D.J. Weaver's Blog, page 9

WebbWeaver review of P.I. Barrington's 'Future Imperfect' Trilogy

WebbWeaver’s first book series review comes from S. Price with her review of P.I. Barrington’s FUTURE IMPERFECT series. 
This series was published by Desert Breeze Publishing in 2009 and 2010 and is available for purchase at www.amazon.com . You can learn more about this author and her work by visiting her website at http://thewordmistresses.com/

     FUTURE IMPERFECT Book 1: Crucifying Angel  Payce Halligan is a detective with Las Vegas PD who, after returning to work on the heels of a tragic accident involving her partner, has made target practice her favorite pastime. Her superior has brought in a handsome playboy Englishman as her new partner. Payce now has to teach Gavin McAllister about life in the desert of Las Vegas in the year 2032, a task she is not too happy about at the moment. Payce had much rather work alone since the tragic loss of her last partner. Payce and Gavin weave their way through casino life, cult life, and eventually, the underground tunnels that lead to answers, but also raise more questions. The questions they must answer are not only about the cult-like group they have been tracking, but also about themselves as individuals, and together as partners.  This book keeps you on the edge of your seat, reading faster and faster so you can't possibly see what's coming next. This is the first book in a series of three action-packed novels. I will definitely read the other two books in this series. I can’t possibly end with one! I recommend this book to anyone who loves a great action-packed, who-dun-it and those searching for an  an underlying love story in there somewhere. The futuristic aspect of this book also keeps you interested; clamoring to know what the author envisions for Las Vegas and homicide investigation many years from now.4-spiders


FUTURE IMPERFECT Book 2: Miraculous Deception  In this second book of the series, we follow Payce and Gavin, two of Las Vegas PD’s detectives, into further investigations that seem to circle around the religious sect, The New Creation. This book can be easily read as a stand-alone, but it’s more fun reading the whole series. Payce was injured in an earlier investigation and begins this book in the hospital being treated for her injuries. Someone keeps trying to keep her in an unconscious state, it would seem, but the big questions are 'who' and 'why'? All the clues seem to lead Gavin to Payce’s last partner Nick and ultimately, right back to the New Creation.
 Follow the LVPD through this investigation and make sure you wear your seatbelt, it's going to be a bumpy ride! This one takes some crazy twists and turns that you NEVER see coming. (Think roller coaster in the dark) The thrills, chills and shocking twists keep you guessing right up to the very end. But... you will never see this end coming! I cannot wait to read the third and final installment in this series! 4-Spiders


 FUTURE IMPERFECT Book3: Final Deceit 
In this final installment of the Future Imperfect Series, we find Payce and Gavin under the rubble of the New Creation’s demolished compound. They are faced with trying to find a way out with Nick and Amy Strand, the news reporter. They find that there is still life under the rubble of the building, in tunnels and caverns deep below the earth. El Jeffe is still there directing his masterful deception even after the façade of the New Creation has been demolished.  This third book in the series continues this tightly woven action thriller until its finale. The storyline and pace of the book changes so quickly, it will make your head spin and leave you turning the pages faster and faster so you can find out how it all ends for this group of law enforcement officers.  The characters of the 'Future Imperfect Trilogy' come together nicely in this final book as new ones are introduced. The author has written an original story you won’t soon forget. I am giving the FUTURE IMPERFECT TRILOGY a 4-spider rating and recommending it to anyone looking for a great series filled with twists, turns and edge of your seat action and thrills.
S. Price

Book Review of MARTY BOGGS AND THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB by M.T. Acquaire

Marty Boggs and the Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb was written by M.T. Acquaire and published by Matthew andTanya Acquaire in 2011. It may be purchased at www.amazon.com and you may read more about theauthor at http://www.mtacquaire.com/

Marty is typical teenager except he is dealing with a magnitude of bad luck,and the fact that his grandfather found a tomb in Egypt, and released a curse,is the reason why. First, his mom disappears, and then his granddad becomesvery ill and his family is forced to move to help out and manage hisgrandfather’s museum. Marty must start a new school, make new friends and evenwhere a school uniform. These things plus the fact that the family must dealwith a curse that haunts them is a lot for the boy to handle Then, kids startgoing missing, while monsters and ghouls of all kinds begin to walk thestreets, and an evil necromancer strives to become immortal. Marty must figureout how to stop the curse and save them all.

This book was a surprisingly great read. I really think young readers will loveit for its action, but also adult readers will too. It’s full of mystery andadventure and held my attention all the way to the very end, which is hard todo unless it is an interesting story line that is well written. The story was areally fast and easy read with good characters and lots of monster action, whichkept me guessing and wondering just what was going to happen next.
I’m giving Marty Boggs and the Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb a 5 spider rating just because it was such a great adventure storythat kept me interested and wanting to read more from this author.

T Lane


Book Review of DEATH WHISPERS by Tamara Rose Blodgett

Death Whispers was written and published by Tamara Rose Blodgett in April, 2011. You may purchase this book at www.amazon.com and you may read more about the author at http://tamararoseblodgett.blogspot.com/

In a not-so-distant-future, scientists have mapped the human genome, and have found out how to give an inoculation in early childhood that will highlight the brain’s natural ability to use more than was used before, allowing paranormal abilities to show up in some of the population.  These abilities usually show up around puberty, and are now tested for in school.  The tests determine a youth’s aptitudes, be they paranormal, or “mundane” such as math, science, etc.  This is a story of Caleb Hart, the son of the scientist who first mapped the genome.  He is now at the age for any paranormal abilities to begin to show, and for the testing procedures to be done.  Unfortunately, he seems to have a very high affinity for the dead (AFTD), which gives him the ability to raise zombies, feel the feelings of the dead, and much more.  This is not the ideal ability to have, as there is a special “government school” that takes these children and trains them to do work for the government.  Caleb must find out how to harness his abilities and how great they are, while trying to stay below the government’s radar.  Caleb doesn’t want his freedom stolen because he can be used as a tool for the government.  After all, the first kid with the abilities like Caleb’s was taken and never heard from again.  Caleb and his friends, some of whom have their own abilities, set out on a mission to find out just how strong they are while staying out of sight. 

This story is a good YA read.  It has the elements of action and adventure, as well as young love.  The author writes in such a way that you become invested in the story.  The reader will get to know these kids, and want to follow them further.  I would love to read more about Caleb, the J’s (his friends) and Jade (his girlfriend), to see how High School goes for them.  Young readers would love this story.  It is written from the perspective of Caleb, complete with teenage angst.  It’s a fun book to read, along with a great story.
4 spiders for Death Whispers.

SB Price

Book Review of THE SPACE BETWEEN by Alexandra Sokoloff

The Space Between was written by Alexandra Sokoloff and self-published by the author in 2011. It is available for purchase at www.amazon.comYou can learn more about this incredible author by visiting her website at http://www.alexandrasokoloff.com
Sixteen-year-old Anna Sullivan is a lot like most girls her age; she never really fit in and has always felt different from others. At the tender age of five, Anna’s mother abandoned the family, leaving Anna to care for her alcoholic father who suffers from debilitating Post Traumatic Stress from war.
The night is the worst time for Anna because once sleep finds her, so do terrible, graphic dreams of a serial killer’s spree on her classmates and teachers. The boy she secretly adores is always in her dreams and in them, he always dies.

Tyler, being troubled by the same, twisted visions, confronts Anna and tells her he sees the same ‘visions’. Together the pair decides the dreams are premonitions and attempt to stop the inevitable from taking place. But, things are not what they seem and the reality of the dreams is much more complicated and unreal than anything they could have imagined.  

The Space Between is six kinds of awesome! Alexandra Sokoloff has created an intricate tapestry; a dark Young Adult novel with threads of horror and science fiction that make it a true original and unlike any I have read  Loaded with graphic, vivid images that place the reader in the midst of the mystery and danger, The Space Between is a must read. Alexandra has taken psychological elements, quantum physics and multiple dimensions with parallel universes and created a storyline that has no equal. I cannot say enough good things about this book, but don’t take my word for it… run out, RIGHT NOW and pick up your copy. Perhaps on another parallel, in a different dimension of life… you already have!! 5-spiders without a doubt!!

CK Webb

Book Review of DEAD OF WINTER by Brian Moreland

DEAD OF WINTER was written by Brian Moreland and published by Samhain Publishers in 2011. You may purchase this book at www.amazon.com and you may read more about Brian Moreland at http://www.brianmoreland.com/
When a predatory entity stalks a wilderness fort in the 1878, Ontario territory, attacking settlers and spreading a plague that turns them into zombie-like cannibals, a law man and a man of the cloth must intervene to stop the slaugher.
Tom Hatcher has fled to the wilderness with his son to escape the memories of the Cannery Cannibal, a man he tracked down and imprisoned for his heinous crimes against thirteen women in Montreal. A hunt which cost Tom his wife and a bit of his sanity.
Father Xavier visited the Cannery Cannibal in a Montreal asylum and found him possessed by a shape-shifting demon with a taste for human flesh that can possess his victims and make them bow to his will.
Together these two men must combine their talents to destroy the demon before it wipes out the entire population of the Ontario wilderness, and claims their own souls for itself.
 Brian Moreland has written a wonderfully, creepy tale and placed it in a chillingly, frozen setting, making for a one-two punch for readers. The evil is so thick, the reader can cut it with a knife, and it spills over onto every word of Moreland’s well researched story. This tale has everything any fan of horror or suspense could want and then some. Masterfully written, it will keep you reading to the bitter end.
I’m giving Dead of Winter a 5 spider rating and recommending this book to anyone who loves a good horror/suspense read. This one has it all!

 DJ Weaver

Vote for WEBBWEAVER REVIEWS in the INDEPENDENT BOOK BLOGGER AWARDS

Cast your vote for the Independent Book Blogger Awards
These awards highlight the amazing talent in book blogging today.
You may vote once in each of four categories: Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Young Adult and Children’s, and Publishing Industry. Voting closes Monday, April 23 at 11:59pm ET.


http://www.goodreads.com/book_blogger_award?category=Adult+Fiction

WEBBWEAVER REVIEWS has been around for three years. In that time we have made a ton of wonderful friends, met some really great writers and picked up a few fans along the way. WebbWeaver is in the running for the Independent Book Blogger Awards on Goodreads and we would love to have your vote!! There will be 15 blogs chosen for the semi-finals, but only 4 blogs will win. The winners will receive airfare, hotel stay and passes to Book Expo America!!! Those of you, who know us well, know how badly we have wanted to attend events such as this one and that DJ and I would be incredibly humbled to get your votes. You have to be a member of Goodreads to vote, but registration is simple & quick!!!!
Thank you for being such fabulous family, friends, colleagues and fans… Win, lose, or draw we adore each and every one of you!!
WebbWeaver Books, Movies & Music Reviewed
http://bit.ly/HWQKW
WebbWeaver Reviews features book, movie and music reviews as well as author interviews and blog tours. Six reviewers make up the crew at WebbWeaver and they are headed up by thriller writers CK Webb and DJ Weaver.

Book Review of THE SEARCH FOR ARTEMIS by P.D. Griffith

The Search for Artemis (The Chronicles of Landon Wicker) was written by P.D. Griffith and published by Gryff Publishing, Ltd. in 2011. It may be purchased at www.amazon.com and you can find out more about P.D. Griffith at www.goodreads.com
Landon Wicker is a psychokinetic who unintentionally releases his powers on his parents and believes he has killed them. He runs away from home to live on the streets. His powers are so great he can lift a school bus with his mind, and never touch it. He is found and brought to a place called the Gymnasium where he meets other kids with different abilities. He must learn to control his, while dealing with his awful secret. Then he meets a mysterious girl who makes him question what he knows about the Gymnasium and he must choose who is right and who is wrong.

This was a great book that I found myself compelled to keep reading. The Characters seemed so real, I felt I really knew them and the story drew me in and made me feel as if I were a part of the book itself. The end of the book leaves the reader with a cliff hanger that had me excited and ready for the next installment.

I’m giving The Search for Artemis, 4 1/2 stars and recommending this book to anyone, young or old.

T Lane

Book Review of DENIBUS AR by Chris Turner

Denibus Ar, by Chris Turner was published by Innersky Books in 2011, and may be purchased at www.amazon.com You may read more about the author at http://innerskybooks.blogspot.com/
Denibus Ar holds secrets best left alone. Death traps fit for Indiana Jones and protective magic that Evvie and O'Connell would understand are what awaits readers who dare to open the cover and take in these pages by Chris Tuner.
Older than the Valley of the Kings, Denibus Ar has lain hidden under the desert sands for hundreds of thousands of years and holds secrets so old that even legend has forgotten them. What happens when the sight is eventually discovered and unearthed by a team of archeologists is a story shrouded in mystery and ancient magic.
A six-sided pyramid, the only one of its kind ever discovered, is enough to rouse the curiosity of the archeological community, and the possibility of ancient artifacts waiting to be discovered, has rumors flying throughout the dig site. The Egyptian military swarms the site, on the lookout for anyone trying to smuggle out valuable artifacts, constantly hindering the archeological team in their task to uncover whatever mysteries lie beneath the desert floor.
However, one member of the team, Australian archeologist, Carl Langley, is finding it hard to focus on the job at hand due to some very unusual occurrences since the dig began. A mysterious cat that seems to have materialized out of nothing; a mirage come to life if you will, and the strange feelings that he himself has experienced, drawing him toward actions that don't seem to be of his own choosing.
In his efforts to discover what is happening at Denibus Ar, Langley uncovers a plot to steal the treasures assumed to be hidden within. It's up to Langley and his friend Yammar to foil the evil plan, but the Pharaoh, Queen Karuka was a sorceress who went to great effort to assure her tomb would remain hidden. When they are discovered by the smugglers, strange things begin to happen, and it becomes a question of making it out alive for all.
I give Denibus Ar, 4 spiders.
Kaye Lynne Booth

Movie Review of THE HUNGER GAMES

'The World Will Be Watching'
The Hunger Games is a Young Adult novel written by Suzanne Collins in September of 2008. It was adapted to screenplay by Gary Ross, Billy Ray and Suzanne Collins. The film debuted in movie theaters on March 23, 2012 and was directed by Gary Ross. It is enjoying its' second week as the box office #1 hit.
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson and Lenny Kravitz are just a few of the actors who grace the film's storyline.
A post-apocalyptic story of Pan Am, the remains of what was once North America, The Hunger Games is a fiction storyline with a 'what if' feel.
Once, the people revolted and stood up for their rights, but in the end, they lost the battle. Now, to pay for their disobedience, they are forced to hand over their children for a spectacle of games known as The Hunger Games. When the wars ended, the new country was divided into twelve districts and each is ruled over with an iron fist by the wealthy and elite of District One.
Each year, children between ages 12 & 18 must have their names placed in a drawing. One boy and one girl are selected from each district to travel to District One and represent their district in the games. The Hunger Games pits child against child and District against District as those chosen fight to the death while the entire world watches.
There are 24 child contestants in The Hunger Games… Only one will survive, only one will win.
Katniss Everdeen, a girl from the poorest district, volunteers for the games to save the life of her young sister, Primrose. The first ever volunteer from District 12, Katniss has only one thing on her mind… survive!
I could go on and on about the movie and the books. I was particularly impressed with the way the movie stuck to the storyline of the book and did not stray from the powerful world that the writer created. The Hunger Games is a dark tale with some very harsh scenes, but with enough hope and compassion and brilliant chemistry between characters, the viewer will be sucked in to this deeply moving theatrical piece. The casting of the film was wonderful. Jennifer Lawrence plays Katniss Everdeen as if she were born to do so. There are some fantastic, fun and sometimes shocking performances from Stanly Tucci, Woody Harrelson and even Lenny Kravitz which add to the film's brilliance.
A visually striking film, with wonderful special effects and cinematography, The Hunger Games is a MUST SEE for 2012. There has not been a book written with such originality and heart in many years and the screen version of The Hunger Games gives us a look at something truly unique.
I did not feel that this was too graphic for my children, (they were in the theater right next to me and loved it) but there are some parents who may… know your children and what they can handle emotionally. For me, The Hunger Games was a solid 5, but for the simple fact that not EVERYONE will be able to see it, I am giving it a 4 ½ spider rating and BEGGING you not to miss this movie on the big screen. A beautifully written novel and a fantastically executed movie will surely make The Hunger Games an instant classic.
Run out right now and see the movie and remember…
'May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor'
CK Webb

Book Review of THE DEVIL'S BAIT by Jeffrey J. Mariotte

The Devil's Bait was written by Jeffrey J. Mariotte and published in 2011. It may be purchased at www.amazon.com and you can visit the author at http://jeffmariotte.com/main.htm

Jessica Cutler is a "Relationship Manager" with MetroBank on the way up when she watches her most important client, Richard Steele, and another man murder four others in a garage (it started off as self-defense but Steele went to each wounded man and shot them through the head). Unseen by Steele, Jessica flees the scene, and begins to question whether the transactions she has been making for Steele have in fact been money laundering.

After a sleepless night, Jessica brings her suspicions to a higher-up at the bank, a friend who has been her mentor. He listens to her story— she does not mention the murders— and assures her that, while there is probably nothing to her fears, he will look into her concerns. Jessica leaves the office relieved until someone tries to push her in front of a subway train. When she finally returns home, she finds that her apartment has been riffled. She throws some clothes into a bag and "goes on the run."

Narrowly escaping danger, she makes her way across the country to Clark's Grove, Iowa to take refuge with her long estranged sister, Joan. Once there and realizing that Steele's people would continue to search for her no matter how far she ran, she decides to seek protection and hires Morgan Byrd, an ex-Special Forces mercenary as a bodyguard.

Once she explains the situation to Byrd, he convinces her that the best way to protect herself and those close to her would be to go on the offensive and this offensive takes them from Iowa to Paris to Geneva to the Grand Caymans, back to Iowa, and then back to New York City where it all started.

The action is fast-paced with many twists and turns and Mariotte has obviously done much research on the intricacies of banking transactions.

The Devil's Bait is an intriguing tale with loads of action and well written characters and I'm giving it 41/2 spiders

johnmac