tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53924232528850543742024-03-05T02:38:16.974-08:00TW Brown on zombies, Border Collies, and the Indie writing scene...The more personal musings of the author TW Brown.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.comBlogger735125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-64095864228099797522018-09-22T10:14:00.001-07:002018-09-22T10:14:30.681-07:00Review: Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126584" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1308169929m/126584.jpg" border="0" alt="Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126584">Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54208">John Edward Douglas</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2538660804">4 of 5 stars</a>
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This is a book I grabbed after watching "Mindhunter" on Netflix. It tells a very deep story of one man's journey into cataloging the habits and personalities of what would become known as "serial" killers. Hard to believe that term did not exist prior to this group and their work. It tells a great story and there are times when you sense the realistic mindset disagreements between Douglas and his cohorts in the BSU. This crew made massive gains in the behavioral sciences world and this is a story worth hearing.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2538660804">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-83176132953791818382018-05-08T15:19:00.001-07:002018-05-08T15:19:10.060-07:00Review: The Bees
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18652002" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1384018069m/18652002.jpg" border="0" alt="The Bees" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18652002">The Bees</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7307477">Laline Paull</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2361232577">5 of 5 stars</a>
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I just started tending bees, so this book popped out to me. Besides being a good fantasy read, Paull obviously had some actual bee knowledge. It was a real treat to imagine hive dynamics as they were presented here. If you handle bees, you have to read/listen to this title. If not, it is still a very enjoyable tale.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2361232577">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-47443709677007846762018-02-14T07:30:00.001-08:002018-02-14T07:30:43.444-08:00Review: City of the Dead
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90577" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348120199m/90577.jpg" border="0" alt="City of the Dead" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90577">City of the Dead</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52050">Brian Keene</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2295768665">5 of 5 stars</a>
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I realize that there are those who passed on this title because book one was so insane, but isn't that the beauty of this genre? Keene is one of the people who were in the vangard that brought zombies back to the forefront. Kirkman simply gets the credit because he has a hit TV series, but there was a time when zombies were NOT so prevalent on Amzon in the book section. Keene stood out with this tale because it does not try to make you feel good. It tries to unsettle you and does so very well. And to have the demon aspect so well melded into this genre is a testament. This tale is even more action packed and fingernail destroying than the first installment.<br /><br />I refuse to dock this selection simply because I (and obviously in the minority here) did not care for the narration. It was just did not do it for me.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2295768665">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-20862462091038999112018-02-14T07:21:00.001-08:002018-02-14T07:21:36.746-08:00Review: THE SPLENDID AND EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BEAUTIMUS POTAMUS
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35648164" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499711015m/35648164.jpg" border="0" alt="THE SPLENDID AND EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BEAUTIMUS POTAMUS" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35648164">THE SPLENDID AND EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BEAUTIMUS POTAMUS</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9819436">Peggy A. Wheeler</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2238344059">4 of 5 stars</a>
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This is one of those stories that made me think of all the great "animals as people" tales ranging from Jungle Book to Animal Farm to Charlotte's Web. Yes, a broad range indeed, but this story has that going on for it. There is such a beautiful poetry to it that you find yourself lost. There are actual "laugh out loud" moments (not to be confused with the overused LOL. I mean you will actually chuckle. This is fantasy with a twist and I think you are missing out if you don't give this beautimus story a shot.<br /><br />As for the audio version...the narration was, for me, the weak point. There was just something about Ms. Hazen's voice that did not work for me. That said, narrators are like singers, one person loves Sinatra, the next Bon Scott, so take that criticism with a grain of salt. I will say she has a vast array of voices and the production is top notch.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2238344059">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-88049058389855129312018-01-02T06:37:00.001-08:002018-01-02T06:37:12.311-08:00Review: The Temple of Elemental Evil
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/939395" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1513689377m/939395.jpg" border="0" alt="The Temple of Elemental Evil" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/939395">The Temple of Elemental Evil</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32914">Thomas M. Reid</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2238345062">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
As a player who picked this game up in the 70s, I am familiar with this mod. It was never one of my favorite, and now the story proves that idea. It was simply a bit dry as a story. The writing was a bit cliche as it played out. Sort of like a bunch of old fantasy tales pieced into this one story to make the complete tale. There just wasn't anything that made me sink into the story.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2238345062">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-63588196647656024872018-01-02T06:24:00.001-08:002018-01-02T06:24:14.295-08:00Review: Unqualified
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34130008" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498797632m/34130008.jpg" border="0" alt="Unqualified" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34130008">Unqualified</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3338931">Anna Faris</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2238335539">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Hollywood books are not my normal read, but I am enough of a fan of Ms. Faris to want to hear her take (yeah, I did the Audiobook version) on whatever it was she would include. There are perhaps some good stories that her female readers will enjoy. Some relationship advice and the sort. Not much in the way of really covering her career arc. Still, it was an okay bit of lite fare.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2238335539">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-66548360045515301862017-09-04T21:37:00.001-07:002017-09-04T21:37:35.617-07:00Review: What Lies Beneath
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28930529" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454564381m/28930529.jpg" border="0" alt="What Lies Beneath" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28930529">What Lies Beneath</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3976076">Ditter Kellen</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2114232690">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
She agreed to give me quiet time during the football game if I tried her book series. <br /><br />My wife got hooked on this series and wouldn't stop talking about it, so I gave it a shot. Right off the bat, I will say this is not my genre. I'm a horror buff, so I kept waiting for the zombies. Here is what I came away from the story with...first, it has a fun mix a hard case ex-CIA guy, a young doctor, her dad the scientist, and then the Bracadytes...these would be the merman/alien creatures that are apparently all ripped and unabashedly handsome yet naive to our slang (which made for some interesting comic relief moments).I was not looking for Dickens or Bronte here. What I wanted when I chose to share in something my wife can't put down was just something entertaining. Since I drive and listen to books, this was a good break from the norm. It entertained me, had a bit of action, and I found out the REAL reason my missus apparently loves the series. Steamy moments of the intimate nature. <br /><br />Ladies, bring a hanky to dab your brow...I think you'll enjoy it. My wife sure does. And I'm even gonna continue on to the next book just to see what happens next.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2114232690">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-15412673008451357302017-08-28T13:10:00.001-07:002017-08-28T13:10:40.481-07:00Review: Monster Hunting 101
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28025339" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1448934040m/28025339.jpg" border="0" alt="Monster Hunting 101" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28025339">Monster Hunting 101</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7842549">Richard A. Bamberg</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2106701759">4 of 5 stars</a>
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As a fan of Bamberg's "Wanderers" series, I had to give this a shot. I think this was an early attempt. He has gotten better in his story-telling. This is a GOOD story, not amazing, but very enjoyable. I can see elements that seem to fold with his other series and wonder if this might've been his warm-up.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2106701759">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-84818642435613114022017-08-16T09:14:00.001-07:002017-08-16T09:14:05.811-07:00Review: Norse Mythology
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30831912" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1473864212m/30831912.jpg" border="0" alt="Norse Mythology" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30831912">Norse Mythology</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1221698">Neil Gaiman</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2015516369">5 of 5 stars</a>
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I used to pour over these sorts of tales when I was in junior high and high school. Recently, I had a rekindled interest, but had a difficult time finding anything that really shared the stories of Loki, Thor, Freyja and all the rest. My "finish date" on this is deceptive as I have probably listened to it 3 or 4 times.<br /><br />If you want to take a trip into proper Norse mythology, this is the perfect book. The audio version has the added bonus of being read by the author, Mr. Gaiman. I would consider this a must read simply sue to the superb concept of how these stories were once used to explain the world as seen through the eyes of the Norsemen.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2015516369">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-37171796513854503602017-08-16T08:56:00.001-07:002017-08-16T08:56:23.176-07:00Review: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28257707" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465761302m/28257707.jpg" border="0" alt="The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28257707">The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15815787">Mark Manson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2058021491">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Okay, I have to admit that I grabbed this on a whim with no expectations. In the end, I found some really good points in here. Was it ground-breaking? No, but often you simply need to hear somebody put into words what your mind knows so that you refocus.<br /><br />Overall, I can't say there was anything in this book that I scoffed at, and it was presented in a manner that might initially be off-putting, but if you got past the title, then chances are you won't have too many issues with the presentation.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2058021491">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-11164135644061296862017-05-31T07:12:00.001-07:002017-05-31T07:12:43.479-07:00Review: The Dragon Factory
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6962671" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388255103m/6962671.jpg" border="0" alt="The Dragon Factory" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6962671">The Dragon Factory</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/72451">Jonathan Maberry</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1989722199">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Joe Ledger is the supernatural Jack Bauer. The Dragon Factory even has a countdown clock. So, I wasn't totally sold on book one, but it was good enough for me to give book two a spin and I'm glad that I did. How can AIDS, Nazis, clones, unicorns, and a potential ethnic cleansing on a massive scale all be tied together? The answer: apparently seamlessly if you are Jonathan Maberry. I will fully admit that I went into this with heavy skepticism. I'm still not ready to call this "horror" per se, but it is certainly a thriller. You owe it to yourself to give it a spin.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1989722199">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-14512348894333357332017-05-03T07:20:00.001-07:002017-05-03T07:20:40.133-07:00Review: Wanderers : Ragnarök
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20765961" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1392069141m/20765961.jpg" border="0" alt="Wanderers : Ragnarök" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20765961">Wanderers : Ragnarök</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7842549">Richard A. Bamberg</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1977126492">4 of 5 stars</a>
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This is a really enjoyable start to a series. It sets the table nicely and slips in some good back story to flesh out Raphael Semmes, the main character. I would have liked a few more callbacks to his training, but maybe that will be parceled out as the series draws on. Beast is hands down my favorite character. A Harley/Manticore? Could there be anything cooler? The friend who gave me this series as a gift knew what they were doing as I can't wait to plunge further into this world.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-9460655308833527162017-05-03T07:11:00.001-07:002017-05-03T07:11:17.593-07:00Review: Spartan Up!: A Take-No-Prisoners Guide to Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Peak Performance in Life
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19583491" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1393362571m/19583491.jpg" border="0" alt="Spartan Up!: A Take-No-Prisoners Guide to Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Peak Performance in Life" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19583491">Spartan Up!: A Take-No-Prisoners Guide to Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Peak Performance in Life</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7586359">Joe De Sena</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1977044157">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Okay, I will say first that this can almost come off as a bit preachy, sort of like the mindset a former smoker can get once they kick the habit. In other words, almost militant. The thing is, De Sena believes in what he says and does that strongly. Did I suddenly get the desire to go organic or give up ice cream? No, but I am more conscious about QUANTITY. I have lost almost 30 pounds since embarking on Spartan races. This year, at age 52, I am going to earn my Trifecta. I have met a few of the elite runners at some of the events, and they really are embracing this life. There might be points here that you don't fully jive with, but you will find something that speaks to you. And NO!!! This is NOT a workout book. It is cognitive...about mindset.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1977044157">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-43033327792057274612017-04-20T07:25:00.001-07:002017-04-20T07:25:44.396-07:00Review: Flip This Zombie
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8437831" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1306046010m/8437831.jpg" border="0" alt="Flip This Zombie" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8437831">Flip This Zombie</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3369676">Jesse Petersen</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1977039252">4 of 5 stars</a>
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I was not totally thrilled with the first book in the series. It got a bit too "whiny" for lack of a better word. There were moments that managed to shine, but it was just not ringing for me. I had already snagged books 2 and 3, so I chose to give it another shot. I am very glad that I did. There is some nice stuff going on here. It is a couple trying to make their lives work in an apocalypse. Enter mad scientists and bratty kids and it surprised me at how well it all worked. On to book three with some really good narration by Cassandra Campbell to make my long drives just a bit more pleasant.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1977039252">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-45594263694766424712017-04-20T07:24:00.001-07:002017-04-20T07:24:26.956-07:00Review: Eat Slay Love
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9421748" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327883515m/9421748.jpg" border="0" alt="Eat Slay Love" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9421748">Eat Slay Love</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3369676">Jesse Petersen</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1977038326">3 of 5 stars</a>
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This one had all the potential to get crazy. Only...it just never really did (for me). Now, that said, there is enough here to continue with the series for me. I just felt a bit disappointed with this one. I thought that it fell back on some of the weaknesses from the first book.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1977038326">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-85941976809390438672017-04-20T07:23:00.001-07:002017-04-20T07:23:22.962-07:00Review: United States Of Apocalypse
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29347499" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456526623m/29347499.jpg" border="0" alt="United States Of Apocalypse" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29347499">United States Of Apocalypse</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2990843">Mark Tufo</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1977037547">2 of 5 stars</a>
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I've read almost everything by Tufo and Rosamilia. Some I've liked, some not. It's the nature of the game. This absolutely did not work for me. It almost smacked of a money grab. The story has NO resolution. If this was going to be a series, that would be one thing, but to end like these stories did is a huge disservice to the readers that follow both of these men. <br /><br />There were times when Tufo's narrative almost reminded me of Whitley Streiber's "War Day" but then it would fall back on this Talbot thing. I get it. He is the franchise name, but the writing should be enough, and most of his fans will read a menu if he wrote one, so falling back on the MT thing felt forced here. As for the BT/Talbot dialog (normally a Tufo strength) this felt like it was a cut-and-paste from all the previous interactions between the pair. Okay, so BT was a cop, next make him a sailor, then a biker, construction worker, and Native American and you get the entire Village People line-up. I found Talbot's insistence that he should be cut some slack instead of treated like a criminal when he was just trying to move forward with his life a laugh for my own personal reasons. And the callbacks to aliens and zombies were just pointless. The reader/listener gets it. You write a good zombie series and a decent syfy tale.<br /><br />Rosamilia had a good story going and to end it like it did was a poor choice. I feel like I got invested in a really cool series (like Firefly) and the had the numbskulls in the network tower kill it after season one. My biggest complaint is his dialog. He said...she said...he said...she said... Give the readers more credit for being able to follow the conversation.<br /><br />My last complaint is the narration. While Ms. Whelan was okay, just not memorable, I guess I went in expecting something special from Runnette after all I've read. This for me is where the Emperor's New Clothes comes into play. If so many say he is great, then he must be...right? Maybe. If he had more than one tone to his voice, could give character to a female voice in some way. I'm not saying shrill Monty Python stuff, but something...anything would be better than what I heard. And then there is the breathing. All the hitches, breaths, and gasps during the narration were beyond annoying. I can't stand by and say what a great outfit the emperor is wearing here. Sorry, the truth is that he's naked. Find a narrator that can edit that noise out during post-production.<br /><br />Overall, I can't give a thumbs-up vote for this despite the impending backlash from the mob. I've never padded a review, and won't start now. Both of these writers have received good reviews from me for other works, sadly, this ain't one of them.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1977037547">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-40665756946624104582017-01-19T07:51:00.001-08:002017-01-19T07:51:21.839-08:00Review: Catalyst - A Rogue One Novel
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29662066" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468671681m/29662066.jpg" border="0" alt="Catalyst - A Rogue One Novel" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29662066">Catalyst - A Rogue One Novel</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9346">James Luceno</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1885121392">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
This is an interesting prequel to the stand alone Star Wars adventure, Rogue One. What is perhaps the best part about this little story is how it sets up an in-depth backstory of the Erso family as well as Orson Krennick. Tarkin makes his appearance as well and this is really a good story whether you are a Star Wars junkie, or even just a casual fan.<br /><br />The narration is adequate, but sometimes the background sound effects can become annoying. A bit overdone at times.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-9901483044467261892017-01-19T07:42:00.001-08:002017-01-19T07:42:03.772-08:00Review: Patient Zero
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3993839" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1439953244m/3993839.jpg" border="0" alt="Patient Zero" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3993839">Patient Zero</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/72451">Jonathan Maberry</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1798253899">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Okay, I guess I came in with different expectations. Yes, this is technically horror/zombie related, but it is more of a "Jack Bauer" sort of tale. It has a lot of action and features a main character that is apparently the baddest man around because he always gets the drop on people and can kick anybody's behind he meets...oh yeah, and he gets the hot girl after the required will they/won't they period.<br /><br />Honestly, when reading anything "zombie" related, it requires a degree of reality suspension, but Maberry does do a great job of melding real science into the work. Not sure how far I will travel with Joe Ledger, after all, I wasn't a fan of McGyver and this is a souped up version in a lot of ways. It leaves an open ending of sorts that I had a hard time swallowing with a key villain, but I guess that helps to propagate a series.<br /><br />As for the audio version, well narrated with a voice that fir. Great pacing and no attempt to overdo it when female voices were needed.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-23263586848359794962016-10-30T08:29:00.001-07:002016-10-30T08:29:47.490-07:00Review: Married with Zombies
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7716140" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1265814659m/7716140.jpg" border="0" alt="Married with Zombies" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7716140">Married with Zombies</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3369676">Jesse Petersen</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1789073958">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
This is a series that had moments where I would discard all the criticisms I'd built up. Then it would come crashing down again with ANOTHER moment that had me wondering what I'd done by ordering a few of these at one time. I am not one of those people who buys a book and then returns it to get my money/credit back. I made the commitment, and sometimes, you can bite the bullet.<br /><br />So, here were the issues I had. The very first zombie encounter for Jesse and her husband happens in the marriage therapy office. They walk in to discover the therapist chowing down on the couple that had the appointment before theirs. Okay...how does that happen? Two people just sit around in a room and let the zombie get them? But I looked past it. Then, later in that battle between Jesse, David and the counselor zombie, she holds onto the therapist while David goes down, grabs her spiked-heel shoe from the zombie's foot, and kills the zombie. Do you see where I had issue?<br /><br />Also, while there is some wit and appropriate snark in the series, sometimes it reads as a woman just angry with her man as she sat down to write the story. Not that I am any great knower of all things pertaining to the female mindset, but Jesse got to be a bit of a nuisance at times. I will move on to book 2 since I already bought it when I grabbed this one, and I will hope for improvement. Writers often get better as they trudge forward. So we shall see.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1789073958">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-81823930492180610772016-10-12T11:23:00.001-07:002016-10-12T11:23:03.646-07:00Review: Twisted Magic
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27154323" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444648763m/27154323.jpg" border="0" alt="Twisted Magic" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27154323">Twisted Magic</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6982197">Claire C. Riley</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1782689774">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Claire Riley proves she is not a one-trick pony with this offering. This is a paranormal romance with all the depth you expect from Claire. The tragic love story unfolds here as you meet Sarah and Peter. One is dark, the other...light. <br /><br />In a short time, and using her exceptional skill at dialogue, Ms. Riley gives you a backstory and reason to care about the forbidden romance that burns between these two. If this is the prequel, I can't wait for the first full-length offering set in this world of witches, covens, romance, and magic.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1782689774">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-73040730751343426132016-10-06T12:37:00.001-07:002016-10-06T12:37:17.151-07:00Review: Ship the Kids on Ahead
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30074899" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1462201129m/30074899.jpg" border="0" alt="Ship the Kids on Ahead" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30074899">Ship the Kids on Ahead</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/368044">Bill Stokes</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1777531693">5 of 5 stars</a>
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Welcome to a simpler time. Granted, you might not think so as you journey through a world shared by Bill Stokes as he uses wit and humor to describe an era that is sadly almost forgotten. <br /><br />Each one of these "columns" is delivered wonderfully and brought back memories of my childhood. This is something you should share with your children or even grandchildren. I can imagine that it will start a few engaging conversations versus the standard eyerolls you receive when recalling the days when you "walked to school five miles in the snow uphill both ways". Instead, you may be asked, "what did that mean?" or "was it really like that when you were younger?"<br /><br />Whatever the reason, I would highly rec commend grabbing this clever collection and letting your mind wander back to a simpler time that might not have seemed that way to those who lived it.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1777531693">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-46251073006601013472016-09-07T16:15:00.001-07:002016-09-07T16:15:28.241-07:00Review: The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29405093" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1462657819m/29405093.jpg" border="0" alt="The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29405093">The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13672918">Amy Schumer</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1749226127">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Okay, so not perfect, but I don't think Amy Schumer ever set out to be. This is an interesting read, and comes across as very genuine. She does not hold back, and there are some moments that might make people uncomfortable, but the final results are well worth it. She is the perfect "everygirl" for a society that has gone off the deep end when it comes to what the perception is of what a woman should look/act like. <br />There is a lot here whether you are a fan of Shumer's or not. I was not all that familiar with her before, and while I may not actively seek out her Comedy Central show, I did enjoy her movie and will likely watch for more.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1749226127">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-84497271819014810452016-08-29T07:21:00.001-07:002016-08-29T07:21:58.904-07:00Review: Z-Burbia
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18715134" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1388262306m/18715134.jpg" border="0" alt="Z-Burbia" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18715134">Z-Burbia</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3499929">Jake Bible</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1735996314">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
The first half of this book did nothing but annoy and frustrate me. It was almost like the writer was trying to re-create Michael Talbot. (And I never really drank that Kool-aid), with a bunch of wisecracks and humor. The situations often seemed forced and the "hero" gets saved in the nick of time. The idea of an HOA in the ZA? I just wasn't buying it. And the ending made me throw my hands up in frustration. I'd almost been convinced to try another in the series until then...but that just felt like the writer wanted to ensure he had a built in foil for the main protagonist in upcoming books.<br /><br />Bullhorn/Wallstreet shouldn't have made it past the introduction. A bad guy that comes to your gates and threatens to kill everybody inside? And the people on the wall are armed? If he is that brash to be so stupid, he should not have survived this deep into the ZA, and if nobody on the wall would take the shot? After killing a group with men, women, and children earlier?<br /><br />Overall, I say 2,5 stars, but round up to 3.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-7182482927077255222016-08-25T07:09:00.001-07:002016-08-25T07:09:36.931-07:00Review: Z Children: The Surge
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28801823" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1467840485m/28801823.jpg" border="0" alt="Z Children: The Surge" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28801823">Z Children: The Surge</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6901568">Eli Constant</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1695901181">5 of 5 stars</a>
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This is a series that has the potential to be one of the most horrifying in the genre. There is little that can be more horrifying than for the zombie apocalypse to come at the hungry mouths of children. Constant and Barr are not rushing this tale and, along the way, are introducing us to a variety of characters who you build attachments as well as dislike for. Each person feels three dimensional and very much like a person you may know. I look forward to seeing where this goes. <br /><br />Just a note...if you don't get a bit antsy during the "wedding" scene...you may be a zombie your own self.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392423252885054374.post-18882231623837354292016-08-19T12:56:00.001-07:002016-08-19T12:56:09.023-07:00Review: The Hunt Chronicles Volume 2: Revelation
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29892482" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1460425677m/29892482.jpg" border="0" alt="The Hunt Chronicles Volume 2: Revelation" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29892482">The Hunt Chronicles Volume 2: Revelation</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13783366">J.D. Demers</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1705902599">4 of 5 stars</a>
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It will be tough to wait for the next in the series. That is where I want to begin. Now, for the misses before I get to the hits of this title (and yeah, there are both).<br /><br />Christian became a bit less likable in this volume. It sis not help that he was basically shackled with an obnoxious teen girl for a bit. That whole bit with the two of them was perhaps my biggest fault. I get it that a teen girl may ask a lot of questions and talk incessantly, but at times it seemed overdone to the point of slightly distracting. Absolutely not enough to dissuade you from this book, but that was a blip for me during the story. <br /><br />*****SPOILER*****<br />(sort of)<br />The fact that Christian waits so long to tell somebody he has been bitten also made me like him less. I felt he would've come clean sooner and that.<br /><br />***end of SPOILER (sort of)****<br /><br />Fish still has the ability to annoy me, but it is all in character so kudos to Demers for making me annoyed with that guy. <br /><br />The story has a natural flow for the most part, but does seem to over-stereotype at times. I will say that there is one very well thrown curveball (nope...no spoiler this time) and it made this book go from pretty good to pretty DARN good on its own.<br /><br />Overall, this is a series you will want to start adding to your list. And, as I said, I am anxious for the next volume.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208090229756379880noreply@blogger.com0