BOOK REVIEW: LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE by C. Hope Clark

LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE
A Carolina Slade Mystery, Book 1
C. Hope Clark
Bell Bridge Books


A bribery case gone wrong leads a woman into the deep, dank Carolina Lowcountry on a manhunt.

Carolina Slade, a by-the-book federal county manager in the coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina, reports an attempted bribe only to find herself a key player in a sting operation run by Senior Special Agent Wayne Largo from the IG Office in Atlanta.

However, the IG isn't telling Slade everything about this case or the disappearance-presumed-murder of Slade's boss the year before. When the sting blows up, both cases are put on hold and Wayne is yanked back to Atlanta, leaving Slade to fear not only for her life and job, but for her children's safety.

Suddenly, operating by the book is no longer an option.

MY REVIEW:

I got hooked on Clark's Edisto Island Mysteries series and so I thought why not check out the series that got her started?

Carolina Slade is an agricultural loan broker, what is normally a straightforward, rather unexciting career for the soon-to-be divorced mother of two. But then one of her usual clients, a hog farmer, offers her a bribe to arrange a sale of some land for him. She does the right thing and calls in the Feds, one of whom sparks a little hope of romance for Carolina.

What should be an open and shut case turns into an increasingly dangerous game for Slade, who soon finds herself the target of someone's personal vendetta.

I wasn't sure if could into a book about a loan broker and a hog farmer, but knowing how much I love Clark's other series, I gave this one a chance and I was not disappointed. Clark delivers a "can't-put-it-down" story that gets more complex and suspenseful at every turn. I honestly didn't see the twist at the end coming, though the signs were all there. I love it when that happens! And those last few chapters kept me turning pages late into the night until I finished the book, which I absolutely felt compelled to do.

CONTENT RATING:

Profanity: High
Violence: High
Sexuality: Moderate (two attempted rapes)

BOOK REVIEW: NEWSLETTER NINJA by Tammi Labrecque

NEWSLETTER NINJA: HOW TO BECOME AN AUTHOR MAILING LIST EXPERT
Tammi Labrecque
Non-fiction

Are you struggling with email? Newsletter numbers getting you down? Fewer people opening your messages? No real reaction when you launch a book?

There's another way—a better way.

Imagine having a large list of happy readers who devoured every email you sent. Or launching a book and activating an army of fans who did the selling for you. You could be that person, with the help of Newsletter Ninja.

Newsletter Ninja is a comprehensive resource designed to teach you how to build and maintain a strongly engaged email list—one full of actual fans willing to pay for the books you write, rather than free-seekers who will forget your name and never open your emails.

• Learn new ways to think about your email list
• Re-energize your existing subscribers
• Embrace not just the basics, but next level methods
• Improve engagement and watch those open/click rates soar
• Build a happy list of passionate readers
• Launch your books into the charts

You’ll get a handle on open rates, click rates, and engagement—while also learning about yourself, your readers, and what you’re really selling when you send an email. (Spoiler: it’s not your books.)

Whether you’re building a mailing list, want to grow an existing one, or simply want to raise your email game, Newsletter Ninja has solutions that will work for you.

MY REVIEW:

This may be the first (or at least one of the few) "how-to" books I've reviewed on my blog, but it deserves to be noticed.

As an author, I rely on my newsletter to reach my fans on a regular basis. (Sorry, blog folks, but blogs aren't very effective anymore.) I've had a newsletter for about two years, but now I realize I'm doing a lot of things wrong. Tammi Labrecque is the newsletter expert! And her advice is worth gold.

If you're a writer with or with a newsletter, you need to read NEWSLETTER NINJA!

BOOK REVIEW: A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS by Dave Eggers

A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS
Dave Eggers
Vintage

National Bestseller 
Pulitzer Prize Finalist

A book that redefines both family and narrative for the twenty-first century. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is the moving memoir of a college senior who, in the space of five weeks, loses both of his parents to cancer and inherits his eight-year-old brother. Here is an exhilarating debut that manages to be simultaneously hilarious and wildly inventive as well as a deeply heartfelt story of the love that holds a family together.

MY REVIEW:

I started reading this on my adult son's recommendation. He read it in college and has been raving about it ever since, and now I know why.

Dave Eggers' memoir is indeed heartbreaking and genius. His mother and father both died of cancer within a month of each other leaving him, a 20-year-old college student, in charge of raising is 8-year-old brother, Toph.

The story is a stream-of-consciousness journey into the heart and mind of a young man trying to be both parent and brother while also navigating romantic relationships, running a magazine, and just trying to live a normal life, which just doesn't seem possible for the guy.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is sometimes a tragedy, other times a comedy. Often it's both at once. It's a long read, with a few sections that go on and on forever, but overall it's a unique and unforgettable story that will stick with you for years once you've read the last page.

 

CONTENT RATING:

Profanity: Excessive

Sexuality: Moderate

Violence: Mild 

BOOK REVIEW: VANISHING GIRLS by Lauren Oliver

VANISHING GIRLS
Lauren Oliver
HarperCollins
Ages 14+

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable. But that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged.

When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked.

Now, Nick has to find her sister—before it's too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

MY REVIEW:

Hard-to-put-down psychological mystery of two sisters always passing in the night, one a wild girl living on the edge, the other a straight-laced "good" girl who always covers for the other.

I can't say much for fear of giving it away, but I figured it out from the first chapter. But aside from that, the book is highly compelling and forces you to keep turning pages. My only real complaint is that Dara is the cliche bad girl. I would have liked to see more depth to her. Also, the plot was a little loose, various elements appearing out of nowhere. Otherwise, Vanishing Girls is a thrilling ride.

CONTENT REVIEW:

Profanity - High
Sexuality - High
Violence - Mild
Substance Abuse - High

BOOK REVIEW: ENDANGERED by Eliot Shrefer

ENDANGERED
Eliot Shrefer
Scholastic
Ages 12 +

Congo is a dangerous place, even for people who are trying to do good.

When Sophie has to visit her mother at her sanctuary for bonobos, she’s not thrilled to be there. Then Otto, an infant bonobo, comes into her life, and for the first time she feels responsible for another creature.

But peace does not last long for Sophie and Otto. When an armed revolution breaks out in the country, the sanctuary is attacked, and the two of them must escape unprepared into the jungle. Caught in the crosshairs of a lethal conflict, they must struggle to keep safe, to eat, and to live.

MY REVIEW:

From the very first page, I could not put ENDANGERED down. In fact, until about half way through the book, I thought this was non-fiction, a memoir. It was so realistic and detailed! But this is indeed fiction, well-researched fiction.

Sophie returns to Congo to spend the summer with her mother, who runs a bonobo sanctuary. While there, she becomes attached to an orphan bonobo named Otto. When the sanctuary and the nearby city are attacked by rebels, Sophie and Otto must not only survive alone in the jungle, but they must also find Sophie's mother.

One of the most powerful books I've read all year. I truly felt as though I were navigating the jungle right alongside Sophie. Heart-wrenching, intense, triumphant! A must read!

CONTENT REVIEW:

Language: None
Violence: High
Sexuality: Mild

BOOK REVIEW: ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline

ORPHAN TRAIN
Christina Baker Kline
William Morrow
Historical Fiction

Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to “aging out” out of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse...

As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life—answers that will ultimately free them both.

MY REVIEW:

Delightful tale of two orphans: Molly, a 17-year-old girl unhappy in her foster care home, and Dorothy, a young girl transported by train to Minnesota in 1929. When Molly takes on the task of "cleaning out" a 90-year-old woman's attic, she instead discovers a fascinating and often heartbreaking tale of a life full of tragedy, trials, and even some joys. Molly helps the old woman, Vivian, face her past, while Vivian helps Molly repair her present.

Orphan Train is written in simple, clear language, yet the stories of Molly and Vivian are so compelling that I was completely hooked from page one. The setting and voice alternate between Molly in present-day and Vivian/Dorothy from 1929-1943. While sometimes in books that alternate narrators, I tend to want to skip chapters, I fell in love equally with both stories. They were woven together so beautifully, and though the ending is a tad expected, it is a happy ending that it made me want to read the book all over again.  Highly recommended!

CONTENT RATING:

Profanity: High (some "F" bombs)
Sexuality: Moderate (describes attempted molestation)
Violence: Mild

BOOK REVIEW: SLITHERS by W W Mortesen

SLITHERS
W.W. Mortensen
Horror

On a remote country road, heading out to a weekend party, Tobe West and his friends pick up two hitchhikers. It seems like the right thing to do.

No-one could have predicted the freak car accident that is about to change their lives.

Stranded in the middle of nowhere, Tobe and the others are faced with a landscape suddenly unfamiliar, in a universe that has come loose from its moorings. Strange things slither in the woods, and spectral lights hover just off the road. A petrol station, shining brightly in a world otherwise dark and frightening, promises safe haven, but Tobe learns the biggest threat lies within the very people he’s trying to protect.

As reality breaks down and dangers multiply, Tobe must uncover the hidden agenda of one of the survivors... and keep the others safe from something lurking in the darkness.

Something that is hunting them all.

If they are to survive the night, Tobe must face the horrifying truth—that nothing is as it seems, and that they are all part of a larger plan, part of someone else's unfinished business...

MY REVIEW:

I downloaded SLITHERS for my Nook, attracted by the premise, the cover, and the price ($1.99). I always love a good horror novel. This one is pretty short, and the pace was quick. Got right to the action. Writing drew me in right away.

Five friends on their way to a late night party get side-swiped by a semi-truck. Their car totaled, the five, plus two hitchhikers they picked up earlier, start walking toward the nearest gas station for help. But nothing is right. The stars, the forest, the sounds in the air, the texture of the rain, the absence of people, the giant bugs.

Things really take a bad turn when they discover the truck driver, whose body ruptures emitting some strange new creature. After that, all that is on their minds is survival.

SLITHERS, for most of the book, seriously satisfies. The author knows how to write, how to hook a reader's attention and hold it tight. I had a hard time putting this book down.

Unfortunately, as happens with way too many plot driven horror novels, the end kind of fell apart. Well, not so much fell apart as got garbled and confusing. What was a pretty gorey, terrifying ride trying to escape human-devouring monsters suddenly transformed instead into some weird time-travel, other-dimension journey that took way too much explaining on the author's part for me to completely grasp. It was a clever twist, I'll give him that, but the execution felt rushed and mind-numbing. Overall, the satisfaction I felt through 3/4 of the book dissipated by the last couple of chapters. I was truly sorry it didn't quite deliver because Mortensen is a great writer, enough so that I might still take a gamble on his earlier book, EIGHT.

CONTENT RATING:

Profanity: Moderate
Sexuality: Mild
Violence: High

BOOK REVIEW: THE FOXMAN by Gary Paulsen

THE FOXMAN
Gary Paulsen
Puffin Books
Ages 10 - 14

Carl and his cousin are lost and getting desperate when they find a shack hidden in the woods. It’s their only chance for shelter—but who could be living way out here? Then they see the Foxman. As he welcomes the boys, he grabs his mask—too late to hide his hideously mutilated face. Carl accepts his welcome, but is eager to leave the next morning. His cousin, however, will come back. There’s something about the Foxman he must know—about the tragedy that should have destroyed him, and the mystery of the wilderness that keeps him alive.

MY REVIEW:

Beautiful story about self-discovery, family, and compassion. After being taken from his unfit family and placed in the care of his uncle, the narrator learns the ways of the woods: hunting and trapping. When a snowstorm leads him to remote cabin and an old veteran with a deformed face, he discovers friendship and trust in the most unlikely of places. One of my favorite of Gary Paulsen's many books. Simple, direct, yet powerful. The Foxman is a memorable read.

CONTENT RATING:
* Though this book is for young readers, the main characters are teenage boys, and there are allusions to teen sex and mention of teen pregnancy.

Profanity: None
Sexuality: Moderate
Violence: Mild

BOOK LAUNCH: HOW TO BUILD YOUR AUTHOR PLATFORM by Dorine White

HOW TO BUILD YOUR AUTHOR PLATFORM
Dorine White
Skyrocket Press
Non-fiction

New authors will appreciate this simple, easy-to-follow guide to social media. From Twitter to Instagram, newsletters to blogs, author Dorine White explains the basics of how to create an online presence and develop a fan base.

It's never too early or too late to begin building your author platform. In this concise, step-by-step guide you will learn the tricks to getting your name and brand out into the world. Take all the confusion out of the process with this unique look at building your platform through the eyes of publishing professionals.

Find out what editors and agents are really looking for when scoping out prospective clients. Get the inside scoop as best-selling authors share their ups and downs with social media. Learn how to start the process with easy-to-follow instructions. All writers need a platform. It is time to begin yours!

About the Author:

Dorine White is the author of five books for young readers and is the owner of the award-winning blog, THE WRITE PATH. She lives in Washington state with her husband and six children. Visit her website at: https://www.dorinewhite.com/

BOOK REVIEW: THE RIVER by Gary Paulsen

THE RIVER
Gary Paulsen
Scholastic
Ages 8-12

Two years after Brian Robeson survived fifty-four days alone in the Canadian wilderness, the government wants him to head back so they can learn what he did to stay alive. This time Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him. But a freak storm leaves Derek unconscious. Brian's only hope is to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post. He's survived with only a hatchet before--now can Brian build a raft and navigate an unknown river?

For the first time it's not only Brian's survival that's at stake. . .

MY REVIEW:

I read THE RIVER out loud to my son following our adventure with HATCHET, the first book in the series. This tale is just as vivid and exciting as the first. We can't wait to read book 3, BRIAN'S WINTER.

The straight forward text is simple enough for young children and reluctanct readers to grasp, but it doesn't diminish the tension of Brian's predicament. Paulsen is able to capture the beauty of the landscape, the fear of being so close to death's edge, and the thrill of adventure with a minimalist's vocabulary. Truly one of the most brilliant children's book writers ever.