Review of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Rating: Strongly Recommended Blurb: Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor. […]
Review of JET by Russell Blake (2012) (Jet Series)
Bottom line: JET is a free, full length novel introducing the JET series. If you’re a fan of thrillers, give it a try! Rating: Strongly Recommended Blurb: Code name: Jet Twenty-eight-year-old Jet was once the Mossad’s most lethal operative before faking her own death and burying that identity forever. But the past doesn’t give up on […]
Review of The Alphabet Mysteries Series by Sue Grafton
Bottom line: A great example of the hard boiled genre, featuring a strong female P.I. Rating: Recommended Blurb for First Book: A is for Alibi (1982) A IS FOR AVENGER A tough-talking former cop, private investigator Kinsey Millhone has set up a modest detective agency in a quiet corner of Santa Teresa, California. A twice-divorced […]
Review of Maui Widow Waltz by JoAnn Bassett (2011) (Islands of Aloha Series)
Bottom line: Meh. Rating: Recommended if Blurb: Even “death do us part” couldn’t spoil her wedding day plans… Wedding planner Pali Moon is thrilled when a would-be bride shows up at “Let’s Get Maui’d” inquiring about a lavish beach wedding. That is, until she learns it must be on Valentine’s Day–just nine days away. Oh […]
Review of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1985) (The Ender Quintet)
Bottom line: A compelling character and suspenseful story combine to create an engrossing read. Rating: Recommended Blurb: In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race’s next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, […]
Review of Rigged for Murder by Jenifer LeClair (2011) (Windjammer Mysteries)
Bottom line: An enjoyable book, as much for the ambience as the mystery itself. Rating: Recommended Blurb: High seas adventure turns to high stakes sleuthing when a beautiful but troubled homicide detective and a New England sea captain join forces in this award-winning mystery set on the coast of Maine. On leave from the Minneapolis […]
Review of the Chronological Man Adventure Series by Andrew Mayne
Bottom line: A fun, historical, science-y, steampunk-y, adventure-y series of short stories. Rating: Strongly Recommended Review: I really like this series. It consists (so far) of two short stories, telling the tale of Smith, time traveler extraordinaire, who shows up to save the day whenever he is needed. The books are short enough to be […]
Review of “Nineteen Eighty Four” or “1984” by George Orwell (1949)
Bottom line: Definitely worth a read, as it explores timeless topics such as power, inequality, and control. Rating: Strongly Recommended Blurb: 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell’s prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1948 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of “Negative Utopia” – […]
Review of Pompomberry House by Rosen Trevithick (2012)
Bottom line: A very fun read with a good mystery, an interesting main character (despite describing every single hat she puts on), and a clever roasting of the indie scene. Rating: Recommended Blurb: A writer’s retreat seemed the perfect chance for Dee Whittaker to take her mind off her marital difficulties. However, she meets five […]