The Lady in White: A Tale Set in Rochester, New Yorkby Zachary Finn
In the fall of 2015, PhD candidate Jason Green made his way to the decrepit Hotel Celeste hoping to conduct an interview of disgraced historian Richard Dawdson...
...an academic with once unlimited prospects who had disappeared from the tenure track with enough drama to have become an urban legend himself within the department.
The conversation that followed would not be cited in any dissertation, but here, for your consideration, is the tale Dr. Dawdson told that evening.
This is her story.
Robin's Review: Reading this book was an absolute delight! Not only is the story expertly crafted with a captivating plot, but its unique characters make it truly special. Unsurprisingly, I found myself so enraptured by all of these elements - if you're looking for a fun and engaging read, look no further than this delightful tale!
*TRIGGER AND CONTENT WARNING* PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY! This book contains many graphic examples of foul, offensive, obscene language, child abuse, sexual abuse, brutality, violence, suffering, homophobia, and racism. This book contains mature, adult (18+) content. Therefore, it should not be read by children or minors.
John grew up in an incredibly narcissistic, dysfunctional family on a farm in southeastern North Carolina during the repressive 1960s. This was the model family to the broader community; his parents were considered pillars of society. Yet, this family held many deep, dark secrets governed by family honor, vanity, and pride. The parents' standing in the community was paramount to everything else. No one, no family member, circumstance, event, or situation, was to shame and embarrass them and get in the way of how they ranked and viewed themselves.
Robin's Review: I will reiterate the content triggers:
Assault, Attempted Murder, Attempted rape, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cults, Depression, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Occult, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Profanity, PTSD, Racism, Rape, Sexual Abuse, Sexual assault, Sexually explicit scenes, and Violence.
Content: This book contains mature, adult (18+) content. Therefore, it should not be read by children or minors.
The author has stated, "We, children, grew up in a most turbulent time - when the United States, especially the South, was changing from the old to the new ways of life. We grew up in the 1960s and 1970s during the Civil Rights Movement, Desegregation, the Vietnam War, and the Hippie Movement. We grew up in a time when drug use became prevalent. We grew up in a time of great political and societal unrest and change in America.
In contrast, we grew up in a repressive southern society of deep, dark secrets. Yet on the surface, it appeared that we grew up in a sleepy, conservative, unassuming, and uninspiring farming community. But under that cloak of disguise, we came from a society that clung to a past governed by strict adherence to culture, religious intolerance, and extreme racism."
And this statement sets the tone for this story.
This novel is incredibly difficult to read, as it conveys the sad reality of life for many children in this era. The author's instruction that you keep a box nearby indicates the immense pain and abuse inflicted on children during this time. Parents believed themselves to be entitled to do whatever they wished with their children, which included psychological manipulation, physical and sexual violence, neglect, and a lack of basic necessities.
This heartbreaking story gives a glimpse into the tragic life of its author. It shines an uncomfortable spotlight on his struggles and suffering at the hands of those closest to him, leaving me with a heavy heart and longing for justice for what he endured.
Heaven Can Wait and Other stories
by Mahiraj Jadeja
Dive into Mahiraj Jadeja's collection of eight Short stories...
...enter the world of raw emotions. The stories are simple but yet deep exploring Pure Love and Sacrifice in relationships, with bits of mystery and horror. The collection is a perfect mixture of comedy in tragedy and motivates and uplifts readers into the reality and imagination of Life and some beyond life too.
Robin's Review: These eight narratives are presented in a meticulous and powerful manner. They offer a keen perspective of the human experience, as each story is compellingly crafted.
I was given a free e-copy of this book, but that has not influenced my opinions in this review.
The Mutation: Book 3 in The Virus series
Book 3 of 3: The Virus series
by Damien Lee
The past few days have taken their toll on Frank, but R&R is not an option...
Eden isn’t quite the utopia he’d expected. When they come under attack from zombies and humans alike, difficult decisions must be made.
With the horrific events still fresh in their mind, Amy and Ben finally feel safe in their secluded cottage. But that’s when things start to go wrong. The undead are getting faster. They’re smarter. They’re mutating.
To make matters worse, something else lurks in the shadows; something far worse than any zombie.
Robin's Review: In this third installment and increasingly addictive story, the characters:
Group A Frank, Lisa, and Kara with a stray called Jay
Group B Donna, Kev, Ben and Amy
No spoiler here folks
The characters must make their way through a new and treacherous world and are just trying to survive. But wait, cause a new kind of zombie emerges, WTH – amping up the fun so that I kept turning the pages all through the night.
This action-packed zompoc is filled with dangers, characters with hidden agendas, and sarcastic wit that leads to an adrenaline-filled ride as everyone's paths entwine with one another - but will anyone live long enough to regret it? So, the most important question remains: who can you trust? And more importantly...will trusting them save their lives?
Mr. Lee's storytelling style is refreshingly direct and delightfully engaging - no superfluous details, just a wonderful reading experience. I really enjoyed this book and I am told there is more to come so thankfully this series won’t end. I highly recommend it.
Favorite Name:
Zombie choppers
Favorite Lines:
“Don’t worry. He’s dead,” Armstrong muttered. “And I mean dead, dead, not the undead type you’ve had to deal with.”
“I thought seatbelts were meant to save your life.” “Not in a zombie apocalypse they don’t.”
“And, unlike the living, they didn’t seem reliant on the same fundamental needs. They didn’t drink; they didn’t sleep; they didn’t stop.”
Now for the Game Changer:
Frank tried to dispel the unsettling notion. The dead didn’t think like that. They were driven by relentless hunger, reverting to a primal state. They weren’t capable of thought or problem solving.
“Nothing. I’m good. It just… caught me off-guard. It feaking jumped, Lise. It climbed!” “I know, I was there.” “But how?” “I dunno. I’m not a scientist. We need to be more alert, that’s all. Providing they don’t start sprouting wings, we should be okay.”
Tips:
Conserve ammo
“We can’t leave her without a gun.” Frank huffed. “She can’t shoot for crap. We need every bullet if we’re going to be up against zombies and survivors out there.” “And what if this place comes under attack?” Frank rapped the butt of the shotgun at his side. “Then let’s hope she’s got a good baseball swing.”
Build a ditch or moat
“A digger?” Frank laughed. “You’re taking the piss. Where the hell are we going to find a digger?” “There’ll be one somewhere.” “So what do you want to do, dig a moat? Jesus Christ, I know I said old-school, but I didn’t mean medieval!” “Not a moat, dickhead. We need a ditch or something to go all the way around. It’s the only thing that will stop them driving through the fence.” “We need bullets. Something to keep us alive, not all this Home Alone shite.” “This is England. We don’t sell guns and groceries in the same shop!”
Books in the Series:
The Virus (The Virus series Book 1)
Book 1 of 3: The Virus series
The Host: Book Two of the Virus Series
Book 2 of 3: The Virus series
The Mutation: Book 3 in The Virus series
Book 3 of 3: The Virus series
The Virus: Origins (The Virus series)
Related to: The Virus series
Time's Orphan (Odriel's Heirs Book 3)
Book 3 of 3: Odriel's Heirs
by Hayley Reese Chow
Speak of pain, and I’ll tell you of the Time who stole it away…
Besieged by war, ravaged by monsters, and crawling with the undead, the land of Okarria is dying. Seventeen-year-old Emara survives by using her modest healing gift to save as many as she can while eluding the invaders who thirst for her enchanted blood.
Robin's Review: Emara is the main character in this entertaining coming-of-age story for young adults. As one of Odriel's Heirs without the proper training, she is truly a hidden gem. The writer has crafted a vivid and detailed world, while also making sure readers can relate to every individual character. Along with intense action and suspense, this plot kept me engrossed from start to finish. For fans of epic fantasy narratives, this series is highly recommended.
Reading Order:
Odriel's Heirs
Book 1 of 3: Odriel's Heirs
Burning Shadows: A Tale of Odriel's Heirs A novella
Idriel's Children (Odriel's Heirs Book 2)
Book 2 of 3: Odriel's Heirs
Night of Ash: A Tale of Odriel's Heirs A novella
Time's Orphan (Odriel's Heirs Book 3)
Book 3 of 3: Odriel's Heirs
Robin's Review of Wolves Running
by Deborah Jarvis
The secret is out about the shapeshifters of the world...
...and as they face the wildly disparate reactions from all parts of the globe, the local groups of shapeshifters are trying to adapt to being in the public eye. For some, like Sasha Wellington, the revelation of her status as a wolf shapeshifter is not something she can reveal just yet in her role as a biology teacher at a Boulder, Colorado high school. As a matter of fact, that is probably the last thing she should consider.
Robin's Review: The news that shapeshifters exist has shocked the world and thrown society into chaos. Local groups of shapeshifters are scrambling to deal with the fallout. For some shapeshifters, like Sasha Wellington, coming out is not an option. This presents a unique challenge for her and the shapeshifter community.
What transpires is a story that explores the good and bad in people. It is entertaining and exciting even when it shows humanity and its flaws. I enjoyed reading this well-written story and look forward to more from this author.
Robin's Review of Einstein in the Atticby Dana Dargos
Set against the backdrop of the war between science and God, reason and faith, Einstein in the Attic is the story of one scientist’s search for truth and meaning when faced with the ultimate question: Is there a God?
Fleeing war-torn Lebanon, Adam Reemi’s faith is shaken by the hardships he has endured, but when he and a colleague successfully construct a nano hadron collider, and using sound waves, Adam finds unheard-of power at his fingertips. To help him answer the greatest question mankind has ever posed, he zaps the best philosophical minds of all time–namely Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Soren Kierkegaard, and Baruch Spinoza–from the past and into his attic. Not all goes according to plan, however, and Adam finds himself in a race against time to formulate an answer to the question of intelligent design… or risk losing everything.
Robin's Review: Einstein in the Attic by Dana Dargos is a curious blend of science fiction and philosophy that take readers on a thought-provoking journey with Professor Adam Reemi as he seeks answers to his personal and professional upheavals. He finds solace by bringing famous physicists back to life in his attic like Einstein, Curie and Edison who help him explore grand questions of science, philosophy and religion. This gripping story offers up plenty of entertaining adventure while exploring deeper truth underlying it all - a must read for those seeking out something truly enriching!
I was given a free e-copy of this book, but that has not influenced my opinion in this review. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to others.
Robin's Review of The Strange Courtship of Kathleen O'Dwyer
by Robert Temple
What would drive a woman in 1828 to head west across the Great Plains into the Rocky Mountains...
...risking death among hostile Native Americans, brutish mountain men, and wild animals? Why, the same reason as a man, of course--freedom. Like fur trappers of the early western frontier, Kathleen is a misfit. Growing up in the Irish slums of Boston and watching her mother die giving birth to a dozen children, Kathleen has decided to escape into a career as a schoolteacher, free of men; but when she sets out along the Santa Fe Trail for distant Nuevo Mexico, she finds that dry powder and steady aim are as important as reading, writing, and arithmetic"—
Robin's Review: Kathleen O'Dwyer, a schoolteacher by trade, left her home to go on an incredible adventure with nothing but the supplies in her wagon and faith as a guide. Along this journey she meets James Colter who joins Kathleen’s convoy – together they traverse sun-drenched deserts, navigate treacherous mountain passes and discover new cultures meeting fascinating people of all backgrounds. Their road will lead them across miles until eventually arriving at their destiny: Mexico!
This story had it all-thrilling action, stirring romance and engaging characters. It was an entertaining journey that kept me captivated until the very end!
I was given a free e-copy of this book, but that has not influenced my opinions in this review.
WICKED GAMES: Wicked Series
Book One
by Nancy Brown
Wicked: Evil, Naughty. Games: To play or manipulate based on skill, strength or luck.
One Woman. Two men. A race against the clock.
The Players:
Avery Carmichael is a brilliant criminal attorney. She is also the daughter of Jonathan Carmichael, the future governor of New York. She hates games and she doesn’t have time for romance. She is running scared from the only man in her life. She calls him Tic Toc and he wants her dead. Her only objective is to survive.
Liam Sanders is tall, dark and deadly handsome. He’s also the twin brother of Luke Sanders and the newest member of Cross Security. He has a job to do. He doesn’t have time for distractions. But just one look at Avery Carmichael and his game plan changes. He wants her and he’ll do whatever it takes make her his.
Robin's Review: Ms. Brown's writing was nothing short of excellent, making this book a suspenseful page-turner. Though entertaining, the character of Tik Toc, in particular, provided an unsettling backdrop for the story. It is with great pleasure that I recommend Ms. Brown and all her books to any reader looking for an engaging and captivating read.
Coming Soon:
Wicked Desires: Wicked Series Book Two
Wicked Lies: Wicked Series Book Three
Wicked Obsessions: Wicked Series Book Four
#romance #action #adventure
Prepper’s Water Purification Survival Bible: How to Find, Harvest, Filter, Purify, and Store Water Off the Grid
by Johnathan Nash
What happens when you turn on the tap and no water runs out?
How to Find, Harvest, Filter, Purify, and Store Water Off the Grid
By Johnathan Nash
What happens when you turn on the tap and no water runs out? Or you are far from civilization and freshwater? We can go at most for three days without drinkable water, but what then?
Water is the most fundamental of survival needs.
While many communities around the world are used to struggling with water shortages, many of us have no clue what we would do in this sort of situation.
Setting up a reliable source of drinkable water is not something that is easily done overnight…
It pays to make these plans well in advance and slowly put resources towards a trusty water source that can keep you and your family safe and hydrated and meet basic hygiene needs too.
Robin's Review: Mr. Nash consistently provides much-needed information in response to “what if” situations. In his first book, titled Prepper's Guide to Survival Off the Grid: How to Be Self-Sufficient and Self Reliant When Society Crashes and the Lights Go Out, he went over how to prepare for many “what if” situations, but this book delves into the number one basic survival need you will face, and that is water and a good source of water. This book is well written, easy to read, and chocked full of concise information. Whether a newbie or a seasoned prepper, this is the guide to keep handy in your vehicle or go-bag. I keep his first book in my vehicle and will also add a copy of this one. Because when the SHTF, you can’t just pull out your e-reader and look it up. I highly recommend getting a copy of this book and giving it to each family unit as a way for them to begin to plan ahead.
