Hanover House by Brenda Novak

When Evelyn Talbot was sixteen years old, she was abducted, then tortured and left for dead by her boyfriend, Jasper Moore, in their hidden, secret rendezvous spot in the woods. She had walked in on his murders of her 3 best friends and he had to stop her from alerting the police. She was at his mercy for 3 days in the little shed in the wood before he slit her throat and left her to die amongst the bodies of her friends. But Evelyn managed to escape and get to help and did not die. Jasper, with the suspected aid of his parents, immediately disappeared, never caught and brought to justice: his memory and unknown whereabouts always lingering in the shadows and the back of Evelyn’s mind. She goes on to university making it her goal in life to unravel the secrets of the psychopathic mind.

Now a successful psychiatrist, Evelyn has gotten the Bureau of Prisons to fund and build a special maximum security prison and research facility for the study of psychopaths outside the remote Alaskan town of Hilltop. The townspeople there are of mixed opinion about having the prison located there: while it will provide some much needed economic development and jobs, it brings with it some of the worst criminals in the country to their back door. Leading the local opposition to the project is handsome, single, local boy Alaskan State Trooper Benjamin Murphy or “Sergeant Amarok (Wolf)” as he was known by the community – also the only law officer in the region.

When construction on the prison is interrupted by vandalism, Evelyn must travel to Hilltop to oversee its repair, hire some construction site security, and meet with Sergeant Amarok in an attempt to garner some support for the project in town. In the meantime, Jasper reappears on the scene.

The characters that populate the story are a wonderful mix – good/evil, supportive/adversarial. Evelyn is still vulnerable as an adult due to Jasper’s horrendous attack. It continues to color her life and her healing is an ongoing process and a major part of the story. Amarok also has a past that affects him. He had discovered only a few years earlier that he had a twin brother. His mother had left him and his father alone in Alaska taking this brother with her to live in Seattle without further contact. So both the main characters have trust issues with the opposite sex. There are also Jasper and the inmates, all suitably crazy.

The plot is tense and suspenseful with immediate romantic tension between Evelyn and Amarok. The setting in Alaska introduces a layer of hardship and remoteness into things as well which added up to keeping me on edge throughout the reading.

Hanover House is the precursor to the actual series which kicks off with Her Darkest Nightmare in August 2016. With such a dramatic and suspenseful build up, I will definitely be in line to pick up that title.

Saven Deception by Siobhan Davis

What a good story!

Set in a dystopian future Earth where society has been separated into 3 classes: Bullions (the elite), Coins (the middle-class), and the lowest level or Stars and segregated into living sectors by class centered around a core city, author Siobhan Davis has built a grim, hopeless, and wearing life for story protagonist, 18 year old Sadie Owens.

When offered a way out of her miserable life and horrible home situation through selection to participate in a government-sponsored experimental program, Sadie jumps at the chance. “The Experimento” is the creation and development of new underwater cities that are expected to ease massive overpopulation issues that exist on the surface. Sadie and her fellow program participants have been recruited as study subjects to see how, and if, humans can successfully adapt to a life lived in these cities under the ocean.

With much young adult romantic drama and the slow unfolding of secret government agendas, the story moves forward at an exciting pace with something always going on. There is foreshadowing of secrets yet-to-be-revealed, hopefully in the succeeding novels of the Saven series. I’m so on board for the next installments!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daisy's Chain by Gillian Larkin (Storage Ghost Mystery #5)

Frankie and Grace have experienced some good luck with the contents of the first couple of storage lockers they’ve bid on and won at auction. They’ve lucked into some definite hidden treasures. However, in this, the 5th story in the Storage Ghost Mysteries, Grace may have faltered.

One of the lockers at the day’s auction appears to be the abandoned result a charity scam: unscrupulous persons have collected household donations in the name of a bogus charity, sifted through the contents for valuables, and left the rest in a temporarily-leased storage unit. Along with the leftover charity detritus is the very angry ghost of a man named Dan Manville. Against her will, Grace’s arm is forced up to make a winning bid on the whole distasteful scene – the ghost has somehow compelled her. The unpleasant ghost need her help and will not be denied.

In life, Dan Manville had been a loving husband and doting father to a single daughter (Daisy). During Daisy’s first term at university, she becomes pregnant. She is devastated and unable to tell her parents that she was drugged at a club and raped. Old-fashioned and unforgiving, Dan cuts his daughter out of his and his wife’s lives. His only keepsake of his daughter is the heart and chain necklace he gave Daisy on her 16th birthday. He dies a bitter, angry man. He doesn’t know it but he needs Grace to help him discover the truth of what happened to his daughter and resolve his anger.

This story relies on some realistic circumstances with some very possible consequences for its plot. It is a short novel but one that gives you a full story (and continues to broaden the whole Storage Ghost history). It is great for a single evening’s reading or any time you like.

The Write Dream by Gillian Larkin (Storage Ghost Mystery #4)

A mother's love helps "write" a wrong!

In The Write Dream, Grace and Frankie Abrahams are finally free of the vicious loan shark, Eddie Tominski, and can now concentrate on making a living with their shop left to them by their parents. Frankie is expanding their stock from antiques to household goods by bidding on and winning the contents of abandoned storage lockers. He is developing an online presence for the store and his auction adventures to further his marketing reach and sales.

Part of a recent storage locker auction acquisition includes the personal notebooks of a young writer as well as the ghost of his deceased, yet still doting, mother. The mother wonders how her son has turned out and a quick search of the internet leaves mom and Grace with more questions than answers – deeply troubling questions.

This fourth installment of The Storage Ghosts Mysteries has Grace assisting another ghost with unfinished business here on Earth find the answers she needs to move on to the afterlife. With a truly awful and sneaky villain in the story, its resolution is very satisfactory.

Grace continues to learn more about how she can help the ghosts that are in need and we get a better glimpse into the existence of a ghost that is attached to the shop itself.

Another fast-paced plot and quick resolution (not rushed!) made for a nice single sit-down.

Tick Tock by Gillian Larkin (Storage Ghost Mystery #3)

This Eddie character is EVIL!

Third in the natural progression of tales in the Storage Ghost Mysteries, Tick Tock reveals what really happened to Grace and Frankie’s parents.

Eddie Tominski, the ruthless loan shark, steps up his evil ways to wrest the antiques shop left to them by their deceased parents away from the Abrahams siblings. He even has his thugs attack Grace at a storage locker auction - in a public restroom. Grace is rescued and family friend, Big Bob, determines to put an end to Eddie’s plans.

Grace wins the contents of a storage locker that holds the ghosts of an older couple that she recognizes to be friends of her parents. Lynne and Tom Opendale had owned and operated a watch repair shop and died under mysterious circumstances. Grace is led to the couple’s grown daughter, Clare, who has developed a theory about their deaths as well as that of the elder Abrahams and others. All the suspicious deaths lead back to Eddie Tominski.

Although Grace never encounters the ghosts of her parents, she does receive word of them from some of the ghosts she end up helping. We also discover in Tick Tock that there may be the helpful spirit of a saucy old woman inside the antique shop.

Once again, this is a quick, fun, and satisfyingly-resolved cozy mystery but with a heavy dose of menace this time. Still … THUMBS UP!

Lost and Found by Gillian Larkin (Storage Ghost Mystery #2)

Another good entry in the Storage Ghost Mystery series - this time, Grace helps a couple, separated by time and a long-ago secret, find peace.

In this second story of the Storage Ghosts Mysteries, Grace Abrahams and brother, Frankie, attend another storage locker auction to find more saleable goods for their antiques/bits & pieces shop. Grace runs across a ghost named Clive Arthur that needs her help to peacefully move on to the hereafter. In life, Clive was an acclaimed photographer who traveled the world over for his art. In death, he is attached to some unknown item in an abandoned storage locker keeping him from exiting his earthly existence. That item turns out to be 2 undeveloped rolls of film. Once developed, the photographs lead Grace and Clive back to the only woman Clive ever loved and the bittersweet secret that, unknowing to him, served to keep them apart throughout his life.

Lost and Found furthers the story and the character development of Grace, Frankie, and some recurring, supporting players – evil loan shark Eddie Tominski, auctioneer Sylvester Sylver, and family friend, kindly Big Bob. Grace is able to discover the unfinished business tying Clive to his past life and the contents of the storage locker prove to be hidden treasure of the best kind – profitable.

This is a cozy, gentle mystery for the most part. Eddie is EVIL though and his thugs are rough and tough and relentless in their harassment of the Abrahams siblings. I recommend this story to readers that like their mysteries cozy and whose reading time is at premium. It is a short, quick, and completely satisfying read anytime but will really fit the bill if you only have an hour or so to sit down and enjoy.

Jacob's Coins by Gillian Larkin: a unique premise behind storage wars

Having a friend working as a site manager for a major US chain of storage facilities, I’d heard some stories about the behind-the-scenes at these places. But who knew even WERE stories? Or drama? Or storage unit auctions? Or finally, reality TV shows ABOUT storage unit auctions? Come to find out this was interesting stuff! Author Gillian Larkin apparently though it was interesting, too, and has parlayed that and a really cool premise into a series called “The Storage Ghosts Mysteries.” And the storage units (or lockers as they are termed in the series) her protagonist, Grace Abrahams, runs across have ghosts tied to their contents.

Grace and her brother, Frankie, recently lost both their parents (and almost Grace herself) in a tragic car accident. Left deeply in debt to a ruthless loan shark, Eddie Tominski, Frankie and Grace turn to bidding on storage unit auctions as a way to put stock back on the shelves of their parents’ antique store in an attempt to dig their way out from under Eddie’s demand for payment.

After her parents’ death, Grace starts to see shadows and glimpses on insubstantial things the just aren’t there. Gradually, these sitings begin to take on a somewhat more substantial “form.” Grace can see and talk to dead people.

In their first storage locker auction experience, Grace encounters and talks to her first real ghost: teenager Jacob also killed in a car accident. Together, they figure out that Grace can help him determine why he hasn’t moved on to a more pleasant afterlife and remains anchored to the contents of an abandoned storage locker.

The characters of Grace and Frankie share a typical brother-sister relationship of sibling love and antagonism. It is fun to watch them interact, care for each other, and tease. The premise of the ghosts in the storage lockers, unable to disengage from their past until some unfinished business is resolved, can be poignant, but was satisfactorily resolved in this first installment of this growing series.

This one is a quick, fun, short novella that lays an entertaining foundation for the coming additions. I can highly recommend this debut to the reader that likes their mysteries cozy and find their sit-down time at a premium. You can get the whole enchilada in the space of an hour or so. I read this book on my birthday. I was delighted.

The Blow-Up Man by Nina Blakemore

Annette Dolce feels betrayed by life and by the father of her two illegitimate children. She is the mother of twin girls, Ella and Emma – who couldn’t be more different from each other in personality. Emma takes after her mother; Ella, her father. The girls’ father, Dr. Todd Davis, Ph.D., is a professor at the local university. He has recently found success in his pharmacological research on a new drug for treating prostate cancer, and his love life when he falls in love with his student, and much younger woman, Dr. Faye Brady.

Annette and daughter, Emma, don’t accept Todd’s new liaison nor his subsequent marriage and make no secret of their displeasure. Ella is accepting but is the scapegoat for the unhappiness and frustration of her mother and sister. When the local lifestyle magazine publishes a big spread on the new super-couple, Dr. & Dr. Davis, and “their” daughters, Annette goes off the deep end and plans to get revenge for all her past perceived insults, injuries, and betrayals.

The Blow-Up Man by Nina Blakeman was a suspense-filled story of a madwoman scorned. Fast-paced with interesting characters in a rural West Texas location (which I loved!) The author’s descriptions of the various settings were vivid and creepy, yet familiar. (Like the author, I, too, am a Texan.) The plot incorporates intense scenes of torture and child abuse.

Good, strong secondary characters in Faye’s mother, Madeline; Annette’s live-in boyfriend, Angel; an obnoxious and privileged med student, Matthew Nolan; and the new priest in town, Father Sweeney all add depth and help to advance the story. Cool medical terminology lent a feeling of authenticity and genuineness but some of the details of the research were a little much for me on occasion.

I highly recommend this tense and highly readable novel for those that like their suspense “gritty.” I was pleased to see mentioned somewhere online that there is a sequel in the works. Yay!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kiera's Quest: Awakenings by Kristy Brown

Awakenings by Kristy Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A great premise that needs a bit more work.

From Goodreads: "This book was originally written for 9plus / tweens. But if you're young at heart, then you may enjoy this too. 'Awakenings' is book one in the four-part series, so you won't get all the answers straight away. Meet Kiera, a pretty, intelligent, and talented girl, brought up by her uncle and abandoned by her parents. Life is as normal as she believes it to be, apart from the deep ache inside her, telling her she’s different. 

For years, Kiera had dreams where she ventured into a different reality. She’s not alone; a presence is always there, keeping her safe, yet she feels vulnerable and hunted. Zakk, Prince of Zantar, is under the Witch Queen’s spell as she tries to take over his world. He crosses paths with Kiera, and their fates are entwined. As their journey unravels, she learns that she is not the only one affected by this prince. Who is on her side? Will she find out why she has been chosen? How can someone so young defeat such evil? Will she find the strength to save the ones closest to her? Will this be Kiera’s only Quest?"

To begin, I liked the characters. I'd like to know what happens to them. I liked the humor, and I think that it is age-appropriate. I really liked the plot of the hero having been turned into a doll that the heroine finds in her uncle's shop however, I had to re-read several transitions from one scene to another because the action or the dialogue didn't make sense. There were a lot of unanswered questions, yes, because this is the first book in a series. But there were questions that were created just because the story seemed to skip or jump ahead, leaving a gap. The early part of the story seemed more "finished" than the latter, and I fully intended to go look for the rest of the series as I initially got into the book. But the further I read, the sketchier the story became, so I'm not so sure that I will continue with the series after all. I think this author is one to watch and keep up with because of the true potential here for a great series.

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Impersonator, Forager Impersonator Trilogy Book 1 by Peter R. Stone

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review. (This review may contain spoilers).

Impersonator is the first book in a new series set in the same Australian post-apocalyptic world as the author's previous Forager Trilogy. Set in a time period prior to Forager, the book revolves around the Thomas family in Newhome, the town created by the "Founders." The father, Malcolm Thomas, the head of the family, is a broken man after an undeserved stint in a prison-factory. We are led to believe he has given up on his family responsibilities to save his own skin. Mother is a bitter woman and accusing, nagging wife. Brandon Thomas, the only son, has disappeared and is hiding out somewhere in the town for unknown reasons. Youngest daughter, Karen, is spoiled and not in any position to provide support for the disintegrating family. This leaves the burden of rescue and support on Chelsea, the Eldest Daughter. Chelsea impersonates her brother at his job to earn money to keep the family afloat. Hassled and beaten by mobsters for her father's gambling debts, evicted from their apartment for being unable to pay 8 weeks back rent, and coming to the realization that Brandon has been involved in something horrible at work, Chelsea struggles to protect her mother and sister and find a way to a safer place, out of Newhome.

The author has developed a restricted, strangled society in the setting of Newhome. The characters are interesting, diverse, well developed with back stories of some depth. the plot is exciting, suspenseful, and chock full of twists and turns that provide a lot of jumping off places for the rest of the trilogy.

I can, of course, recommend this new installment of the Forager series to anyone that read and enjoyed the first trilogy. However, I don't believe that you'd have to have read those 3 books in order to really enjoy this one. I look forward to book 2 which I understand comes out later this year as well.

Horizon by Tabitha Lord Took Me Back in Time to ST:TOS!

Derek Markham crash lands his fighter on a previously unknown planet after an attack by a mercenary ship that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Derek is the leader of a fighter squad attached to the space ship, Horizon, who had been sent to set a probe to mark the location of a previously unidentified planet. His crewmate dead and he himself critically injured, he is found and healed by Caeli Crys, a fugitive slave that had faked her own suicide hiding out in the unpopulated wilderness on the planet. Caeli is one of her people’s few survivors after a ruthless attack by a neighboring city’s militia. Together, they escape the planet when Derek’s shipmates return to find out what happened to him.

This was just a darn good story. For me, it had the feel of an early Star Trek novel (The Original Series) which was a plus for me. I liked the settings – Caeli’s home world, Almagest, (the pristine, empty wilderness where she is originally found by Derek, her city, the city of the Amathi). I liked the differences in how the two societies evolved after the destruction of their common founding society. I enjoyed the description of Derek’s ship, Horizon, but wanted to become more familiar with his world and hope that this will be explored in future installments.

There is interesting and fast-paced action throughout from the subjugation of the survivors of the attack on the Novali, their integration into Amathi life, the Amathi rebellion, the unfolding of the attempt of universal domination by the race of beings known as the Drokaran, and the interface with underworld operations on Alliance planets.

I really enjoyed this story from the cover to the final page, and am hoping for a quick arriving sequel to prolong the entertainment.

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Marvelously creative visions of an obsidian-dark future!

Seems like I have always found short story anthologies to be a mish-mash of good and “meh.” However, Obsidian Worlds by Jason Werbeloff, is a solid! Each piece of the collection is a darkly-gleaming treasure of a story. All represent a view of an obsidian-dark future and all are a satisfying reading experience – some horrific (“Dinner with Flexi” – yikes!), some amusing (“The Time-Traveling Chicken Sexer”), some with surprising plot twists (“The Cryo Killer”) – just to name a few, are all well crafted and entertaining. The stories have depth with details that unfold and smoothly and easily draw you into the world the author is creating in each scenario. I fully intend on re-reading the collection just to re-experience the pleasure.

I will be recommending it to friends and family members (though not for the youngsters. The stories entail adult themes and a really grim, scary future for the human race!) Personally, I have found a new-to-me author to keep an eye on and follow. If you think this might be down your reading alley, check out Jason's short stories on Amazon.com; he has had some Kindle editions listed for free.

I received a copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.

Holy moly! Here's a story that grabbed me by the emotions on the first page!

I'm talking about the Young Adult book SLIP - #1 in the SLIP Trilogy by author, David Estes. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Maybe it's because I'm a parent but I was emotionally invested in this story and the little unnamed boy (later called Benson) from the beginning. I had to find out what happened to him! So many gut-wrenching scenes and decisions, by both the boy and his parents, that had to be made kept that investment growing, too.

David Estes has created a dark and somber setting of a world that slowly unfolds to reveal a future Earth with critically limited resources. Extreme solutions have been put in place to ensure those resources are enough to support an optimally sized population. Procreation is rigidly controlled and mistakes are ruthlessly eliminated.

Benson is one of those errors, and his family does what it can to hide and protect him from discovery. Eventually he is hidden in plain sight among the masses of the reorganized capitol of St. Louis where he meets other "unauthorized" individuals, and becomes the target of the human-cyborg teenage hunter that never seems to stop. The author develops cool and plausible technology in this future, and uses it to advance the story in interesting ways. The action is constant with no dull moments.

I look forward to continuing the story in the next book, GRIP.

The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak Has Mystery and Romance

Maisie Lazarow returns home to Fairham, North Carolina, the island of her childhood after suffering the double tragedy of losing both her only child, Ellie, to SIDS and her husband, Jack, to an affair with another woman. But the island is not a refuge, she returns to help her brother, Keith, who is dealing with his own problems - the pains and the ups and downs of addiction and their cold, controlling mother, Josephine. Complicating the situation, Maisie discovers that her first love, Rafe Romero, is renovating the vacation cottages on her family’s property and is living right next door with his young daughter, Laney.

With The Secret Sister, Brenda Novak has written another wonderful and complex story of heartbreak, mystery, renewal, and romance. The characters quickly became real people to me, with lives and back stories all their own. Supporting characters are solid and help develop the complications and give completeness to the novel. The beautiful island gives us a perfect setting for mystery and romance. I found the little touches, such as the texts from Maisie’s ex-husband, gave the story another feeling of reality as well. The interplay between the mother and EVERYONE always had me holding my breath to see what she’d say next. Great!

I can easily recommend this book to my friends and family or anyone that enjoys a good family drama or their romance involved with a good mystery. This is a heck of a start for a new series.

Blade of the Samurai by Susan Spann

In this second installment in the Shinobi Mystery series, Matsui Hiro and Father Mateo return to try and find the killer of one of the shogun’s chief samurai. Set inside the shogun’s mansion and grounds, the story features murder, political intrigue, and romance within another mental trip to medieval Japan for the reader. This book is just as entertaining and interesting as the first in the series and once again, we get an authentic glimpse into the life and culture of 16th century Japan.

My only disappointment with this series is that the next isn’t due out until 2015, of course. I highly recommend this to historical mystery fans especially those that have enjoyed the Sano Ichiro series by Laura Joh Rowland.

Book Review: Claws of the Cat (Shinobi Mystery, #1) by Susan Spann

Claws of the Cat by Susan Spann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent Japanese historical mystery perfect for fans of Laura Joh Rowland’s Sano Ichiro series!

When one of Father Mateo’s congregation, a lovely young entertainer in a geisha house, is accused of the murder of one of its samurai patrons, Matsui Hiro, Father Mateo’s Japanese translator/bodyguard (and undercover shinobi or ninja) lends his skills to find the real killer. The murdered man’s son gives the pair three days to discover the murderer or face death as part of the son’s traditional revenge.

This is a great mystery set in 16th-century Japan, and you can almost feel, hear, and smell the setting and live the story right along with the wonderful lead characters, Hiro and Father Mateo. The story is also sprinkled with memorable supporting characters such as Ana, the curmudgeonly housekeeper, and Luis, the Portuguese merchant and guest in Father Mateo’s home.

The story is filled with authentic-sounding and feeling details, and the author certainly has the chops to assure you of their genuine nature. This was a fabulous reading experience; I feel like I just returned from a trip to medieval Japan, and I was absolutely immersed in the story. I highly recommend this to historical mystery fans, especially those who enjoyed the Sano Ichiro series by Laura Joh Rowland.

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The Girls from Alcyone by Cary Caffrey

Like many other children in this bleak, future America, Sigrid is sold into indentureship to pay off the debts incurred by her parents to the Kimura Corporation. However, Sigrid’s got something in her genetic makeup that makes her and other girls like her “special.” She is sent to The Kimura Academy For Girls on the planet Alcyone to be educated, physically trained, and surgically enhanced. Sigrid and the other girls are a successful experiment that other corporations are willing to steal, kidnap, and kill to get their hands on.

Cary Caffrey has created a dark, moody future world where corporations truly rule everything. The story of the special girls growing up away from their families is a sad one. The 21 girls form alliances among themselves with the typical “mean girls” and their followers, and Sigrid, the youngest and weakest, is at the bottom of the pack. Tormented, Sigrid is ostrasized from the larger group until she is befriended by the stronger, popular Suko. Under Suko’s protection, Sigrid is able to mature and grow and develop into one of the most accomplished of the group. The relationship between Sigrid and Suko eventually develops into one of a romantic and sexual nature but they are parted while still attempting to sort out their feelings for each other.

As their training comes to a close, the girls begin to receive their “contracts,” their assignments where they will work and begin to repay the debts their parents racked up even before the girls were born. Some are sent to Kimura operations, others to the naval service until their very existence is threatened by the Council for Trade & Finance, the governing council of the Federation of Commercial Enterprise. Called “abominations,” the council wants all the girls turned over to them to be used for their own mysterious purposes.

There is a bit of the geek fantasy about the novel with young girls achieving mental and physical perfections and skill levels in fighting hand-to-hand, flying planes, and operating any weaponry under the sun (as well as the aforementioned girl-with-girl romance.) It is a fun and entertaining tale that I would recommend if you’re in the mood for a fun, light, entertaining space story. I probably would not recommend it for the younger, young adult fans because of the few scenes of a sexual nature. This is the first in a series (The Girls from Alcyone series). Book 2 is already released and titled The Machines of Bellatrix. I'll probably be picking that one up soon.

The Annihilation of Foreverland - A young adult novel with a dose of horror!

Author Tony Bertauski has created a paradise of an island in the south Atlantic Ocean where adolescent and teenage boys roam, fish, play state-of-the-art video games, anything they want to their heart’s content, except leave. Each is watched over, coached and guided by an elderly man of dubious health known as an “investor.” Every couple of weeks the boys are herded into “The Haystack,” a building that is the gateway to “Foreverland” where every impossible dream can come true but not without its price.

The Annihilation of Foreverland is told through the eyes of multiple characters but mainly by Danny Boy, whom we first encounter as he wakes up on the island devoid of any memory of his past. In fact, none of the boys remember who they are or where they came from. Another viewpoint is that of Reed, an older boy who has steadfastly refused to succumb to the promise of “Foreverland.” Finally, we get insight from the mysterious island owner known only as “The Director.” The old men or “investors” vary from supposedly kindly and caring to downright creepy and cruel. There is a psychotic bully among the boys which adds more tension. The characters and their pasts are gradually revealed over the course of the novel. The suspense and horror grows until we have a satisfyingly full picture of each.

The storyline is a unique one in which technology, privilege, money, and power all combine for an exciting, thought-provoking, ethics-challenging tale. The author added exquisitely creepy little details that absolutely made my skin crawl. These small details added a whole other level of “eww” to the story. Thankfully, the villains get their “just desserts” and we can leave the island with the knowledge that things are going to work out right. With a marvelous setting, interesting characters, and nice plot revelations, I recommend this to the young adult readers that like theirs with a good dose of horror.

Excellent for home or in the classroom!

The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High by Roseanne Cheng is a fun, yet thought-provoking novel for the middle school years. The author builds her story around the timely topic of the growing practice of commercial sponsorships (and financial support) of public spaces, in this case, a junior high school. As the story unfolds, it reveals both the positive and negative aspects of the impact that such sponsorship and product placement has on the school in a manner that is easy to read, understand, and enjoy.

The pre-teen protagonists, Andrew, Hannah, and Jackson, are highly likeable characters and act true to age. The setting, situations, and the interactions between the characters felt genuine and actually took me back to my own junior high experiences. It felt that real.

The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High not only delves into the issue of commercial sponsorship but addresses the everyday problems of being a kid and growing up. There is suspense and mystery. Who is the mysterious new student, Liam, and what’s he up to? Will Andrew get the girl? Will Andrew and Jackson resolve their problems and become true friends?

I think that this book would be enjoyed by young readers, the middle school crowd, and parents reading along with their children. The author's writing is clear and simple for the younger folks and interesting enough to hold the attention of adults. Additionally, it would be a great classroom tool, and to that end, the author has included a study guide at the end of the book with specific activities designated for each chapter as the story unfolds.

Second Chance at Life

After 103 excruciating days in the hospital recuperating from a botched suicide attempt, Ryan Farnsworth returns home to pick up the pieces of his life. However, the car wreck that almost killed him successfully robbed him of his memory: of his family, his friends, his past, everything. Erased, by Margaret Chatwin, is the excellent telling of Ryan’s second chance at life, his discovery of who he was and his desire to become someone better.

As the story unfolds, we slowly get glimpses of what kind of person Ryan was and what kind of life he led. We see the vestiges of his past relationships with his family and his friends and how they attempt to pick up where they left off although Ryan has undergone more changes than just those that physically apparent. Ryan tries to make the most of his chance to makeover a life that he had obviously found more painful than death.

Chatwin has created some memorable characters and memorable scenes as if she’d been a witness to their happening. The interactions and dialogue seem genuine, and the eventual resolution of the story is quite satisfyingly real. Ryan’s ultimate confrontation and confession to his father is emotionally tough.

Erased is a great story with good characters, and well worth the experience of reading. There are some consistent grammar and word choice problems that keep me from giving the novel a higher rating but there is nothing that a competent editor wouldn’t easily repair.