter Ruby gets pregnant and the baby’s father turns violent, Robert urges his daughter and his twelve-year old granddaughter Sapphire, to live with him. Together, they await the baby’s arrival, take care of Gil and try to make both ends meet.

Meanwhile, a vindictive former FBI informant, whose plans Robert foiled forty years ago, discovers Robert and his family’s whereabouts. Consumed by four decades of hate, the man schemes to exact revenge on Robert’s unsuspecting family.

Told in the third person perspective, this is a touching book that describes the struggle of an ordinary family to stay together and make do with what they have. It also portrays the dreadful mental illness, dementia, and how it affects not just the patient but the entire family. Moreover, the book paints a vivid picture of a family trying to get along despite the generation gap wedging them apart. Though I initially find the side stories irrelevant, I eventually begin to appreciate their inclusion and their significance to Robert.        

The author successfully creates well-developed and relatable characters. Gil, the gregarious and charming war veteran who is gradually losing his memory; Robert, the radical blogger who fights for what he believes in; Ruby, the mother who wants what is best for her children; and Sapphire, the teenager who needs a father figure but finds her traditional grandfather too strict.

The best part of the book is the realistic depiction of an ordinary family trying to get by with how little they have and still manage to stay together and for each other in every challenging situation.  

However, though the ending leaves a hopeful and optimistic feeling, I prefer a more definitive conclusion to the book.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book and I recommend it to readers who like stories about family and familial love.

Congratulations to Ira L. White (@irawhite11) on such a great book!

We Won’t Forget You Mr. McGillicuddy was an OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day on October 24^th. You may check it out at Online Book Club.    

Justice by Scott Hughes

Justice is a novella written by Scott Hughes.

Brynn is an unhappy wife to a passive-aggressive husband, who, she believes, ignores her and abuses her emotionally. So, to get even with him for the pain he causes her, she gets back at him in the best way she knows how and calls it justice.

This is a short but thought-provoking story that features different people’s perceptions of justice. While the perceptions may be viewed as twisted and unacceptable by some readers, the possibility that there are people who actually harbor such perceptions is, somehow, sad and even, at some point, scary.

The author brings up a common yet ignored truth about marriages and successfully piques the interest of readers who might not be aware or consciously ignore that such truth exists. Due to the shortness of the story, the backstories provided by the author are enough only for the readers to understand the characters’ behaviors but not sufficient to empathize with them. Similarly, the scenes at court are too limited to provoke the readers to immerse themselves in the story.

Still, this is a great and well-written novella. Congratulations to Scott Hughes (@scottmhughes) on such an enjoyable book. For more books by the author, click HERE.

The Gallery of Wonders: Magora Book 1 by Marc Remus

The Gallery of Wonders is the first book of the Magora Series by Marc Remus. 

When Holly's grandfather died in a mysterious fire incident, she was left to the care of her mean and abusive foster family, the Smoralls. However, everything changed. First, Holly received a package with strange things inside. Second, she discovered an equally strange creature in the attic. Finally, Holly and her three friends fell into a mysterious painting and found themselves in the magical world of Magora. 

Basically, the book is about art, love, friendship, and of course, magic. It is a real deal fantasy novel for the young and the young-at-heart. It features magical paintbrushes, talking tree houses and various creatures, some delightful and some not so delightful. 

Most importantly, the book is about faith, believing in yourself and what you can do, believing that you can do something even if other people tell you otherwise and believing in your friends the way you believe in them. 

Congratulations to Marc Remus (@MarcRemusArt) on such a wonderful and very enjoyable book with an amazing cover that he painted himself. A toast to such a very talented person!

Click HERE for the official review of The Gallery of Wonders: Magora Book 1 and for more amazing and interesting books check out Online Book Club.  

Ruby's Choice by D.F. Jones

Ruby's Choice written by D.F. Jones is the first book in the Ditch Lane Diaries. It started with Ruby and her friends Anna and Sandy exploring the Campbell Ridge Cave in 1972 and finding 3 precious stones, one for each girl. The story, then, fast-forwarded to the summer of 1977 with 20-year old Ruby working in Everglade General Store and meeting two shockingly good looking guys, Reed and Brent, the former being the subject of Ruby's recent dream.

Unknown to everyone, ever since she found the amber stone in the cave, Ruby has started having strange dreams which seem to be glimpses into the future. They were usually life dreams foretelling the birth of a child or death dreams signifying death of someone she knew. Other dreams involved people she had never met before. So, to come face-to-face with the man of her dream, literally, was a shock to Ruby.

She eventually learned that Reed and Brent were in the summer baseball team managed by her older brother George. What she did not know, however, was that they have been playing a game they called Tap It! which involved wooing the same girl until she chooses one of them, with the loser having to pay the winner's bar tab for a month. Ruby soon found herself between two very attractive guys both vying for her affection, for real, 

Ruby's Choice is a celebration of youth. It reminds us of how delicious young love feels. It describes how electrifying it is to be touched for the first time. It depicts young lovers' insatiable hunger for each other. However, it also portrays the pain of uncertainty and doubt. 

With a touch of paranormal which reminds me of the Donovan Legacy by Nora Roberts, if the author does not mind me saying so, Ruby's Choice is one great book for romance fans.

Congratulations to D.F. Jones (@Author_DFJones) for such a wonderful book!

Check out Ruby's Choice at Online Book Club. 

Holding Fire: Short Stories of Self Destruction

Holding Fire is a collection of ten short stories about self-destruction written by various authors and with introduction by Scott Hughes.

• Running with Guilt by Maggie Stancu was about Vic, a girl consumed by hate for her ex-boyfriend. Told in the first person perspective, this story was chronicled by the hour and by the day beginning with a heinous act committed by the narrator which led to total self-destruction.

• Dog Eat Dog by Joy Meehan was about Pam, who seems to hate everything and everyone. She made things extremely difficult for her team who looked up to her for supervision and leadership. She liked intimidating people and she got satisfaction from seeing other people suffer. Her goal was to see every single member of her team break. There was Victor, there was Louise, there was Odelia, but then, there was Elaine.

• Death's Door by Chris Chan was about the murder of an aging playboy while on a ski trip with four other people. With not so short list of people who hated the murdered guy, who could possibly hate him the most as to stab him through the heart?

• Vindictive by Isobel Sheene was about Jordan who wanted to exact revenge on the guy who apparently raped his sister.

• The Unsuspecting Nature of Grief by Jessica Phillips was about a widow who came face to face with the guy who killed her husband and searched her heart for the hatred that burned within her for years.

• Do Seconds Even Matter? by Tayah Reed was about Lana, whose mother was suffering from undiagnosed serious mental disorder that led her to do the unthinkable. Burdened by the guilt of not doing anything to prevent it from happening, Lana hated herself and started to act irrationally which made her feel scared that she might end up exactly like her mother.

• Life is a Great Teacher by John Mallon was about Rebecca Redmond and her husband Brian, who was accused of trashing his mother-in-law's car. Though Brian has been between jobs, he was sweet and kind and she could not picture him smashing her mother's car, in fact, Rebecca could not comprehend why her mother hated Brian so much.

• Burden of a Soldier by J.B. Rice was about Thaddeus who witnessed the killing of his friend Conan by the order of Prince Eamon when he was just a boy. Laden with guilt for not helping his friend, disgust for the villagers who just stood by and hatred for the prince who ordered his friend's execution, Thaddeus eventually left the village and lived in the city. He met Romulus who promised to help him avenge the loss of his only friend. 

• Ghostwriter by Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill was about Colton Price who wanted to be a popular author but was not talented enough to get published. He hired ghostwriters to do the writing for him. One of his ghostwriters was his sister-in-law, Lucy Albers who eventually changed her mind and refused to give him the final part of the novella she wrote for him.

• My Name is Finn by Julieanne Swiatczak was about Finn Montgomery who was physically and verbally abused by his own parents. For someone who has been told that he was not supposed to be born, the only ray of sunshine came in the form of Kelly Brinkman. Finn was finally happy until an incident drove him to ultimate self-destruction.

This book showed us, in various ways, how hate of others can easily turn to hate of self that may lead to self-destruction. No matter how much we try to be nice to indifferent neighbors and co-workers and kind to inconsiderate relatives and family members, we need to accept and admit that we get hurt and the pain we feel sometimes turns to hate. However, it is up to us how to handle this undesirable feeling. We can let it consume us and lead us to self-destruction or learn to forgive those who wronged us, forgive ourselves and strive harder to be better people.

These stories portrayed not only hate, envy, greed, abuse and guilt but also forgiveness, joy and love. The authors have each his own style of writing but all of them are engaging. I was actually surprised to find out that some of them are actually too young to have written about such profound subject with life-changing message.

In view of the above, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and I recommend it to readers who prefer serious subjects. This book may shed light to those whose hearts are blinded by hate and rage.

Check out Holding Fire at Online Book Club. 

Eating Bull by Carrie Rubin

Eating Bull is a suspense thriller written by Carrie Rubin. It is a story about an obese teenager, Jeremy Barton who has been having health problems as a result of his weight.

At 15 years old, Jeremy weighs 310 pounds. His bulk made him an easy target for not only bullies at school but also his own agoraphobic grandfather and his mother's jerk of a boyfriend Rex. His weight was also the reason for his insecurities and very low self esteem. What was alarming, however, was his health problems resulting from his being overweight 

Luckily, Sue Fort, a nurse from the public health weight management clinic was sincere about helping Jeremy. She, together with some others whom Jeremy called Fat Slayers, encouraged him to change his eating habits and perform a set of physical work-outs. Fed up with being constantly bullied, Jeremy was trying his best. However, bullies were not the only ones Jeremy should be wary about because out there somewhere, a serial killer was lurking targeting overweight people and next on his list was Jeremy.

At first, Eating Bull may appear to be a story about a very fat boy. However, the reader would eventually realize that the story actually featured various types of disorders including eating disorder, agoraphobia and auditory hallucination which is a manifestation of a deeper and more serious mental disorder. Moreover, this book is about family and the problems and difficulties a family has to overcome. Sue, despite her successful and rewarding career found it difficult to level with her daughter Kayla, while Connie, a single mother holding two jobs to make both ends meet, blames herself for Jeremy's unhealthful eating habits.

Needless to say, the book has a great plot in addition to interesting characters. The writing is casual thus easy-to-read making this book one amazing reading material perfect for fans of suspense and thriller or anybody who appreciates a good book with social relevance.

Congratulations to Carrie Rubin (@carrie_rubin) for such a wonderful book!

Click HERE to read the official review of Eating Bull by the Online Book Club. 

Achieve Your Dreams by Scott Hughes

This is one great eye-opening reading material. For a very short book, it made me feel various sorts of, well.. emotions. First, I felt guilty. I felt guilty for setting aside my dream, for going for what's conventional and for what, I thought, was safe. Second, I realized how afraid I have been. I was afraid to fail if I follow my dream, then I felt afraid to try to follow my dream, eventually I felt afraid to dream at all. Finally, near the end of the book, I felt emboldened. I may have gotten old but I can still dream and I can still work hard to make that dream come true.

Thank you so much Scott Hughes (‏@scottmhughes) for such an amazing book! I wish you luck on your book and I wish others will read it, too. 

Click HERE to view Achieve Your Dreams in my bookshelf at Online Book Club.    

For the Love of Suzanne by Kristi Hudecek Ashwill

Recently widowed from her abusive husband, Beau, Suzanne found herself magically transported to New Mexico in the yer 1860. She met an Indian agent, Cody Black Fox, who helped her out of her burning car.

As she got lost in the wrong place at the wrong time, Suzanne found herself falling in love with Cody who was falling just as much in love with her. Though Cody wanted to keep her for himself, he knew the right thing to do was to help her go back to where she came from, wherever that was. So, with a gang of Chiricahua warriors after them, Cody led Suzanne all the way to Arizona where, he thought, she would better be off.

Ultimately, this is a story of mutual selfless love; the kind of love that gives without taking any and that which does without expecting anything in return. This is a love story that makes a reader wish the same for herself.

However, there were several scenes that are too gruesome and gory for my taste. I believe though that those were the ways of the time and the author simply and successfully brought them out in her novel.

Congratulations Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill (@khudecek) for a wonderful book! Good luck!

Click HERE to view For the Love of Suzanne in my bookshelf at Online Book Club.

Didn't Know Twitter Can Be So Much Fun

I know that sounds so old news ,but I was born in the mid 70's, so cut me some slack.

Though I put up my twitter account about a couple of years ago I was never active. I only had 5 followers (I don't have anything to say to anybody anyway), and I only follow the news, the weather report and the department of education (plus those who follow me). Then Online Book Club happened and I suddenly felt the need to connect with other people. Since I decided to be a book reviewer, I started to follow authors, book promoters, fellow reviewers and former co-bloggers. Now, my once boring account is filled with colorful book covers, funny and sometimes satirical quotes and interesting facts. I just realized that there are so many things to see  on twitter and not just some acquaintances who post their last visit to Starbucks. 

Before, I just open my account like every 3 months, now, I open it 3 times a day to check out what's going on around the world. Naive? Ignorant? Jologs? Whatever. I'm having fun and that's all I have to say about that.. (to borrow from Forrest Gump)

By the way, you may follow me at @kimmyschemy06.

Been Busy Lately

Yes. I've been.

First, I finally learned to crochet bolero jackets and I've been having so much fun trying out new designs. Second, I also started making crocheted coin purses, which, in case you want to know, I post on my Facebook page Kim's Crochet and Bead Purses. You may want to check it out.

Finally, as I mentioned in my last post, I am now on OnlineBookClub.org and having a grand time reading new books by independent writers. In fact, I've already written 2 book reviews: Ivory Wild by Lady Elizabeth Tullos and The Gray Lady of Long Branch: If Walls Could Talk by Maura Satchell. You may want to take some time to look at it. If you want to read more book reviews, visit OnlineBookClub.org.

Life is so much fun when you're doing something you're passionate about. 

I'm On Online Book Club

I've always been a bookworm, and a proud one. I started with The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell and White Fang by Jack London. Then I got obsessed with Sweet Valley High Series, which unfortunately I wasn't able to read all. In college I got fascinated with suspense and mystery and started hounding the book stores for Sidney Sheldon, horror and went after Stephen King, but still clung to the classics and read Jane Austen, George Elliot, Louisa May Alcott, LM montgomery, Charles Dickens and others. By then, reading wasn't just a hobby or 'something else' to do. It became a need, a way of life, something I do because it's part of who and what I am. 

Late in college I joined a writing contest in my university and bagged the third place for short story category, not bad for a first timer (not counting of course the very short stories I fiddled with in high school). Then, several years ago, I put up a blog (which later on became five) and for a time featured original stories, both fiction and non-fiction. I even earned a little money writing paid posts for advertisers. It was fun but eventually came to end. I closed down all of my five blogs and put up a new one where I transferred some of my treasured stories. This is that blog, which I update every once in a while.

Recently, I discovered a site where I can get books for free in exchange for honest reviews, the OnlineBookClub.org. The site is amazing, simply a haven for book lovers. It is a place where you can join forums about books you read or those you wish to read in the future. For a bookworm like myself, it is a treasure trove, a pot of gold, an infinite stream of reading materials, a dreamland where you would like to go and stay in forever but only if you have passion for reading and a knack for writing. 

It is a place for authors who like their works to be reviewed and promoted, where their masterpieces will be treated with respect and be evaluated fairly. This is where aspiring writers will be given a chance to show what they got. Needless to say I want to be a part of all this. 

It may be slow, too slow in fact, of me to realize it but this is what I like to do, to read to my heart's content and write about what I read. Now that I am a book reviewer at OnlineBookClub.org. I am looking forward to an enjoyable reading experience. 

So, visit the site and be as thrilled as I am. See you there!