Wednesday, October 29, 2014

ALIEN NIGHTMARES by Sharon Delarose



It takes a lot of courage to publish a book stating you've been an alien abductee.  Even in this ‘enlightened age’, anyone claiming to have had personal contact with alien beings is scoffed at.  Most of us never talk about it, to anyone. 
I’m about the same age as Sharon Delarose, and I’ve had my own encounters, but I never knew what they were until I was much older.  Just lots of very strange, powerful dreams and I grew up with an end-of-the-world mindset.  Sharon had her repeat dreams; mine were tornados, war in the US and alien invasions.  Some of them were prophetic, like the tornados, as 2011 was called the Year of the Tornados.  I also had flying dreams and what I always considered Out Of Body dreams, but I’m not so sure now.  I’d wake up so bone-freezing cold and it would take an hour for me to warm up.  Once I found myself levitating on the bed.  My husband told me I’d done that before. 
I also had some very frightening, paranormal experiences in the house I grew up in.  I always attributed them to an evil ghostly entity, but after reading some of the author’s screen dreams, I wonder if they were actually alien abductions.  And Sharon is right; they leave you alone once you hit your late thirties / early forties. 
If you’re a skeptic, nothing you read will change your mind.  But then, maybe you’re in denial.  But, if you’re experiencing strange, unaccountable dreams, you might find this well written book very insightful.    Thank you for publically talking about a hidden secret so many of us share.  I give my 5 feathers.

Monday, October 27, 2014

EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE: From Epidemic to Pandemic By Thomas Jerome Baker



This is a very informative book regarding the nature of Ebola, with lots of active links to additional, supporting information.  I did learn some FACTS I wasn’t aware of.  But even knowing the truth, it still scares me, a lot, especially since I reside in Omaha, where we have so far treated 2 Ebola patients.  Successfully, I might add. 
I believe this book was written before the truth came out about how unprepared the US hospitals really are, in relation to the treatment of Ebola.  It this truly spreads to a pandemic, because of the governments turning a blind eye, our healthcare systems will be overwhelmed with sick and dying patients.  And quite a few Americans feel like I do, we just don’t trust anything said by government agencies.  We've been lied to too many times over the years. 
The MSF Presentation to UN Security Council really brings the plight of the West African’s to light.  As a hard-working, middle-class citizen, it’s hard to see our nearly defunct government handing over our hard-earned money to other countries that always have their hands out begging for more money.  But what’s the answer?  Either treat the outbreak in Africa, or wait until Ebola reaches our shores.  I feel a Pandemic is imminent, and long overdue. 

This is a Must Read for everyone concerned about Ebola.  I give it 5 feathers.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by Brian L Porter

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by Brian L Porter 




In 1888, while Jack the Ripper stirred fear in the hears of London residents, there was another, unknown, serial killer running loose, dumping his victims in the tunnels of the new Underground Railway system.  With all the manpower being used for the search of Jack the Ripper, the case was assigned to Albert Norris, previously of the Scotland Yard, but now demoted to Inspector of the London Police Force.  Hampered by the constraints placed on him by his upper command and high government officials, Norris nonetheless perseveres, going against all odds to catch the killer.
This was an entertaining historical thriller, well written for the time period involved.  The settings and the people were believable and there were plot twists to keep me bouncing back and forth on who the real villain was.  I did think some the dialogue was flat, as well as some of the personality traits, but that might be the difference from an American to an English standpoint.

I did find several handfuls of proofreading errors, which lowered my rating.  I look forward to reading more about Inspector Albert Norris.  I give it 4 feathers and recommend this who-dun-it thriller.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

ANGEL by Alex Norris


ANGEL by Alex Norris 




I don’t ordinarily read M/M stories, but I’m glad I did this one.  It took a while for me to get into the story, not because of the gay theme, but for the different cultural and younger generation difference. I never heard of half the musicians / bands mentioned in the story.  LOL.
Suffering from a broken heart, Lewis goes to the local club to get roaring drunk with his fellow college friends, when he stumbles across a homeless woman named Rosie.  Through her he hears about a church that one day a week offers a free meal for the homeless and elder residents of the area.  Feeling worthless and lonely, he decides to volunteer at the church and it opens his eyes to the REAL world around him.  Because he comes from an affluent family who can afford to send him to Cambridge, he starts wondering why he was so lucky and how can he help all the homeless people that are so easily ignored. 
This is a well-written self-awareness tale.  Lewis puts himself in risky and dangerous situations to help the homeless people he has come to know and love.  Harry, the painter, that Lewis gives money to so Harry can continue his painting / graffiti around the town.  But Lewis wasn’t prepared for what Harry finally painted.  LOL.  And then there’s Rosie who’s afraid to move into a hostel to get out of the freezing cold, because of past events.
The characters are real as well as the settings.  There is some sexual context, but not overly graphic.  If you''re not offended by M/M I highly recommend this book and give it 5 feathers.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

WATCHER by Alen B Curtiss

WATCHER by Alen B Curtiss  



What a creepy, paranormal, psychological predatory / prey story.  From the beginning, the tale draws you into the mind of the killer.  During the course of the story, Curtiss slowly fills in the questions, what is the End Game?  What is the killer’s motivation?  This type of story should make you look nervously outside your windows, wondering, is there someone watching me.  Even walking down the street, Has someone targeted you?  I did figure out the twist 2/3 into the story, but it didn’t detract from the ending, which I thought was perfect.

This is a well written story that I highly recommend. A great Halloween read.  I give it 5 feathers.

THE ROMAN MONGREL By Mary Bernsen

THE ROMAN MONGREL  By Mary Bernsen 


The story starts with Chiomara, a poor pheasant girl, being wed against her wishes to the Chieftain of their tribe, Ortigon.   Her father was a Roman soldier that raped and then killed her mother’s husband.  Even though Roman blood runs through her veins, she hates Romans will all her heart.  After several years of blissful marriage, two Consuls from Rome decide to attack and wipe out her people for siding against them in a recent war.   The Romans consider them filthy mongrels, mixed blood.  How will Chiomara and her people survive?

Chiomara is a feisty, hot-tempered beauty that even her husband has trouble controlling.  I did like her character, always looking out for the less fortunate people of her tribe.  Her beauty ends up attracting the eye of the one the Cosuls, which leads to several confrontations she will have to deal with. 
I felt the pace of the story was slow for the first 1/3 of the book, and I almost lost interest.  But the storyline and pace finally picked up and I became involved with Chiomara and her people’s plight.  The dialogue wasn’t always authentic for the time period the story takes place in, too many slang words and phrases not known during the Roman era. 

There were so many proofreading and editing errors, and for me, they really kill the enjoyment of a book.  Finnish for Finish, or should for she’d.  With some polish and a little more work, this could be a really good story.  For now, I thought it was an average read and give it 3 feathers.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

THE HOUSE ON BLACKSTONE MOOR By Carole Gill

THE HOUSE ON BLACKSTONE MOOR  By Carole Gill 

 

About half way into reading this book, Carole asked if I would read and give an honest review for her new book, Justine: Into the Blood. I did, giving it 5 stars, a very good story. While I was reading it, I was afraid that once I returned to The House on Blackstone Moore, Justine’s and Rose’s personalities would blend. I was pleasantly surprised to find that never happened. As soon as I started reading Blackstone again, I slid right back into Rose’s character.

 Now, let’s get back to Blackstone. This is a series, which I read out of sequence. I read Unholy Testament: Full Circle first, Eco’s journal. In my review for that book, I said I couldn't connect with Rose or the children, now I do. Reading the 3rd in the series first, did give some of the plot away, but that didn’t detract from the story. I thought it helped, though I felt there were some scenes out of place once Eco popped into the picture.

 The characters are well developed, as are the settings and scenes. Carole likes to portray weak female characters, always fainting and swooning, which I can’t relate too. But that could be for the time period she likes writing in. Females were always considered the weaker of the sexes back then, yet, they always persevered.

 If you like dark Gothic, vampires, demons and satanic worship, this is your book. I give it 5 feathers.

LEST WE FORGET by Brian L Porter

LEST WE FORGET by Brian L Porter  

 

All I can say is WOW! I had tears in my eyes while reading these poems. So well written, I felt like I was there, in the trenches, battling in the air, just trying to survive. Such a wonderful tribute to the men and woman that gave their life’s for their countries, whether friend or foe. 

My father was a Marine during the Korean Conflict and returned a changed man. He couldn’t see the future, thinking each day was his last. And my late husband was in the Army during the Viet Nam Conflict. He had a lot of ghosts he never got over. War is such a terrible crime, perpetuated by governments that don’t care, such as ours now. 

If you’re a WWII buff, this is the perfect book for you, whether you read poems or not. I don’t normally read poetry, but I’m glad I read this book. I give it 5 feathers.