Patrick Kearney by Jack Rosewood

Patrick Kearney: The True Story of the Freeway Killer is Book 18 of TrueCrime by Evil Killers book series by bestselling true crime author Jack Rosewood.

Patrick Kearney was a smart albeit sickly and small kid as he was growing up in Los Angeles. His short stature put him on the receiving end of insults and mockery and made him an easy target for bullies. Even then, Patrick fantasized of various ways to commit murder.

So, with his innocent and nerdy looks, Patrick lured unsuspecting boys and young men, killed them, raped them, dismembered them and disposed them in industrial-sized garbage bags.

This is an informative book about a prolific serial killer that spread terror and inspired fear in the hearts of Californians in the 70s. The book is not only coherent but also told in detached manner and sounds quite objective. The descriptions of the crime are remarkably detailed without being graphic but vivid enough to evoke empathy for the victims of the horrendous crimes.

What I find most important in this book is the depiction of the effects of bullying. If the book is to be believed, Patrick’s urge to kill, rape and dispose of his victims was his way of exacting revenge on those people who bullied him as a child. Though not all bullied children turned out to be serial killers when they grew up, Patrick Kearney’s life might have turned out differently if he wasn’t bullied.

If there’s something to like in Patrick Kearney’s story, that would be his sincere love for his partner David Hill evident in Patrick’s taking sole responsibility for the murders vindicating David of any participation in the crimes.

Except for a few noticeable errors, this is a great book perfect for fans of true crime stories. Congratulations to Jack Rosewood on an enjoyable book! For more books by the author, click HERE.

Madam Tulip and the Bones of Chance by David Ahern

Madam Tulip and the Bones of Chance is the third book in the Madam Tulip Book Series created by David Ahern.

Irish-American actress Derry O’Donnel and her friends Bruce and Bella, once again find themselves out of work. So, after careful consideration of a surprise role in a movie, Derry and Bruce are packed and off to a romantic castle in the Scottish Highlands.

An attentive banker, a cheerful film producer, a seemingly indifferent wife, an ambitious PA and a charming estate manager are only among those whom Madam Tulip, celebrity fortune teller, gets a chance to meet. As unexpected events happen, as they do in movie sets, Derry is yet to know what her cards, her crystal ball and the bag of bones, have to say about the whole affair.

This is another hilarious and suspenseful Madam Tulip book. Told in easy to read, casual-conversational tone, this third book is a page turner just like the previous two. Unlike the two, however, I find this installment highly and remarkably unpredictable that it seems like all my deductions are way off the mark and they, indeed, are. Moreover, the romance is assimilated very smoothly and seamlessly. But I learned my lesson in Madam Tulip and the Knave of Hearts (Book 2) and read with extra care and reservation.

Needless to say, I like this book a lot. Though I think the paranormal stuff tends to be minimal compared with the first two books, the suspense and mystery make the reading an enjoyable experience. As I already mentioned in my review of Madam Tulip, AnIrish Cozy Mystery (Book 1), Jacko was my favorite character (he still is) flaws and all, but he comes neck and neck with the ever dependable and reliable Bruce.    

Congratulations to David Ahern (@DaveAhernWriter ) on another enjoyable book! For more books by the author, click HERE.          

Contract Pending by Al Marsiglia

Contract Pending: A New York Mafia CrimeFamily Novel is the first in the Frankie Fiore books written by Al Marsiglia.

Louie Marsiglia is a shoe repair shop owner in Brooklyn and his son, Frankie, works for him. Young and impressionable, Frankie Fiore is easily recruited by the local mob boss to do collections. Mentored by an experienced ‘made’ man, Frankie finds himself in the boss’s good side in just a short period of time. Soon, he and his new partner are given their own contracts as they continue to prove themselves capable of doing the job.  Then, his partner takes it upon himself to ‘touch’ the boss’s money and Frank finds himself on the run leaving his family exposed and vulnerable.

This is an exciting crime thriller with a touch of romance. More than the life of a mobster, the book highlights family values focusing on the things people are willing to do for their family and for the people they care about. The romance part lightens up an otherwise violent story. The author creates well-developed characters taking time to supply sufficient backstories to make the characters relatable. There are many likable characters in this story including Louie Fiore and Peggy, but I find Biff, Frankie’s mentor, my favorite. He is tough, strict and reliable. But most importantly, compared with other mobsters he still has a sense of right and wrong.

However, since the Mafia has been used as subject of so many popular novels already like The Godfather by Mario Puzo and The Firm by John Grisham, some readers may find this book somehow cliché. Moreover, though I sincerely like the plot especially the ending, other readers may find it somehow predictable.

Still, I enjoyed reading the book and I recommend it to crime and thriller fans. Violent and gory scenes, however, may not be suitable for your readers.

Congratulations to Al Marsiglia (@amarsig) on such an enjoyable book. For more books by the author, click HERE.  

Madam Tulip and the Knave of Hearts by David Ahern

Madam Tulip and the Knave of Hearts is Book 2 of the Madam Tulip Book Series created by David Ahern.

When part of Dublin’s Palace Theatre collapses, out-of-luck American actress Derry O-Donnell finds herself unemployed again. To help with the fundraising to hasten the repairs on the Palace Theatre, Derry teams up with her mother to organize a celebrity art exhibition. The auction reunites Derry with supermodel Marlene O’Mara and gets herself booked in an engagement party in an English stately home as Madam Tulip, fortune teller to the rich and famous.

Derry, together with her friend Bruce, travels all the way to England and meets with the Dowager Countess of Berkshire, a former chorus girl at the Palace Theatre. They also meet with the Earl of Berkshire, his two daughters Lady Charlotte and Lady Bryony, Lady Charlotte’s fiancé Torquil and the family’s curator, Sebastian.

However, just when Derry and Bruce are starting to get settled, they find themselves caught in the middle of a gruesome and threatening situation. Derry’s gift, as subtle as it is, offers very little help and it’s up to Derry and Bruce to go around the situation they find themselves in.

Just like the first book, Madam Tulip: An Irish Cozy Mystery, this is just as exciting and just as enjoyable. The author’s description of the affluence of the English aristocracy arouses envy in a common reader like myself. Unlike the first book, however, I find this to have a slower pacing while not all newly introduced characters are well-developed. The ending, though, is quite a blast and I like it a lot. Finally, I’m expecting for Madam Tulip’s ‘gift’ to be more developed by now but it seems like I have to wait for the next book in the series to find out.

Despite my issues, I enjoyed this book immensely.

Congratulations to David Ahern (@DaveAhernWriter) on another great read! For more books by the author, click HERE.      

Madam Tulip: An Irish Cozy Mystery by David Ahern

MadamTulip: An Irish Cozy Mystery is the first in the Madam Tulip Book Series created by David Ahern.

Derry O’Donnell is a good looking, smart, and talented American actress in Ireland. She is a little bit psychic, being the daughter of the seventh son of the seventh son, and out of work in the meantime, and most of the time.

When her highly successful art-gallery owner mother gives her an ultimatum regarding her accommodation, Derry has to think of some ways to earn money to cover the rent, fast. With the help of her best friend Bella, another out of work actress, Derry creates Madam Tulip, fortune teller to the rich and famous. On her first fortune telling event, The Celebrity Bash, however, a famous rap artist dies.

In just a couple of days, Derry’s world turns upside down. Her best friend might end up in jail, a supermodel might be murdered and she and some people close to her, including her father and her ex-lover, might suffer grave consequences.

This is a very enjoyable and highly entertaining book of crime and mystery. With casual tone for both the narration and dialogue, it is an easy read, totally intriguing and deliciously funny. The characters range from charming to annoying to contemptible. My favorite among the set of interesting characters is Jacko, Derry’s father. He is not the most responsible or most honorable, not even a good example to his daughter, but I find Jacko very realistic making him one endearing character for me.

Besides a few, probably typographical, errors, this book is generally well-written and I enjoyed it a lot.

Congratulations to David Ahern (@DaveAhernWriter) on such a wonderful book. For more books by the author, click HERE.  

My 2017 Booklist

This is a very short list. Needless to say, it’s not complete yet and as a book reviewer and book blogger, I add a title on the list as I go along. However, there are books that I plan to read this year. These are on my list last year but, apparently, I haven’t gotten around to reading them. Some are mainstream while others are indie.

Most of the books I read come from Online Book Club, my employer, where I do official reviews. Others are free e-books, from Amazon, which I find interesting. Most of them I feature on my blog. A few come from Booksgosocial where I write Amazon reviews in exchange for free books. Most of these I also post on my blog. Fewer still are books from indie authors who trusted me enough to give me Advanced Review Copies in exchange for honest reviews. Late this year, I discovered Instafreebee where I get free e-books, some of them I featured on my blog.  

This year, I only have a few on the list, mainstream and indie.

1. Don Quixote by Cervantes
2. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke
3. The Key by Marianne Curley
4. Winter by Marissa Meyer
5. The Necromancer by Michael Scott
6. The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer
7. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
8. Nightmares : The Sleepwalker Tonic by Jason Segel
9. Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them by JK Rowling
10. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
11. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
12. The Path of Decisions by Mike Shelton
13. Bear Prince by Emma Alisyn/Danae Ashe
14. The Golden Maple Tree by Marc Remus
15. Faerie Prince by Rachel Morgan
16. Linear Shift by Paul Kohler
17. Annie’s Second Chance by Willee Amsden
18. Nightlord Sunset by Garon Whited
19. Hatching the Phoenix Egg by Joel Horn
20. Lost Time by DL Orton

As I already said, it’s a very short list. IF YOU’RE AN AUTHOR, you may want to have your book on that list in exchange for an honest review. If you’re a reader like myself, you may want to check out my ‘2016 Book List’ to get an idea on what books to put on your own reading list. I recommend that you read the reviews first.

2016 Book List

1. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
2. First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
3. Paper Towns by John Green
4. Fling by Lily IonaMackenzie
5. Out of Time by Sarah Mackie
6. Kennedy’s Revenge by StephenL. Rodenbeck
7. Eating Bull by Carrie Rubin
8. Echo From Mount Royal byDave Riese
9. Ruby’s Choice by D. F. Jones
10. Wedding Haters by Melissa Baldwin
11. Silent Messages by John Albion
12. The Blogger by James Raven
13. Holding Fire
14. Blinders by Michael Amon
15. Blood Thief by James Holmes
16. Reflection of Innocence byJohn Tolliver
17. Eight Days by Scott Thompson
18. The Knights of Neverthelessby R.A. McClure
19. The Inlooker by Terry Tumbler
20. Junior Inquisitor byLincoln S. Farish
21. Time Stands Still by Stacy Froumis
22. Wilkes: The Awakening byJ.A. Harris
23. Don’t Be Yourself: Be ABetter Person by David Ross
24. The Last Ever After by Soman Chainani
25. What The Hand by Todd Stockwell
26.  Shot Down by Steve Snyder
27. Magora: Gallery  of Wonders by Marc Remus
28. Rune Gate by Mark Cooper
29. Prevarication: DeceitfullyYours by Monica L. Smith
30. Running to Stand Still by JTheron
31. The Day of the Tiger by William Paskett
32. The Shadows Behind HerSmile by Karen Millie-James
33. The Nuremberg Puzzle by Laurence O’Bryan
34. Hyde’s Corner by J BBergstad
35. Path of Destiny by Mike Shelton
36. Town Secrets by Scott Gelowitz
37. Necessary Evils by BillCarson
38. Provoked to Anger by CherayGardison
39. Save the Last Bullet for God by JT Alblood
40. The Spirit Guide by Elizabeth Davies
41. Being Medusa and Other Things That Suckby A. Lynn Powers
42. Land of Two Seas by ChandanSen Gupta
43. Shadow Cell by Joseph D’Antoni
44. Saved by Angels by Bruce Van Natta
45. Dead-End Sex by Arnold Holtzman

46. Smiling Exercises and Other Stories byDan Malakin

47. Peter’s Sisters by LM Foster
48. Of My Own Hand’s Weaving by Mary Boscoletta
49. The Faerie Guardian byRachel Morgan
50. Cyber Storm by Matthew Mather
51. Truth Unveiled by KimCleary
52. Aisuru by Anma Natsu
53. Witch of the Cards by Caherine Stine
54. Creole Moon, The Betrayal by ST Holmes
55. The Princess Companion by MelanieCellier
56. Dawn’s Eerie Light by Roy Ziegler
57. Teepees and Trailer Parks by HopeCallaghan
58. A Deadly Secret
59. Loved, Desired, Touched by the Alpha Cowboyby DD Boone
60. The Lost Identity Casualties by KimEkemar
61. Sabbatical of the Mind by David L. Winters
62. Bag of Bones by Hope Callaghan
63. Spiritual Dog: ‘Bear’ by J. Wesley Porter
64. Paper in the Wind by Olivia MasonCharles
65. The Stalker by Hope Callaghan
66. Disclosing the Secret by Vincent Amato
67. Anna’s Way by DF Jones
68. Genna’s Fight by Sheldon P. Newton
69. The Dragon Ring by C. Craig Coleman
70. Ink by Zita Harrison
71. Summer Storm by Tori Del Rey
72. Blowing Smoke by George Hiegel
73. The Cloud Seeders by James Zerndt
74. Armageddon’s Arc by Victor Baptiste
75. Neworld Papers: The Warriors’ Tale by KBShaw
76. Linear Shift by Paul Kohler

77. Who Are The Joneses Anyway by Bob andSusan Karcher
78. The Drift by Chris Thrall
79. Why You Won’t Go To Hell byBen Andrews
80. Bear Princess by Emma Alisyn/Danae Ashe
81. Altering Events by DennisN. Del Prince
82. Never Never Part 1 by Colleen Hoover/Tarryn Fisher
83. The Marvels by Brian Selznick
84. Puzzle of Fate by A. RezaKamarei, PhD
85. Never Never Part 2 by Colleen Hoover/Tarryn Fisher
86. Never Never Part 3 by Colleen Hoover/Tarryn Fisher
87. Sandy’s Story by DF Jones
88. Living on Sugar Mountain by Ryan Stadler
89. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
90. Accidental Cinderella by Emily Evans
91. Re-Enactment Project by KO Johnson
92. Catcher in the Rye by J. Salinger
93. Talk to The Moon by Katlynn Brooke
94. Beautiful Lies by RM Lagman
95. The Dark by Marianne Curley
96. The Night Before Christmas by RoseCollins

97. Elementals by Michael Anstead
98. 9^th Street Chronicles by WE Self

99. 1984 by George Orwell

100. The Reanimated Legends ofRock by Durell Mitchell
101. Annie’s 1st Break by WilleeAmsden
102. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling
103. Lost Coast Rocket by Joel Horn

104. Diana The Abduction byRiana Alammar
105. Cress by Marissa Meyer
106. Out of the Box Everlasting by JenniferTheriot

107. Gift of the Mancynn byDominic Hodgson
108. All’s Fair in Love and War by J Theron
109. The Royal Dragoneers by MRMatthias
110. Dream Oracle Series by Seraph
111. The Origin of F.O.R.C.E. by Sam Miller II

112. The Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts
113. Motivation 3 by Swift
114. Unspeakable Acts by Janet Leigh Green
115. Parable of the Tooth by KDLassiter
116. Crossing in Time by DL Orton
117. The Honey Bubble by GeorgePutnam
118. Running Home by Barbara Ellen Brink
119. Wonder by RJ Palacio
120. Police Under Fire by AubreyA. Barker
121. The Perseid Collapse by Steven Konkoly
122. Tabikat by Harriet Redfern
123. The Black Star by SD Smith
124. The Magic of Thieves by c. Greenwood
125. The Secrets in My Eyes byHarry James Hamilton
126. ROAN by ER Barr
127. Interesting Times by Matthew Storm
128. The Underbelly by EvelynCole
129. Gun by Lee Hayton
130. A Peripatetic Life by Raymond Walley
131. The General’s Legacy by Adrian G. Hilder
132. L.I.F.E. in the 23^rd Century by Jason R. Richter
133. Nightmares by Jason Segel/Kristen Miller
134. Coal by Constance Burris
135. The Light by Judith T.Lambert
136. Achieve Your Dreams by Scott Hughes
137.  A Soul Divided by Daniel M. Quilter 
138. Altdorf by JK Swift

Running Home by Barbara Ellen Brink

Running Home is Book 1 of the Second Chances Series written by Barbara Ellen Brink.

When it comes to his lying and cheating husband, Ivy is past caring. All she cares about now are her two children, Caleb and Riley.  But when Todd runs away with his latest girlfriend leaving Ivy to explain his disappearance not only to their kids but also to his employer who accuses Todd of embezzling company funds, Ivy has had enough. She packs her bags and runs away from California and takes her kids all the way to her hometown in Nebraska. 

Just when Ivy thinks she is ready to start a new life with her children, shady characters start to harass her family asking for something she knows nothing about. It seems like Todd does something worse than what he lets her on. Ivy doesn’t know what to do and whom to trust. There’s Samson Sinclair, the kind realtor who seems to genuinely care about her and her children. Unbeknownst to her, however, Samson is not actually what he says he is, leaving Ivy no other option except turn to God, whom she turns her back on several years ago.    

This is a fast-paced and suspenseful story though not very original is still very enjoyable. Told in casual, thus, easy to read manner, the book is riveting and difficult to put down. Though some parts are pretty much predictable, there are portions which are admittedly surprising. Any reader can eventually conclude that this is a Christian book and the subtle message of trusting the Lord lends a sense of calm and hope to such an exciting crime novel. 

The author creates realistic characters by giving them flaws and weaknesses. Ivy’s distrust for everyone including God is common to people nursing painful experiences. Todd’s selfishness and greed put his family in peril and lead to his ultimate destruction while Samson’s unwavering faith in God makes him good in what he does.

Needless to say, I like this book a lot.

Congratulations to Barbara Ellen Brink (@BarbaraEBrink) on such an enjoyable book. For more books by the author, click HERE.  

Teepees and Trailer Parks by Hope Callaghan

Teepees and Trailer Parks is Book 1 of the Sweet Southern Sleuths Series written by Hope Callaghan featuring twin sisters Loretta and Lacy Sweet.

Loretta and Lacy inherit a southern style mini-mansion in Misery, Mississippi from their late Aunt Tess. In addition to the house is the adjoining property from where stand rental trailers and teepees.

The ball starts rolling when the twins meet with Aunt Tess’s attorney at the property and learn that there is a ‘stipulation’ regarding their inheritance. On top of that unexpected stipulation is the shocking discovery of a dead body in the bathtub of the house. Whose body is it? And who put it there?

With a natural propensity for solving mysteries, Loretta joins Uncle Ichabod as he goes around the neighborhood fishing for information that might shed some light on the mystery at hand. Until then, the twins, Uncle Ichabod, Savannah, Cameron and everybody else are suspect for the death of the body in the bathtub. 

Teepees and Trailer Parks is a short but highly entertaining and very enjoyable story that will keep you reading from the moment you start until the last page.

The plot, though simple, is stimulating. The characters are delightfully endearing. While Loretta is plump, smart, sweet and kind, Lacy is thin, sly, vain and superficial. Then we have Uncle Ichabod, Aunt Tess’s sprightly husband, Cameron Oglethorpe, the handsome attorney and Savannah Dogwood, the housekeeper.

Congratulations to Hope Callaghan (@Hope_Callaghan) on such a great book! Can't wait to read Book 2, Bag of Bones.