D.J. Weaver's Blog, page 7

Book Review of THE BURNING AIR by Erin Kelly

The Burning Air was written by Erin Kelly and published by Pamela Dorman Books in February, 2013. You may purchase the book at www.amazon.com and you may find more information about the author at http://www.erinkelly.co.uk
Erin Kelly has written three acclaimed, psychological thrillers, The Burning Air, being the third.
The MacBrides are the perfect family…or are they? Secrets cannot remain secrets forever and one seemingly insignificant lie told by the family matriarch, Lydia, takes the family down a path of destruction that could tear them apart forever, while destining one boy to a life filled with hatred and revenge.
This story, told from several different viewpoints, takes the reader through the intertwining lives of members of the MacBride family and a young boy named Darcy Kellaway. It begins in the present as Lydia writes her confession with all the intent of destroying it, but death claims her before she can. The reader is introduced to the members of the MacBride family and is given their backstories, each member having their individual trials and tribulations in life.
Then enters Darcy, whose story begins in 1996 with a devastating slight by the then-headmaster of Saxby Cathedral School, Rowan MacBride, the patriarch of the family. Darcy is rejected by the headmaster for a spot at the prestigious school, and the boy and his mentally unstable mother are devastated.
Darcy begins to plot his revenge on the family, which includes a beating administered to Felix MacBride that claims one of his eyes. His life becomes a series of events that include lies, deception, abduction, and murder—all of which Darcy feels the MacBrides deserve for Lydia’s part in his life’s downfall.
Twists and turns and nothing is what it seems in the culminating chapters and Erin Kelly makes the reader feel all of the pain, suffering, and psychological trauma of every character. The writing is flawless and the story is spot-on in The Burning Air. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, Erin Kelly has written another fabulous story that should not be missed. Four spiders for The Burning Air.
DJ Weaver (reviewed for Suspense Magazine)

Book Review of EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE by: Liana Brooks

    EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE was written by Lian Brooks and published by Breathless Press in 2012. You can purchase a copy at www.amazon.com You can learn more about this author by visiting her website at www.lianabrooks.com I knew from the opening line that I was going to like this book! It’s a fast-paced, good-humoured delight from beginning to end. This is a fantasy romance with super villains and super heroes/heroines.Dr. Charm is a super villain who must make the most difficult choice – world domination or the woman he loves AKA super heroine Zephyr Girl. Being a married duo isn’t easy, especially when your wife decides to go back to work and you have 4 little blessings, all of whom are showing signs of superpowers themselves!But not all superheroes are what they appear to be. There is a traitor in the ranks and Zehyr Girl becomes embroiled in a nasty plan that could tear her family apart. But Dr. Charm, despite his retirement from super-villainous activities, seems to be the only one who can save the world this time. Will he succeed but lose the only woman he’s ever loved? This is a light –hearted, easy read. It is fun and sexy without being graphic.  Definitely a 5-Spider read!
Jennie J. reviewer for WebbWeaver

Book Review of RULES of ENGAGEMENT by C. Michael Bennis

    Rules Of Engagement was written by C. Miachael Bennis and published in 2009. You can purchase the book at www.amazon.com or visit the author's website at www.cmichaelbennis.com


Rules of Engagement takes you on a romantic roller coaster ride of love, betrayal, searching, longing and what is really like to find that one true love, lose it, and then return back to it years later. C. Michael Bennis puts together a good story line that keeps you turning the pages to see where this romance is going to lead, but even more than that his dialogue amongst the characters is very entertaining to say the least.


Alec Santana is an athlete and on his way to being a top ad man and bestselling author. Upon his college graduation he visits Europe as a present from his parents and runs into Nicole Bocart, the woman of his dreams. They spend days together, falling in love, but making a set of rules that will leave Alec feeling a void in his life for the following twenty years. Because Nicole hails from an aristocratic French family and is engaged to be married upon her arrival back to Paris.

Alec moves to New York upon his return back to the US and becomes a successful advertising executive but he drifts through relationships. He can't keep Nicole out of his mind, his only true love, and he carries her with him into every new relationship he gets involved in. He is haunted by this lost love and can't find love with anyone else although he gets involved in several relationships. He becomes a great writer and ad man but thoughts of Nicole continue to play through his mind.

Eventually the two reunite after 22 years of separation and the truth comes out about Nicole's life after their initial affair. Nicole is now the CEO of one the most powerful advertising companies in the world and she wants Alec back just as much as he wants her back. The two have a brief reunion and then separate again due to Nicole's husband trying to sabotage Alec's name and career.

Rules of Engagement is a very well orchestrated romance novel that keeps you wanting to turn the page for more. The best part about it, to me, were the lines of dialogue between the characters. Some of those lines are simply priceless. If I had to choose an area that the writing lacks it would be the visual aspect of it. Some of the places mentioned in the novel could have been more visually descriptive than they were, but other than that it is a great read. I'm a romantic and can't stand the corny romantic stuff that gets put out there and this is not that. If it kept my attention, which it did then C. Michael Bennis definitely did his job.

Romance, suspense, and a good flowing story, Rules of Engagement has all of those elements combined. The romantic scenes could have been more descriptive, not pornographic, but descriptive in a tasteful way. The dialogue was excellent and the characters were presented as they should have been, individual. With that said Rules of Engagement definitely deserves "4 Spiders." Yarima K.

Book Review of Fluer Gaskin's, ARABELLE'S SHADOWS

 
Arabelle's Shadows was written by Fleur Gaskin and published in November, 2012. It is available for purchase at www.amazon.com   Arabella's Shadows is written in a part diary, part biographical style. It describes the life of an aspiring model, her travels, her relationships, her pain and is set against the backdrop of many exotic countries in both Asia and Europe. More than that, however, it deals with the issue of depression and just how crippling this illness can be. Fleur Gaskin's descriptions of the effects of depression and how the mind works ( or doesn't work) is truly the focus of the book. The heart-breaking background story illuminates the present story, helping the reader to really understand Arabelle and her struggles. The book doesn't follow a strict chronological order but jumps from one place and time to another. While this can be a little disconcerting I soon got used to the way the book was structured and was able to focus on the important points within the story. This is a very good and heartbraking novel. We definitely recommend it!4-spidersJennie J. reviewer for WebbWeaver

Book Review of SWORN TO PROTECT by: Kathryn Loch

SWORN TO PROTECT: VOWS OF THE HEART was written by Kathryn Loch and published in October, 2012. It is available for purchase at www.amazon.com To find out more about this author, visit her website at www.kathrynloch.com/  Sworn To Protect is set in the U.S. where Ethan and Bethany meet under the most stressful circumstances. Both are witnesses to the crimes of an international arms dealer and drug-lord. They become protected witnesses and cannot trust anybody. They must now rely on each other to survive.

The plot is very intricate and there are some twists and turns that I really was not expecting.

I like that the author has both an alpha male and alpha female that each have their own strengths and weaknesses. The characters are three dimensional and deal with real-life issues such as love, loss, betrayal and loyalty. Background characters also add another element to the story and I found myself rooting for some of them as well.

A great read and highly recommended! 5-spiders for sure! Jennie J. reviewer for WebbWeaver   

Book Review of THE CROWNS VENGEANCE by Andrew Clawson

   Andrew Clawson has delivered a suspense filled novel with all the elements of drama, action, imagery, and lively characters along with a diabolical plot scheme only to be uncovered by ingenious protagonists.

Parker Chase, working in the financial market, and his girlfriend Professor Erika Carr uncover coded messages that bring back memories of another sinister plot which they unraveled in an earlier Andrew Clawson novel A PATRIOTS BETRAYAL. The similarities between this new coded message dated during the time of Paul Revere and the old case that they solved months previously lead them to believe that something cold and calculating is being planned. Parker Chase really wants no parts of it but is convinced by his girlfriend Erika Carr that they need to at least investigate it and break the code to see what they can find.

Their search and investigation leads them to the halls of some of Americas and Europe's biggest financial institutions. The more information that they stumble upon the more they find their lives to be in danger and then finally the realization that some very powerful power brokers are not only trying to silence them but also trying to bankrupt the United States in the process. Parker Chase and Erika Carr refuse to let that happen, moving against time and an assassin intent upon putting an end to their existence.

The two main power brokers in this plot have put together an immaculate scheme to drive up oil prices in the US and bankrupt the country. They have hired out an assassin to kill important government diplomats in order to get their own people in position to pull off the scheme. Parker Chase and Erika Carr however become a thorn in the sides of these two henchmen and their scheme gets diverted because of it.

Andrew Clawson has put together a novel that is a page turner and very hard to put down. If you are into suspense and fast paced action then Clawson delivers. This novel is packed with good well rounded characters in both protagonists and antagonists. The antagonists characters are brought to life brilliantly which makes it a much more enticing read because the protagonists can only be as good as the antagonist that they are up against. Beyond that Andrew Clawson has really done his research and weaved a story together that, although it's fiction, it has remnants of real life, current issues dealing with our financial institutions that could leave you wondering, can this really happen. Conspiracy theorists would probably say yes.

Suspenseful, action packed, fast paced and a definite page turner from start to finish, Andrew Clawson gives us a taste of his craftsmanship as a writer and THE CROWNS VENGEANCE should be ranked among classics like Pelican Brief. For this reason THE CROWNS VENGEANCE gets a resounding "5- spiders."

Y. Karima

Book Review of SECONDWORLD by Jeremy Robinson

SecondWorld was written by Jeremy Robinson and published through Thomas Dunne Books in May 2012. You can purchase this read at www.amazon.com and you may get more information on Jeremy at www.jeremyrobinsononline.com
 Jeremy Robinson has once again, reached into his story-telling hat and pulled out a winning premise and the perfect protagonist to bring it to life.
 Lincoln Miller is an ex-Navy SEAL who is now an NCIS special agent. He is sent to an underwater research station to investigate reports of ocean dumping, But, what Miller finds instead, are strange red flakes falling from the sky, millions of dead or dying sea creatures, and most importantly, no oxygen at the surface.
 Fearing the worst, Miller makes his way to Miami only to find millions of people dead, while the culprits behind the truth of the falling flakes and their plan to annihilate all of mankind are still at work. He also finds a young girl in a hospital and together, they make a hasty getaway to Washington, DC.
 Tasked by the President with stopping the global chaos that will take place in seven days, Miller is joined by a Czech conspiracy theorist/cowboy, and a Nazi scientist’s granddaughter. The three must track down the source of the red death and the homicidal mastermind from the past who is once again reigning terror upon the entire world.
 Robinson has done a fantastic job with the characters in this story. Miller is the perfect AJ-squared away ex-Navy SEAL with a past that demands his participation in the story. Elizabeth Adler is easily likeable, but somewhat suspect right up to the end, and Milos Vesely is fabulously funny, but also clever and crafty. This trio works, and Robinson has made this non-stop action adventure, believable and harrowing.
 Crisp, fresh and scary as Hell, SecondWorldshould be at the top of your reading stack. Jeremy Robinson has joined the ranks of ‘my favorite authors’ with this one. Five spiders for SecondWorld.
DJ Weaver

Book Review of THE TOMBS OF EDEN by Rick Jones

The Tombs of Eden was written by Rick Jones and published through Hive Collective in August of 2012. You may purchase the book at www.amazon.comand you may find out more about Rick Jones at http://www.rickjonz.com
 Professor Jonathan Moore has searched for this for years, but now that he’s found it, he’s also found its sinister secret. Too bad he won’t be able to tell his archeologist daughter, Alyssa, of the find of all time. No… he will never get to tell a single soul, because he and his entire team save for one, are gruesomely murdered by something sinister and unworldly, lurking in the temple. The professor gives his log book to his assistant to take back to Alyssa just before he dies and this will set Alyssa on a search for the seat of all humankind.
Eden—hidden for millennia, the beginnings of man. The most important find in the history of religion. Alyssa Moore, John Savage, and their team must survive while searching for the tombs at the center of the subterranean Temple of Eden. But they are being stalked by massive, unholy guardians of the tombs. Will they survive and can they decipher the secrets of The Tombs of Eden in time?

 Rick Jones has penned a hair-raising thriller with a twist, and just the brand of action-packed, non-stop writing I enjoy best. He has taken an awesome story, added a couple of emotionally-charged, result-oriented protagonists, a few really bad guys, and topped the whole thing off with a large quantity of whatever is lurking in the dark temple, brutally and savagely killing off the cast of characters.
 The Tombs of Eden is Rick’s fourth novel and first of this series. He is presently working on the second in the series, The Menagerie, and I, for one, can’t wait to read more from him in the future. Kudos and four and a half spiders for The Tombs of Eden.
DJ Weaver(as reviewed in Suspense Magazine)

INHALE: A JUST BREATHE NOVEL by: Kedall Grey

                 INHALE was written by Kendall Grey and published by Howling Mad Press (which she totally is). It is available for purchase at www.amazon.com  This fiction book combines romance with fantasy to tell the story of two strangers who meet in dreams, but live drastically different lives. Zoe is a whale, marine biologist who is seeking the big promotion of a lifetime. Gavin Cassidy sings in a rock band but throws himself into partying and drinking as a way of coping with loss. Gavin has been called in dreamland to protect and save Zoe from the fire and figure out why she was chosen to be protected in the first place. In the end, he finds himself in love with a woman he has never even met and may not ever meet because of the risks involved.  I loved this book!!! I read the first chapter and couldn't put the book down until the last words were read. I loved the story and the connection between the characters; how real it all seemed!!! The author has done a great job telling the story with heart and realness.  I was amazed how the author explained their lives and didn't get you lost or tell too much. Like I said, great story and I would recommend INHALE 100% to anyone over 18. *Please note that there are scenes with sexual content and strong, graphic violence, but they only make the story better and more believable*  I am giving Kendall Grey's INHALE, 5-spiders and more :)  T Lane

THE SHADOW OF TIAMAT: THE DRAGON'S BLOOD CHRONICLES BOOK 1

                                                                                                                                                                        The Shadow of Tiamat: The Dragon's Blood Chronicles, was written by Sean Poindexter and published by Crescent Moon Press. It is available for purchase at www.amazon.com      Megan is a social worker in a small town. Not much changes in her life until she, quite literally, runs into, Garrett Terago, a mysterious stranger. After waking from the car wreck, Megan soon discovers that her mysterious friend, the same man who she ran down in her car by accident, has already claimed responsibility for the car wreck which wasn't his fault, and paid all the hospital bills: adding to the intrigue.     Megan has never met a man like Garrett and it isn't long before she falls head-over-heels in love with him. But, there is a lot more to Garrett than meets the eye and it will take everything within her to discover and face the truth.  The Shadow of Tiamat was a great read! Not normally the type of book I would choose, but the author quickly changed my mind on that. A cool and original concept, Sean Poindexter has put together a story readers are sure to love. All I wanted was good things for this couple and I can't wait to see where the author takes them in the next book from this series.  Can't say too much because I would not want to give anything away. So I will just say this... READ THE BOOK!!I am giving The Shadow of Tiamat a 4 1/2-spider rating and recommending it to all romance/fantasy lovers.T Lane